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Student kitchen tips

Useful shortcuts from the recipes: less washing up, safer storage, and better results with basic equipment.

Air Fryer Cheesy Tomato Spaghetti

No oil needed: the sauce keeps the spaghetti from drying out. If you grease the dish, a light spray is plenty. Extra oil isn't necessary and isn't healthy. The splash of soy sauce adds savoury depth without making it taste Asian.

Storage: Refrigerate leftovers for up to 2 days and reheat until piping hot, adding a splash of water.

Salmon Fried Rice

A great way to use leftover cooked salmon. Just flake it in with the rice.

Storage: Cool leftovers within 1 hour, refrigerate, and eat within 1 day. Reheat only once, until steaming hot all the way through.

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Air Fryer Egg Fried Rice

Go easy on the oil — a light spray or half a teaspoon tossed through is all an air fryer needs. Pouring in extra oil or fat isn't necessary and isn't healthy.

Storage: Cool leftovers within 1 hour, refrigerate, and eat within 1 day. Reheat only once, until steaming hot all the way through.

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Garlic Butter Soy Fried Rice

The whole dish is only as good as the garlic, so take it off the heat as soon as it's golden.

Storage: Cool leftovers within 1 hour, refrigerate, and eat within 1 day. Reheat only once, until steaming hot all the way through.

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Curry Fried Rice

Curry powder turns plain leftover rice into a whole meal for pennies.

Storage: Cool leftovers within 1 hour, refrigerate, and eat within 1 day. Reheat only once, until steaming hot all the way through.

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Microwave Pea & Spring Onion Fried Rice

Stirring the egg into the rice (instead of cooking it separately) gives an even, fried-rice texture without a pan.

Storage: Cool leftovers within 1 hour, refrigerate, and eat within 1 day. Reheat only once, until steaming hot all the way through.

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Tofu Veg Fried Rice

Cooking the tofu first and adding it back at the end keeps it crispy.

Storage: Cool leftovers within 1 hour, refrigerate, and eat within 1 day. Reheat only once, until steaming hot all the way through.

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Sausage Egg Fried Rice

A cheap student take on lap cheong fried rice, using ordinary sausages.

Storage: Cool leftovers within 1 hour, refrigerate, and eat within 1 day. Reheat only once, until steaming hot all the way through.

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Soy Tuna & Pea Fried Rice

Add the tuna late so it stays in flakes rather than turning to paste.

Storage: Cool leftovers within 1 hour, refrigerate, and eat within 1 day. Reheat only once, until steaming hot all the way through.

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Thai-Style Chili Garlic Fried Rice

Don't let the garlic go dark brown. It turns bitter fast on a high heat.

Storage: Cool leftovers within 1 hour, refrigerate, and eat within 1 day. Reheat only once, until steaming hot all the way through.

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Spicy Cabbage Fried Rice with Fried Egg

If you have kimchi, swap it in for the cabbage and chili. That makes it kimchi fried rice.

Storage: Cool leftovers within 1 hour, refrigerate, and eat within 1 day. Reheat only once, until steaming hot all the way through.

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Chicken Fried Rice

Leftover cooked chicken works well. Add it with the rice and heat until piping hot.

Storage: Cool leftovers within 1 hour, refrigerate, and eat within 1 day. Reheat only once, until steaming hot all the way through.

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Egg Fried Rice with Peas & Spring Onion

Cold day-old rice fries into separate grains. Freshly cooked rice goes gluey.

Storage: Cool leftovers within 1 hour, refrigerate, and eat within 1 day. Reheat only once, until steaming hot all the way through.

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Ginger Egg Rice Porridge

A congee-style comfort bowl. Gentle and cheap when you're ill or skint.

Storage: Refrigerate for up to 1 day. Loosen with water when reheating until piping hot.

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Peanut Chicken Rice Bowl

Add a pinch of chili flakes to the sauce if you like satay with some heat.

Storage: Cool leftovers within 1 hour, refrigerate, and eat within 1 day. Reheat only once, until steaming hot all the way through.

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Air Fryer Sticky Soy Chicken & Rice

Go easy on the oil — a light spray or half a teaspoon tossed through is all an air fryer needs. Pouring in extra oil or fat isn't necessary and isn't healthy.

Storage: Cool leftovers within 1 hour, refrigerate, and eat within 1 day. Reheat only once, until steaming hot all the way through.

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Air Fryer Crispy Soy Tofu Rice Bowl

Go easy on the oil — a light spray or half a teaspoon tossed through is all an air fryer needs. Pouring in extra oil or fat isn't necessary and isn't healthy.

Storage: Cool leftovers within 1 hour, refrigerate, and eat within 1 day. Reheat only once, until steaming hot all the way through.

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Easy Mapo-Style Tofu Rice

A simplified version without chili bean paste. Stir gently so the tofu cubes stay whole.

Storage: Cool leftovers within 1 hour, refrigerate, and eat within 1 day. Reheat only once, until steaming hot all the way through.

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Microwave Ginger Soy Salmon Rice Bowl

Microwave power varies. Check the salmon at 2½ minutes and add 30-second bursts if needed.

Storage: Best eaten straight away. Refrigerate leftovers for up to 1 day and reheat until steaming hot.

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Soy Fried Egg Rice Bowl

With leftover rice, this is ready in 5 minutes.

Storage: Cool leftovers within 1 hour, refrigerate, and eat within 1 day. Reheat only once, until steaming hot all the way through.

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Thai-Style Coconut Chicken Curry

Curry paste gives a more authentic flavour than curry powder if you can get it.

Storage: Cool leftovers within 1 hour, refrigerate, and eat within 1 day. Reheat only once, until steaming hot all the way through.

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Japanese-Style Curry Rice

Makes two portions: tomorrow's is even better once the curry has thickened.

Storage: Cool leftovers within 1 hour, refrigerate, and eat within 1 day. Reheat only once, until steaming hot all the way through.

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Teriyaki-Style Chicken Rice Bowl

Chicken thighs stay juicier than breast and are usually cheaper.

Storage: Cool leftovers within 1 hour, refrigerate, and eat within 1 day. Reheat only once, until steaming hot all the way through.

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Dan Dan-Style Tofu Noodles

A vegetarian take on dan dan noodles. Crumbled tofu fried hard gives the mince-like texture.

Storage: Best eaten straight away. Refrigerate leftovers for up to 1 day and reheat until steaming hot.

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