One Pot Meals for Convenience

One pot meals isn’t a new concept; one pot cooking has been around since man discovered fire and learned he could eat a hot meal. Then, over the years, meals became more elaborate.

When convenience cooking was introduced decades ago, it changed how people looked at how meals were prepared.

It took recipes with multiple ingredients and time-consuming preparation and simplified the process. It’s reasonable to conclude there should be a more convenient way to cook food, as well.

It’s not a huge leap to go from convenience cooking to one pot cooking. After all, if you can simplify recipes, then surely you can simplify the cooking process. Eventually, the modern-day one pot cooking was born.

One pot cooking was the way many moms fed their families healthy, nutritious meals. She took care of her home and family while cooking family meals. She also cooked meals while working outside the home.

Simply put, one pot cooking was, and continues to be, convenient.

For some, it doesn’t seem possible that you can cook a complete meal using one pot or with one appliance. But, it’s true. Just think of all the appliances invented over the years.

You’ll find many that will help you prepare that perfect meal. You’ll also find that single pot that will get the job done, as well.

Now the question is which one pot is best for you.

What to Use to Prepare Your One Pot Meals

Browse through the Housewares section of your favorite retail store or go online. You’ll find a large assortment of cooking appliances that will make your life in the kitchen easier.

Take your time and choose the one that is best suited for you. After all, it won’t be useful if you don’t use it. Here are a few suggestions that will get you started.

Use a Pressure Cooker

A pressure cooker is a sealed pot that cooks food under steam pressure. It is airtight and cooks food quickly because the steam pressure builds up inside the pot. This is how you achieve speedy and efficient cooking times compared to using other appliances.

You can use a pressure cooker to prepare different types of meals such as pot roast, chicken, corned beef and cabbage, and more. You can also make soups, sauces, stews, and desserts in your pressure cooker.

There are 2 types of pressure cookers available. One is the standard stovetop pressure cooker; the other is the more widely-used electric pressure cooker.

Pressure cookers come in various sizes and there are many to choose from. T-Fal, Breville, Ninja, or Presto, just to name a few. But, arguably, the most popular is Instant Pot.

Slow Cook One Pot Meals

A slow cooker is perfect for those who want the convenience of one pot cooking. A slow cooker is also perfect for those on a tight food budget.

While you use the pressure cooker to speed up the cooking time, the slow cooker is the opposite. As the name implies, it cooks your meal slowly. This means you can buy less expensive cuts of meat and turn it into a tender and delicious meal.

Crock-Pot, the original slow cooker, has been around for over 40 years and is used in many kitchens around the world. It is a convenient cooking method that minimizes the time spent in the kitchen. And that’s the point.

Use a Skillet

If you choose the traditional cast iron skillet, you’ll need to season the pan before using the first time.  These heavy-duty cooking pans are sturdy and durable. They retain heat and can withstand high temperatures. Additionally, they keep foods from burning during the cooking process.

Some people prefer to cook with their favorite skillet, and that’s perfectly fine. I’ve been using All-Clad for more than 30 years. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have my NuWave sitting on my counter ready to cook my next meal.

What it boils down to is time. I ask myself how much time do I want to spend preparing my next meal. How much time do I want to devote to standing at the stove to monitor the cooking process?

For me, the answer is always not much. So, depending on the meal, I’ll use either appliance. It makes clean-up that much quicker, and that’s a good thing.

One Pot Meals in a Dutch Oven

Dutch ovens have been used for cooking for hundreds of years. Dutch ovens are usually made of seasoned cast iron but have evolved over the years. A good Dutch oven has become an essential cooking tool in many kitchens.

A Dutch oven is a perfect cooking tool for those who want to save money while preparing quality meals. Anything that you can prepare in a crock-pot or oven, you can prepare in a Dutch oven. You can bake, braise, boil, brown, and deep fry with a Dutch oven.

For example, you can cook a pot roast and vegetables for a family meal, and it’s great for making soup, stew, and chili. A good Dutch oven will help you make delicious meals and give you years of service.

If you feel you’re spending too much time it the kitchen, it’s time to get back to basics and try one pot cooking. There are many benefits to one pot cooking, most notably, it keeps things simple.

Depending on your circumstances, you have options. It’s all up to you.