You can purchase 1 kilogram of rice for around $1.00 (Asian markets will probably offer better value here). 2 ounces of rice or roughly 60 grams is what most people need for a meal. Using boiling water and a thermos to cook the rice and adding a dash of pepper and some soy sauce for taste, for less than 10 cents you have a meal that can get you through the day.
I recently discovered thermos cooking and wanted to share with people who are interested in living frugally. The thermos I am using is a Thermos branded food jar that has been discontinued by the company in favor of a newer model. You can still find this older model for around $25.00 but the newer model can be had for $5.00 less at $20.00 a unit because retailers have more of the newer model in inventory. The older model has a wider mouth that allows me to reach the bottom of the container to clean it; a feature which I really appreciate. But having a wider mouth means that it will not retain heat as well as the newer model. Both units come with a folding spoon that can be stored with the container. If you are thinking of thermos cooking and do not want to use a Thermos food jar, please note that whatever you use needs to be a good quality thermos.
Eating plain rice with soy sauce is something you would do only if you had to. Adding other ingredients is highly recommended. My favorite ingredient is frozen mixed vegetables. Prices do vary but you can probably buy 1 pound of frozen mixed vegetables for $1.60. So adding 2 ounces of frozen mixed vegetables will increase the cost of your meal by 20 cents. You get a lot for that 20 cents and your meal at this point is basically nutritionally complete and actually very healthy.
To further improve the taste, you can also add Knorr or Maggi bouillon cubes. The thermos I am using has a capacity of 470 ml, so half a cube is what is needed. That should cost at most an additional 10 cents. The flavoring I have used is beef and chicken stock and both work.
There are of course other ingredients that could be added. Personally I like to add processed meats like sausages and meat balls. Unlike fresh meat, processed meats tend of keep better in a refrigerator (they are usually made with preservatives) and are also often cheaper. Not only will you get some animal protein in your meal the flavor would also be enhanced. But adding additional meat ingredients can dramatically increase the cost of the meal. Basically, a meal without meat will cost 40 cents but adding meat will probably raise the cost to close to $1.00 (depending on how much you use).
Some of you may be skeptical about using a thermos to cook. Rest assured it works. I have used it to cook pasta, oats, beans and of course rice. The outcome is palatable but compared to traditional stove top methods perhaps somewhat inferior. Using the thermos to cook rice for instance produces cooked rice that is typically wetter than using a rice cooker. The purist would probably consider such an outcome a fail but I am more interested in preparing my food in the most cost, energy and time efficient method.
Once you have all the ingredients ready, you may find it useful to preheat the thermos with boiling water before using it. Some people claim this step is vital but I have not had to do it. Measure 2 ounces of rice and add it to your thermos. Wash the rice by rinsing it with water and discarding the water after. Bring 250 ml of water (I just use half of my thermos as a measure) to boil and then add the ingredients you want. Let it cook for about 2-3 minutes and then pour the hot soup into your thermos where your washed rice is sitting. Seal your thermos up and give it a good shake. Lay the thermos on the side (you can also leave it standing upright) and shake it every now and again if possible. Your meal will be ready in an hour or two and should stay hot for 4 to 7 hours.
The whole process should take you less than 10 minutes. Basically you can prepare your own lunch in the morning, bring it with you and then consume it at a convenient location. Compared with buying a meal, this small effort on your part can save you a bundle even if you choose to add costly ingredients to your meal like meats and mushrooms.
This method of cooking is also very useful for people who choose or are forced into alternative living arrangements. Rice, pasta, oats, beans etc. can be kept at room temperature. All you need to prepare a meal is a heat source to boil water. 1 kilogram of a staple like rice and a packet of carrots and celery in a backpack can keep you going for quite a while.
June 13, 2018 at 08:02AM
