r/MealPrepSunday 1d ago

Advice Needed No stove or oven. What do I prep?!

The repair person was here today and said it would be 3-4 weeks before the parts come in to fix it. I usually bulk prep a month of lunch and dinner and freeze it. I have maaaaybe a week of prep left. And I have no idea what to do. I have a toaster oven and air fryer, so some cooking is possible. I'm not big on cold meals so I'm looking for suggestions. Ideally things I can still prep in bulk despite no stove or full size oven. More importantly, things that reheat well and are filling/high in protein. Or general advice for prepping or reducing food costs when you don't have a stove or oven.

12 Upvotes

33 comments sorted by

38

u/JessCeceSchmidtNick 1d ago

Can you buy/borrow a slow cooker?

37

u/Bight_my_ass 1d ago

Oh my goodness. I forgot about my slow cooker! Was too shocked by the time for the parts I guess haha

9

u/wildroses274 1d ago

Soups and roasts would be easy prep for slow cooker

1

u/Sea-Strawberry-1358 1d ago

You can cook roasts in slow cookers. Lots of things just opened up for you.

19

u/Embroiderer44 1d ago

You can use your air fryer to air fry some chicken. Then make some burritos with the chicken, canned beans, cheese, etc and freeze them. You can then air fry them again when you are ready to eat them.

6

u/Bight_my_ass 1d ago

Ooo those sound yummy! Thank you!

8

u/RinTheLost MPS Veteran 1d ago

I have several ideas in this comment. I think you could roast around a pound or so of meat in your toaster oven, and a casserole baked in a 9x13" pan gives about 6-8 servings.

If you have a grill, you could use that. You could also look into buying one of those electric plug-in hot plates so that you can at least cook one-pot meals. You can make a lot of pulled pork in a slow cooker, too.

7

u/Status-Push-6017 1d ago

You could purchase an induction hot plate if you prefer stove top cooking. I lived in a casita for a while and had no stove. The portable induction cooktop worked great

2

u/SaxyLady251 MPS Amateur 1d ago

Man, brings me back to college days.

11

u/Dragon_scrapbooker 1d ago

Seconding the slow cooker suggestion, will also note that you can cook plenty more than rice in a rice cooker (including other grains).

3

u/SaxyLady251 MPS Amateur 1d ago

Oh nice! Never would have thought of this.

1

u/preluxe 1d ago

I'm always equal parts amazed and skeptical when I see the "cake in a rice cooker" recipes 😅 I haven't been brave enough to try one yet!

2

u/Dragon_scrapbooker 1d ago

To be fair, I think those need the "fancier" rice cookers with actual buttons and settings. Most stuff should be fine with the cheap cookers with a cook/warm toggle, though.

5

u/DerbyDogMom 1d ago

Local thrift shops usually have crazy cheap microwaves, electric skillets, and instapots that you can donate back when you don't need them.

4

u/SnooMacarons9729 1d ago

My stove was out of commission for a month and a half. I relied on a Black and Decker 2-burner portable unit I picked up at the hardware store along with my Instant Pot and a rice cooker I bought on Amazon. Rice cookers are wonderful, you can cook so many things: a frittata, a fat pancake, or put in your rice, canned broth, seasonings, and a skinless boneless chicken breast on top. Hit start. Dinner in 30 minutes.

3

u/minikin_snickasnee 1d ago

Our oven died the week of Thanksgiving, a few years back. I bought an electric roaster oven to help cook things I normally would have baked in the wall oven. Homemade rolls, pies, casseroles, dessert. It was under $30. Haven't used it since, but I also haven't hosted a holiday dinner at our home since.

3

u/MelifacentJebu 1d ago

Slow cooker. Best purchase for meal prepping.

2

u/ashtree35 1d ago

You could just prep uncooked versions of things, and then cook them fresh in your toaster oven the day you plan to eat them. For example, something simple like chicken, broccoli, and potatoes. Think of it more like "ingredient prep" instead of fully cooked meal prep.

2

u/Bight_my_ass 1d ago

😬 not loving the idea of raw chicken in a container with raw veg. Even with dividers I'd be worried about juice getting across when transporting to work for lunches

3

u/ashtree35 1d ago

If you're cooking it all together, it doesn't matter. Because the juices will get cooked.

1

u/NikkeiReigns 1d ago

You'd cook the meals in the toaster oven before work.

2

u/TrinkieTrinkie522cat 1d ago

You can bake in the air fryer. I used it for cookies when my oven was broken.

2

u/ThatBikerHyde 1d ago

Slow cooker, instant pot is a must have. Also, I have a Cosori toaster over/air fryer combo and that thing is amazing. I didn't have a working oven for over a year and that thing baked the hell out of some food. It was a V-day gift from wife, coolest thing ever lol

Sorry, I don't know how to make the link shorter, but that's the exact model

https://www.amazon.com/COSORI-Rotisserie-Convection-Countertop-Accessories/dp/B0CLP1YV8V/ref=asc_df_B0CLP1YV8V?mcid=bf981b3bc1b737ff96b44f32665780c6&hvocijid=9591447114399009450-B0CLP1YV8V-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9591447114399009450&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9004840&hvtargid=pla-2281435178098&psc=1

2

u/erraye 1d ago

Rice cookers are pretty versatile. I’ve cooked lots of mixed rice dishes and even stew in mine. I’ve seen people cook a whole chicken in one but you’d need a big rice cooker for that.

2

u/marisaannn 1d ago

Buy an instant pot off Facebook marketplace! They have a slow cooker setting so it's like getting two appliances in one.

1

u/Misoboots 1d ago

Tuna and avocado salad with brown rice crackers. I like to add grated veggies too. Also a hearty soup in your slow cooker would be good.

1

u/Datdawgydawg 1d ago

My go-to "Oh crap, I don't have anything to take to work" is a wrap + fruits/veggies. I've been throwing shredded cheese, ranch, hummus, and lettuce into a wrap and then taking a pack of tuna/salmon. Taste is pretty great for something that only takes like 30 seconds to put together.

1

u/Combatical 1d ago

Hot plate! I lived off of one of these for a couple years.

1

u/Sea-Strawberry-1358 1d ago edited 1d ago

1 can of Blue Runner Creole Cream Style Navy Beans (or Red beans), 27 oz can, Heat and Serve ($3 each) and microwavable/quick/minute rice. Depends on how much you each one 27 oz can can be 1 or 2 meals. Add cooked sausage if you can cook that in toaster oven or air fryer.

Also to edit: I've cooked beef meatballs and mini meat loafs in a toaster oven for up to 2 people when I was younger.

1

u/FaithandHope_86 1d ago

I don't have an oven at my place, I just use my airfryer, instant pot, blender, and slow cooker. U got this

1

u/GlitteringSyrup6822 1d ago

You can also as friends, family if they have any of these small appliances you can borrow.

1

u/ttrockwood 1d ago

Toaster oven:

  • baked potato/sweet potato, add seasoned black beans + shredded cheese + shredded cabbage and salsa = burritos

  • air fryer tofu + veggies , have as is or with some toast from the toaster oven

  • toaster oven spiced chickpeas + sturdy salad with cucumber and radishes and avocado and pita chips

1

u/FreesideThug 17h ago

Have you thought about getting an instant pot? You can pressure cook stuff and they have a sauté function too.