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Viewing How to Cook in your Hotel Room without a Stove or MicrowaveHow to Cook in your Hotel Room without a Stove or Microwave
By Kathy Steinemann
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Although many hotels provide cooking facilities, the rooms are generally more expensive. However, there is a way to cook small nutritious meals without a stove or microwave. This article explains how. Backpackers can also benefit from the advice. Are you a frequent traveler who balks at the price of a room with a kitchen? Or perhaps a backpacker looking for alternatives to canned foods, dried fruits, and cold cereal with milk? Or maybe a mom looking for ways to make the kids a snack late at night after a tiring day of traveling or touring? You can prepare small tasty meals in your hotel room, hostel, or even over a campfire. All you need is a way to heat water or liquids, the correct ingredients, and a couple of small utensils. Most backpackers will already have some kind of a portable stove or a way to make a small fire. For everyone else, do an Internet search for one of the following: • portable beverage heater • coffee immersion heater • cup immersion heater • electric immersion heater • travel immersion heater • travel beverage heater What you are looking for is a small heating coil that will boil liquids in a mug, large tin can, or saucepan. The most common configuration is a unit that looks like a thick metal rod coming out of a plastic holder attached to an electrical cord. The rod forms a couple of loops at the bottom and feeds back into the holder. Some heaters use a vehicle cigarette lighter for power. Others have a standard electrical plug that may switch from 120W to 240W. Some brands include an adapter to enable switching between the two voltages. Many heaters have a clip that secures to the side of a coffee mug. They may include a travel pouch or other accessories. Purchase a unit that works best for your needs. In addition to a heat source, you will need one of the following: • small saucepan • large tin can • tempered glass measuring cup • any container that can be used to boil water Finally, you will require a heatproof container small enough to fit inside whatever you choose from the above list. It must provide sufficient space for the immersion heater to boil water in the larger container, which in turn heats the contents of the smaller one. A one-pint mason jar usually works well. One or more glass baby bottles would suffice if you want to make several items. Size is not as much of an issue if you are a backpacker using a couple of tin cans and your own heat source. However, there must be enough room to provide space for the smaller can while boiling water in the larger one. It is now easy to combine ingredients in the smaller container(s), immerse in the larger one, boil the water, and wait for your meal or snack to cook. This method also works well to warm up things like cans of beans or soup. If heating a canned item, be sure to use a can opener to open the lid partially before cooking. This allows steam to escape. NEVER try to open a can filled with hot ingredients. You can use the immersion heater to boil clear liquids. However, do not try to place it directly into thick soups or liquids like cream of mushroom soup. The element may overheat and become inoperable. Rice Pudding Guesstimate or measure the following ingredients into a small container: • 3/4 cup instant rice • 3/4 cup milk, water, or juice • 1 egg • sugar (optional) • handful of raisins or dried fruit • any other desired ingredients Mix ingredients well and cover container loosely with a lid. Place into larger container. Position beverage heater according to instructions. Fill outer container with hot water until the beverage heater coil (the round part) is completely under water, but do not cover the inner container. Bring water in the larger container to a boil. After 20 minutes, UNPLUG HEATER, carefully remove pudding, and stir. Check to see if it is completely cooked. If not, return to water, plug in, and cook for another 5 minutes. Recheck as necessary until pudding is done, always remembering to UNPLUG HEATER before removing the smaller container. Backpackers will not have a heater, but the cooking methodology is basically the same. You can fit all items into your suitcase by filling the smaller container with the heater wrapped in socks or underwear. Wrap the container itself with another item of clothing, and place inside the larger container. Be sure to experiment with various recipes/cooking times at home before you travel. Now, what else can you dream up using ingredients from your backpack or the local convenience store? About the Author: Kathy is an author and webmaster who provides content for several websites, including 111 Travel Directory and a popular travel tips site. Looking for budget accommodations? Try 111 Hostel Directory. Article source: 111 Travel Directory: Triple1.com (triple one dot com) |
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