A culinary expert has shared some of the simple tricks which could help households whip up interesting meals for less.
Some may cut back on their shopping to cope with the current cost of living crisis, but the chef explains that this should not stop them from enjoying tasty meals.
This comes as a recent report has found that areas in Scotland's central belt could struggle to access affordable food amid inflation.
Lee Williams is head of culinary innovation from Schwartz, and told the Mirror that "people are stuck in a rut in the kitchen."
He explained: "Making everyday meals more exciting could be as simple as spicing them up with kitchen staples, such as Cajun spice and smokey chipotle chilli.
"A lot of people are too scared to venture out their comfort zone when it comes to food, but it really is just trial and error.
"It’s a good idea to plan your meals each week and then shop for all the ingredients you may need, including seasonings, herbs, and spices which can transform a dish.
"A little goes a long way, so it’ll be a while before you run out of these – so it’s a great investment in the long run, and can make all the difference to your meals."
Culinary Expert's top-10 food hacks
- Planning is key – Write down the meals you love cooking and eating, and make sure you plan your shop accordingly, so you have all the ingredients you need. This will also help avoid the temptation of last-minute takeaways.
- Batch cooking – It’s often more cost effective to bulk-buy meat and vegetables, and you can then cook it all up in a big batch to freeze for another day too.
- When one dish becomes two – This is key for making food stretch further, for example a pack of mince which can eventually become many dishes. Cook up your meat, then split it and add different seasonings or herbs to create different meals, such as spaghetti bolognaise, chilli con carne, or cottage pie.
- Buying different cuts of meat – Buying whole cuts can often be more cost effective than buying individual pre-prepared pieces for the majority of meats.
- Bulk it up with veggies – Add more of your five a day to make meals go further. This also includes produce such as lentils, which can be a really smart way to bulk out dishes, without changing the flavour too much for fussy eaters.
- The many wonders of one-pot wonders – One-pot wonders are a beneficial way to not only save time, but also saving on the washing up afterwards too. This also includes using slow cookers and air fryers, both of which are easy and energy efficient to use at home.
- Buying frozen – Sourcing frozen alternatives such as meat and vegetables is often cheaper, and also helps you reduce on food waste, as you often only cook as much as you need.
- Turn it into a soup – Perfect for the colder season, turning scraps into soup is a brilliant way to make your food stretch further with just a few added ingredients.
- Don't shy away from flavou r – Experiment with different herbs, spices and seasonings by trying a new one each month. A little really does go along way, so a jar will last a while.
- Love your leftovers – Cut down on food waste and plate up those leftovers for the next day. Food often tastes better the day after it’s cooked, and it means you can skip buying lunch too.
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