What to cook when I don't have an oven?

Hemptress · May 2012

I've just started trying to lose weight, but I've run into a problem. I can't cook many very healthy meals without an oven. I'm trying to get one asap, but money is pretty tight right now, so all I have is a ceramic cook-top and a microwave. Can anyone recommend me some healthy meals I can cook with my limited equipment? Also, I was wondering what the best microwaved meals are - like healthy choice, lean cuisine, etc. Thanks!

AdamBellfpt · May 2012

The oven doesn't have to e the only method to cook healthily! Do you have non-stick pan? You only really need 1. The non stick means you can really cut down/cut out oil!

Have you hear of oil spray? It's great each spray is about a calorie! Or try olive oil but not too much

So ideas depends on what you like. Chicken breast wise I have loads of recipes: marinade in herbs an spices of your choice and pan fry using a non stick pan a few spras of oil. Or use turkey mince for a low fat bolognese or chile con carne! What you have with it depends on what sort of diet plan you are following!

BrendarB · May 2012

crockpot is your friend - repeat after me - crockpot is your friend

Chicken breast
jar of salsa
set on low for 4-6 hours - eat

potato, carrots, celery, chuck of pot roast beef, little water and seasoning
set on low for 8-10 hours - eat

pork shoulder
season with salt, pepper, garlic
set on low for 12 hours - eat

secretlobster · May 2012

Toaster ovens usually run pretty cheap!

When I was losing weight, I didn't do a lot of baking. I did do a lot of sauteeing, soup-making, and veggie steaming (can be done in a microwave). I stir fried in olive oil all the time and still lost 40lbs

lorac321 · May 2012

Ziplock makes some awesome steamer bags. You can even cook chicken in them...

Acg67 · May 2012

You can cook a ton of stuff on the stovetop, stir frys, pasta, rice, steaks, burgers, veggies etc etc

Duck_Puddle · May 2012

I rarely use the oven-I'm a crappy cook. My dinner is some sort of seasoned microwaved fish & a bag of steam-in-the-bag frozen veggies (or parts of different bags for variety). Yes-that's what I eat every night at home. I don't eat microwave meals like lean cuisines (my own personal "microwave" meal has 3 times as much food for the same calories & much less sodium). I really am an awful cook-but hopefully people with skills in this area will come along & give you ideas of things you can cook on the stovetop. I really don't consider the lack of an oven to be a deterrent to my weight loss-I don't think I've used my oven since about January-ish. But, it's not a big shift for me either-I'm not used to stuff cooked (or burned in my case) in an oven. So it's really just been a shift in what I stick in the microwave. I'm guessing most people aren't like this.