Want a drought-conscious kitchen? Swap your cooking methods

If you’ve been taking heed of the Western Cape’s water restrictions, then you probably don’t even need this but for those who are STILL abusing water and actually don’t get how serious a situation us Capetonians find ourselves in, please start shifting your mindset because if you don’t, Day Zero won’t be a fun day for you. 

I’ve rounded up a couple of smart cooking tips to ensure you minimize the amount of water you’re cooking with (it all adds up) and if you need a reminder… we’re only going to have 25 Litres to work with so, umm… ja. 

ALSO READ: 10 Excellent water saving tips from an eco-conscious restaurateur and chef

Instead of: 

>Grilling, baking or roasting your food directly on a baking sheet – rather put a piece of baking paper or tinfoil underneath which will catch all the sticky residual bits that usually require some elbow grease and a lot of water to remove! 

>Blanching vegetables – rather steam or roast them in some olive oil.

>Boiling and poaching eggs – rather scramble or fry them.

>Boiling rice – rather cook it pilaf-style. Follow this recipe.

>Boiling pasta in water – rather cook the pasta in the sauce that you’re going to serve it with (works best with shorter pasta like penne and macaroni). 

>Using water to deglaze your pan when making a sauce – rather use store-bought stock. Plus, it will be more flavourful!

>Boiling potatoes – rather bake them. Need a recipe? Try this one.

>Drowning your fruit and veggies in tap water – rather rince them quickly and thoroughly with clarified water and peel the skin off with a vegetable peeler.

>Using several pots and pans to cook, try cooking one-pot meals. We’ve got a list of 5 for you right here. 

>Defrosting frozen food in water – rather let it defrost overnight in the fridge. 

>Lastly, get cosy with your microwave (see these 22 microwave recipes that will change your life) and if you are going to be cooking with water, PLEASE RE-USE IT!

SHARE your water-saving cooking tips with us in the comments section below!