Late summer in Ohio, the heat and humidity can be stifling indoors and out. When the heat index is high, trying to cook a meal in the kitchen can seem like cooking in a sauna, and it only seems to make the house feel hotter. Salads are fine for awhile, but if your family is like mine they tire of them pretty quickly. So what can you do?
Try these summer cooking tips:
Microwave like you mean it - most of us use the microwave for reheating food. But there are now many products that are food safe AND designed for microwave cooking. The benefit? You can enjoy a healthy dish in minutes without heating up the kitchen. Our favorite gadget? The microwave steamer, which steams food to perfection in the microwave rather than using the range. We use ours mostly for steaming vegetables, but
When cooking on cooler days, make and freeze enough for second meal or side dish - freeze in a food-safe container or bag that is labeled with the date and container contents. When it's too hot to cook, you can have a good meal on the table in minutes simply by reheating a frozen meal. Not sure what foods can be frozen and how long they will stay fresh in your freezer? Check out this handy chart from FoodSafety.gov for safe freezer food storage guidelines.
Grill everything - you can grill almost everything, including vegetables, meats and even some desserts. Grilling outside won't heat up your kitchen, and can give your food that special taste and texture that only can come from a grill. When grilling chicken, burgers or other meats, grill some extra - so you'll be able to relish the taste of your favorite grilled meats later. Most grilled meats can be frozen until needed, when they can be quickly reheated.
Remember your slow cooker? Most of us tend to think of the slow cooker for meals on colder days, but it's also a great alternative to an oven when the weather turns warm. And think beyond roasts and stews - there are slow cooker recipes for everything from corn on the cob to cheesecake.
For even more variety, try some 'no-cook' meals with a twist - some suggestions? Think wraps made with ingredients like seasoned, roast turkey, ripe avocado or fresh egg salad. How about an antipasto style meal with some good market bread and a variety of nibbles such as sausages, cheeses, olives, marinated artichokes and mushrooms. Our tip? When it's really hot, our family seems to prefer nibbling rather than a large meal. The problem with everyone nibbling though, is that the food packaging may not be properly resealed. Keep a selection of quality food containers and wraps on hand and use them to store food once their packaging has been opened. It will help keep these foods fresher longer.
Did you find this post useful? Please share it through our Facebook and Twitter links below. Want to discover more easy tips and tricks for healthy, sustainable living and have them delivered right to your in box weekly? Follow our blog by signing up for our RSS feed.
