STRATEGIC TIPS FOR COOKING DELICIOUS MEALS ON A BOAT

Your boat’s kitchen (known as a galley) isn’t as elaborate as the setup you have at home. It’s very compact, you have to work with the boat’s limited power and there’s a lot of movement caused by the waves. Despite all that, a galley is sufficient enough for you to prepare delicious and tasty meals while on the water. You just have to do a bit more planning and preparation beforehand. Here are some strategic tips for cooking delectable meals while on a boat.

MEAL PREPARATION

Due to the limited space, it’s important to plan your meals ahead of time. There’s less stress involved if you already have an idea of the meals you want to prepare each day and thus, you can be more strategic with your cooking process. What about your appliances? Is there a stove, an oven and/or a grill? What’s the size of the refrigerator? If you’re renting a boat, make sure you check. This is so you know what tools you’ll have at your disposal.

If your itinerary has planned stopovers, find out if a location is known for certain ingredients, meat or produce. You can incorporate these into your meals to create even more exotic dishes

STICK TO THE ESSENTIALS

Good cooks bring nothing or than the cooking utensils they need. It pays to stock up on non-perishable food. As for ingredients, stick to those that can be used for a variety of dishes such as peppers, potatoes, garlic, onions, noodles, rice and eggs. Likewise, have a wide range of spices and condiments to provide extra flavour.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SEA WATER

Staying hydrated is always important when out on the seas. Drinking water is precious so make sure drinking water is not used for anything else. Use seawater for just about everything else.

AVOID INJURIES

It’s hard to create delicious meals if your boat’s kitchen is a safety hazard. Avoid cooking with hot water and oil if there’s a lot of water movement. Make sure that sharp objects are properly stored. Have non-slip mats and enough towels to keep the kitchen area dry.

LIGHT BUT FILLING MEALS

When thinking about what meals to serve, dishes that are light but filling are the way to go. Heavy meals are great if you are all planning to relax but won’t help if activities are planned after mealtime. It’s much easier to get seasick with a stomach loaded with a heavy meal.

CONSIDER WATER AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

If you’re headed for rough waters or if there’s a storm, delaying full meals is just common sense. Having easy-to-prepare dishes such as sandwiches and finger foods, for just such cases, is a sign of a seasoned boat chef.

With so much going on, you can expect everyone to get hungrier than normal. Being prepared for that is another sign of a boat chef with experience.

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