5 Quarantine Cooking Hacks When You’re Flying Solo in the Kitchen

Creative solutions I’ve come up with during the pandemic

Becca Bycott
Heated

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A person snipping a piece off of an herb that’s in a flowerpot on the windowsill above the stove they’re cooking at.
Photo: Tina Dawson via Unsplash

Cooking alone is both a blessing and a curse.

On one hand, you can make whatever you want, without worrying about whether or not your kids or partner will like it. There’s so much creative freedom in this, according to my sisters, who see my texts about new recipes I’m trying and wistfully reply, “I’d love to make that, but my family would never eat it.”

On the other hand, it’s only you when you run into problems you have to solve. Like cleaning up an entire kitchen after making a particularly messy meal. Or figuring out what to do when your CSA brings you more kale than any single human should eat in one week.

I’ve grown to love dining solo for a variety of reasons, but during the quarantine have definitely faced a few challenges on my own. Like any good cook, I’ve improvised with what I have on hand. Here are some of my recent favorite ways to solve problems that have popped up during the pandemic, when it’s always a socially distanced table for one in my home.

1. Turn to your toolbox

I have this giant bottle of pure vanilla that my mom got me in Mexico. I am a terrible baker and rarely use it for…

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