This year we’ve had such a hot summer so far, and they say it’ll only be getting hotter each year! Whilst the thought of endless lovely sunny days is amazing in theory, the reality is that it can make life harder across the board, most notably for me, in the kitchen!
Two things happen when the sun’s shining, for me:
- the heat dampens my appetite and I don’t crave the same kind of comfort food I usually mak
- I physically can’t face heating up the kitchen by cooking and risking making the whole house warmer!
But there are some things you can do during the heatwave or summertime which will take the decision-making out of cooking, so you can get on with enjoying the sun with a full tummy of delicious food!
1: Your air fryer is your best friend
If you want a hot meal, your air fryer will warm up your kitchen much less than your oven or hob would. This is because the heat remains a bit more contained, and it also tends to cook things for a shorter period of time with no pre-heat generally needed.
You can make most things in the air fryer now, and I have a range of air fryer recipes here. If you don’t yet have an airfryer, or are looking to upgrade yours, I use the Ninja Dual Air Fryer and love mine!
2: Take it outside!
If you have an outdoor socket and it’s a dry day, you could even plug your air fryer in and cook out in the garden whilst you sit outside!
Or, taking it one step further you could invest in one of the Ninja outdoor ovens and grills. I’ve had mine for YEARS now and adore them. The outdoor grill has an air-fry mode as well as grill and smoke — and I rarely use my BBQ now. It’s great for everything from hotdogs to fish, and if you’ve not already thought about one, I’d highly recommend it, as they have lots of great deals this summer on their website.
3: Plan ahead, build the plate mostly with cold bits!
Meals like a Turkish spread or flatbreads are my fave in the summer. Think a microwaved wrap, with hummus, salad and some chicken skewers. Make the most of the BBQ section in supermarkets, quickly air-fry your protein and stack up with the cooler bits!
Or keep it super simple, not every meal needs to be overly complicated, I LOVE a BLT sandwich in the sunshine!
4: Make some for tomorrow too!
Whilst cooking is the last thing you may want to do in the heat, if you’re doing it, you may as well do it properly! Add a couple of extra skewers or sausages in to cook whilst you’re at it. These can make a wrap or sandwich tomorrow with zero cooking time needed.
5: Use up the frozen food!
When it’s hot, I’m always limited on space for ice and ice cream! Now is a great time to eat the fish fingers which have been lingering as a picky easy dinner, even if it’s been in there because you don’t fancy it too much. Everything tastes better eaten in the garden anyway!
6: Keep the curtains drawn and windows closed
The same rules apply in the kitchen as they do in the rest of the house during hot hours, if the sun is glaring in, lock it out and open it back up later in the day. An open window with the sun beaming in will not cool you down.
7:The slow cooker!
The slow cooker is another thing which doesn’t add much extra heat to your kitchen and allows you to go on leisurely walks without worrying!
8: Be inspired by hotter countries!
Think about Mediterranean dining, mezze and tapas: big sharing boards of olives, dips, cured meats, cheese and good bread. Pick up a range of more picnicky bits and fridge staples; half of it is just assembling, no cooking at all.
If you do manage to grab one of the Ninja outdoor ovens and grills then I highly recommend making a italian spread like below:
9: Homemade ice lollies!
I always have great intentions with fruit but never manage to eat it all before it turns! Ice lollies are the perfect fix — blitz up the sad fruit with a bit of yoghurt or juice, pour into some lolly moulds and freeze. Cheap, easy, and a treat the kids (and I!) actually love!
10: Keep everyone topped up!
It’s easy to forget in the heat, but staying hydrated makes such a difference to how you feel. I keep a big jug going all day, and if I’ve been out sweating in the garden I’ll add some electrolytes to rehydrate properly, a game-changer on the really hot days!
