How to Cook Meals in Your Hotel Room

Travelers sometimes find themselves staying in hotels for weeks or even months. After trying every dish in the restaurant and room service menu, the taste can become stale, leaving them craving the flavors of home-cooked meals. To compensate for the lack of a kitchen, consider these creative solutions. Keep in mind that most hotels only allow microwave cooking; otherwise, you risk fines or eviction if they discover you using other cooking appliances.

Cooking with a Coffee Maker

Step 1. Clean the Carafe and Filter Thoroughly.

Make sure to clean the carafe and filter thoroughly. Rinse them with hot, soapy water to eliminate any coffee odors. If the bathroom sink is too small, ask the front desk where the public sink is or request staff to clean the coffee maker for you.

• For most recipes, you can remove the mesh filter altogether to allow water to flow directly.
• Avoid coffee makers that have dark, reddish-orange stains or a chemical smell, as they may have been used for brewing methamphetamine, making the coffee unsafe to consume.

Step 2. Make Oatmeal.

Prepare oatmeal by placing two packets of instant oatmeal into the carafe. Add a separate packet of honey, a packet of fruit jam, and a pinch of salt. Pour 240-280 ml of water into the coffee maker, turn it on, and the oatmeal will be ready in about 5 minutes.

• For added flavor, place a fruity herbal tea bag in the mesh filter.
• You can use regular oatmeal (not instant), but it may take longer to cook.
• No honey? Try adding pieces of fresh or dried fruit instead.

Step 3. Make Soft-Boiled Eggs.

Carefully place eggs in the carafe and let hot water drip onto them. Leave the eggs in the hot water for a few minutes. Repeat if necessary.

• There are a few ways to check if the eggs are done. Try spinning an egg, then stop it quickly with your finger. If it wobbles, it’s still raw. [2] X Source
• The yolk will remain runny. It’s very difficult to hard-boil eggs this way.
• If the egg white isn’t fully cooked, it shouldn’t be eaten.

Step 4. Cook Instant Noodles in the Coffee Maker.

To prepare instant noodles, place the noodles in the carafe. Add enough water to cover the noodles. Turn on the coffee maker. Once the water has passed through, let the noodles sit for about three minutes, or until soft. Then carefully drain the water and add your seasonings.

Step 5. Use the Coffee Maker as a Steamer for Vegetables.

You can use the coffee maker as a vegetable steamer by placing carrots, broccoli, and other veggies in the coffee maker’s mesh filter. Run water through the machine several times until the desired tenderness is achieved.

• Avoid highly aromatic vegetables like onions or peppers. Future guests may curse your name for having coffee with a spicy aftertaste.
• You can steam more vegetables simultaneously in the carafe, but the water will soften them too much. Drain the water more frequently using this method.

Step 6. Cook Quick-Cooking Rice.

Prepare quick-cooking rice by placing rice in the coffee maker. Add the recommended amount of water according to the package instructions. Keep the burner on until the rice is well-cooked and has absorbed most of the water.

Step 7. Mix Hot Water with Sauce Packets or Instant Mashed Potatoes.

Mix hot water with sauce packets or instant mashed potatoes. Run water through the coffee maker and then pour the heated water into the seasoning mix or instant potato flakes. Do not run anything through the coffee maker except water. These machines are designed for hot water only and it directly contacts the heating element. Sauces will burn if they touch the heating element and damage the coffee maker.

Step 8. Cook Meat with Caution.

Be cautious when cooking meat. The old “coffee maker meat” recipe isn’t tracked by food safety organizations, but it’s easy to see that there could be issues. A good coffee maker heats water to 93ºC (200ºF), which is close to boiling and high enough to cook thinly sliced chicken breast in about 15 minutes, provided it’s flipped halfway through. However, many coffee makers, especially old or cheap ones typically found in hotel rooms, heat to much lower temperatures that may not be safe for meat cooking. You can try, but do so at your own risk.

• The water level should cover the meat by about half. Drain excess water as needed.
• Once the meat is fully cooked, add a bit of milk, butter, and black pepper. Let it sit for another minute, then remove from heat.

Step 9. Use the Heating Element as a Stove.

Remove the carafe to find a slightly warm heating element underneath. You can cook on it using a small heat-resistant plate or tray made from heavy-duty aluminum foil. If you need ideas, check out the recipes section for using a clothes iron.

