Basic Cooking Tips for Students

For those used to the comfort of being at home, moving away for university could be a big challenge.

And the going gets tougher without our mom’s curries and favourite Desi foods.

But in order to get through those lectures and seminars, we still need a lot of energy food that is easy to make and excites our tastebuds.

Look no further, as DESIblitz presents five simple ways to create the ultimate student food!

1. Beans on Toast 

Beans on toast is a classic dish that you cannot go wrong with. All you need is bread and some good old Heinz baked beans (various flavours available, including curry).

Lightly toast two slices of bread in a toaster or a pan to give it that extra crunchiness.

Warm up a can of baked beans in a microwave or on the hob in low heat, and simply pour it over the bread.

If you fancy a fuller breakfast, use Heinz Beanz with Pork Sausages instead and top it up with a pinch of black pepper.

• Tesco Wholemeal Medium Bread, 800g ~ £0.55
• Heinz Baked Beans, 415g ~ £0.75
• Heinz Baked Beans Curry, 390g ~ £0.95
• Heinz Beanz with Pork Sausages, 200g ~ £0.70

2. Cheese on Toast 

Cheese on toast is another easy classic, that is bound to fill you up with in an instant.

First, toast the bread in the oven. Then, spread a generous amount of cheese onto the bread and turn the heat up for it to melt completely, and top with tomato slices.

For extra flavour, put some ketchup onto the toast before adding the cheese, and it will taste just like a yummy Margherita pizza.

Alternatively, a few drops of Worcestershire sauce over the cheese can give you that much-needed kick for the long day ahead.

• Sainsbury’s Basic White Sliced Bread, 800g ~ £0.40
• Sainsbury’s British Medium Cheddar Slices, 240g ~ £2.00
• ASDA Chosen by You Tomato Ketchup, 970g ~ £1.20
• Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce, 150ml ~ £1.19

3. Boiled Eggs

According to a 2011 Sainsbury’s Finance survey, 14 per cent of students have never boiled an egg.

So, here are some helpful tips. Bring a small pan of water to the boil and cook the eggs for 3 ½ minutes for a runny yolk, or around 6-7 minutes for hard-boiled eggs.

You can mash it up, flavour it with salad cream and some salt and pepper to make a simple and delicious sandwich.

You can also add cress into the mixture to contribute to your daily vegetable intake.

• Tesco Everyday Value Eggs, 15 a box ~ £1.25
• Heinz Salad Cream Light, 415g ~ £2.00
• Sainsbury’s Fresh Salad Cress, 20g ~ £0.25

4. Jacket Potato

As a student, it is essential that you learn how to make a good jacket potato because it requires minimum effort and allows maximum creativity!

All you need is a medium-sized potato and heat it in the microwave for 10 minutes. Cut on a deep cross from the top and fill it with whatever you want.

Beans, curry, cheese, coleslaw or tuna – the choice is absolutely yours. Garnish with cherry tomatoes.

• Sainsbury’s Baking Potatoes, 4 a bag ~ £1.00

5. Noodles 

Last but not least are noodles. Be they stir-fry or soup-based, they never fail to please even the fussiest eater.

Instant noodles are usually soup-based and definitely a no-brainer, with simple instructions detailed on the packaging.

To make a yummy stir-fry, make sure you buy egg noodles, as rice noodles will only turn into paste when dried.

Boil the noodles, drain the water, add a bit of oil or sesame oil to a pan and fry till golden brown.

Throw in some iceberg lettuce, canned sausages, fried egg, seafood sticks or frozen dumplings to create a heavenly variety.

• Nissin Instant Noodles (various flavours), 100g ~ £0.48
• Quick Cooking Egg Noodles, 500g ~ £1.15
• Tesco Seafood Sticks, 20 a pack ~ £1.00
• Fresh Asia Handmade Dumplings (vegetable or meat), 462g ~ £4.20

Even without the luxury of time or abundance of culinary skills, these dishes are easy to whip up and cheap to buy for, making them perfect for students on a budget.

Spice them up with a few magical flavours using commonly found ingredients in your kitchen cupboard, and your stomach and flatmates are bound to be impressed!