Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are so many ways to prep ahead, clean as you go, and generally make it easier for yourself. But if you are committed to not learning any of those techniques or skills and are instead convinced that cooking = making a huge mess and doing it all in the moment, then what is there to say?

For *you,* it does sound better to eat at a restaurant. For people willing to learn some basic skills, techniques, tips, and tricks, and put in some practice, it's well worth it--rewarding, satisfying, even--to cook at home.

I really want to learn these skills but have no idea how to go about it. Any tips/resources?

Look on YouTube, insta or Tik Tok. I hate to admit it but I go there for “how to” videos and recipe ideas. There are so many food/recipe creators for all types of cuisines on those platforms and many of them are actually very good.

Steak, potatoes, green beans and salad for 4 under $50. Where can I get that in a restaurant? I could probably add dessert too if I looked.

I’m not reading all 10 pages so sorry if this has been stated, but just a minor point that you aren’t “clearing” $625/hr (unless you work for yourself and have zero overhead and don’t pay taxes). Thats the hourly rate your clients pay your firm, not you. I don’t doubt you have a high salary though.

Anonymous wrote:It is far cheaper to cook at home than eat out.

With that said, if you are an undisciplined grocery shopper and tend to buy a lot of non-meal items at the grocery, that’s a separate issue entirely.

Shopping with a list is a must for people like this.

This. I wish I could grocery shop without my little mommy givemethats with me

For me eating out can be cheaper than cooking. Most nights it’s just me and the kids and we either get chipotle or cava at either place for 3 of us the food comes to less than. $22, at Chipotle we get two bowls and split it and at cava we get 3 kids pitas. When i cook I make enough food to last 2-3 days each time. But cooking averages out the same cost because I have to stock ingredients and seasonings and cookware and cleaning supplies and food prices are getting more expensive at the store. Price of ground beef and chicken are each up at least 25% in the past 2-3 years. I used to pay about $5.85 for 1.5lbs ground beef now it’s about $7.5 same with chicken.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just bought scallops at Whole Foods on my lunch hour. They were $11, and I'll make them with pasta, butter and salt. So let's say that's $14 total. At what restaurant will I get a meal for $14? It'll take me 20 minutes to make, and most of that time is waiting for the pasta water to boil and the 8 minutes the pasta has to cook. I'll clean up for a total of five minutes. Most of the time when I want pizza, I toss a piece of naan on a baking tray, pour TJ's pizza sauce on, sprinkle some mozzarella cheese on top and bake, while munching on raw veggies. So yeah, it's cheaper at home for those two meals.

Now there are some meals I can't make at home - I'm not that good a cook, have a very tiny, poorly-laid out kitchen, and don't enjoy it. So in those cases, ordering in or going out makes sense.

Ooof no wonder Americans eat so poorly

How is that eating poorly? naan bread, tomato sauce, mozzarella, three ingredients to make a simple pizza. Much better than pizza places because they put too much cheese ,and oil on the pizza.


Tell us what you eat that is so superior.

I’m not OP but I’m really struggling with how long it takes me to cook/clean up after every night. Easily 2-3 hours. What am I doing wrong? We are Arabs so yes the traditional meals take a lot of time but even spaghetti and meatballs takes me forever (smitten kitchen recipe). How do you all manage to get dinner and cleanup done in an hour??

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are so many ways to prep ahead, clean as you go, and generally make it easier for yourself. But if you are committed to not learning any of those techniques or skills and are instead convinced that cooking = making a huge mess and doing it all in the moment, then what is there to say?

For *you,* it does sound better to eat at a restaurant. For people willing to learn some basic skills, techniques, tips, and tricks, and put in some practice, it's well worth it--rewarding, satisfying, even--to cook at home.

OP here. Actually I do know how to cook. My mother taught me in my childhood in Europe, mostly French and Austrian dishes. Because she was busy working, as a teenager it was me who would cook for our family of four on a daily basis. I dare even say that I am an excellent cook. But I just do not enjoy it, and now that I am older, I tire more easily than in my youth.

I kind of doubt this because an excellent cook who has cooked her whole life would know how to create simple healthy meals. We should be asking you for advice

OP here. The French and Austrian dishes that I learned in my childhood or neither simple nor particularly healthy.

So broaden your horizons and open a cookbook?

+1

I assume you can read a recipe?

This OP is a troll and a pretty good one. Kudos!

We calculated our meal was $5 for the two of us tonight.

Chicken breasts (with leftovers to use for chicken salad or curries)
Baked sweet potato
Salad

None of this takes long to prep. Let the potato bake for an hour. Bake the chicken. You can do other things while they cook.

Anonymous wrote:There are so many ways to prep ahead, clean as you go, and generally make it easier for yourself. But if you are committed to not learning any of those techniques or skills and are instead convinced that cooking = making a huge mess and doing it all in the moment, then what is there to say?

For *you,* it does sound better to eat at a restaurant. For people willing to learn some basic skills, techniques, tips, and tricks, and put in some practice, it's well worth it--rewarding, satisfying, even--to cook at home.

I really want to learn these skills but have no idea how to go about it. Any tips/resources?

Home cooked/prepped food is better than delivery and most restaurants.

Op you have my blessing to work 3 hrs extra at that rate and hire a home chef to cook a fresh healthy meal and clean up for your family each night. Life is short. Do it! As a scientist I can tell you that money can’t buy happiness but several studies show the trade you are thinking is the closest it gets. I also have an ultra wealthy neighbor who has a personal chef. My daughter plays with her daughter and I can say she has time for fulfilling activities and her kids eat healthy food that way. Sounds great.

Anonymous wrote:If you are forgoing $625/h to cook dinner then it is clearly not the best option economically for you.

Whatever is fastest is going to be the best from an economic standpoint.

But restaurant food is often less healthy than home cooked food. So that is another consideration. If I were you, and assuming you live in the DMV, I'd have Vegetable + Butcher delivered every night.

Good advice!