• Grilling will take much longer than on a stove.[6] X Source You won’t be able to achieve the temperatures needed for game or thick cuts of meat.

Iron Cooking Recipes

Step 1. Prepare the Iron.

Find an iron, which is commonly available in most hotel closets or can be requested. Turn off the steam and set the iron to the cotton or linen setting before cooking.

• Ensure the water reservoir is empty, or you may have trouble heating the iron.

Step 2. Remove Food from Heat Immediately if it Begins to Smoke.

If the food starts to smoke, remove it from the heated surface immediately. Most hotel rooms have smoke detectors that cannot be turned off. If you see smoke, quickly remove the food and turn off the iron for a few minutes before continuing to cook.

Step 3. Make a Grilled Cheese Sandwich or Quesadilla.

Prepare a grilled cheese sandwich or quesadilla by placing the sandwich or quesadilla between two layers of foil. Fold the edges of the foil together to seal the “envelope.” Press the iron down on the packet for about 30 seconds. Carefully flip the packet without tearing the foil and heat for another 30 seconds on the other side. Repeat as needed.

• You can make any kind of sandwich this way, provided all ingredients are cooked or safe to eat raw. For dessert, try a peanut butter and chocolate chip sandwich.

Step 4. Cook Bacon Using the Iron.

Cut bacon strips in half and place them between two sheets of foil, sealing the edges together. Apply pressure with the iron onto the entire foil packet. Use a fork to carefully open the packet every couple of minutes to check if the bacon is done, allowing steam to escape. It will take about 15 minutes for crispy bacon.

• You may need to drain excess grease occasionally to avoid soggy bacon. Dispose of the grease in the trash or onto another dish (like cooked rice), but don’t pour it down the drain.
• Cooking raw meat with an iron requires some bravery. To minimize the risk of bacterial contamination, wait until the bacon is fully crispy.[9] X Source Food Safety and Inspection Service of the USDA Go to source

Step 5. Set the Iron Upside Down to Use as a Skillet.

Set the iron upside down to use it as a skillet. Use a couple of rolled-up towels or other small items to create a stand for the iron. Ensure it’s securely wedged to create a steady surface.

• To reduce the risk of burns, keep the iron on an ironing board.

Step 6. Create a Foil Tray.

Make a foil tray. Always use heavy-duty aluminum foil to line between the iron and the food. Fold the edges of the foil upwards to prevent any liquids from spilling. This will protect the food from contamination and keep the iron clean.

• If the foil doesn’t say “heavy-duty,” use it in two layers.

Step 7. Cook Food in the Foil Tray.

Cook food in the foil tray. It’s best to choose foods that can be eaten raw or have clear visible signs of when they are fully cooked. Here are some options:

• Grease the tray with butter and crack 1-2 eggs into it. Cook for 7-10 minutes or until set, then flip and fry on the other side.
• Wrap vegetables in greased foil and cook until they reach the desired temperature.
• Wrap scallops in the foil tray and cook until they turn milky white or no longer translucent.[11] X Source Food Safety and Inspection Service of the USDA Go to source
• Cook shrimp until they turn pink and opaque.[12] X Source Food Safety and Inspection Service of the USDA Go to source

Step 8. Remove the Tray with Clothespins.

Use clothespins to remove the tray. When the food is ready, use two wooden clothespins to grab the foil. The foil will be hot, so avoid touching it with bare hands.

• Don’t use plastic clothespins, as they may melt.

Microwave Dishes

Step 1. Cooking Eggs in the Microwave.

You can make high-quality egg dishes in the microwave if you know what you’re doing. This method has the lowest risk of explosion, which can be disastrous for the microwave and your hotel bill:

• Separate the whites from the yolks. Place them in two separate bowls. Poke a hole in the yolk and cover each bowl with a plastic lid or paper towel. Microwave the whites for 30-60 seconds, then the yolk for 20-30 seconds. Let them sit for 2 minutes before eating to finish cooking.

Step 2. Cook Pasta in the Microwave.

Cook a small portion of pasta by covering it with water. Heat it for 3-4 minutes longer than the usual cooking time. Check every couple of minutes, stirring and rotating the bowl.

Step 3. Microwave a Baked Potato.

Wash the potato in the sink, then poke holes in the skin with a fork on all four sides. Heat it for 5 minutes, then turn it over and cook for another 3-5 minutes. Check occasionally by poking it with a fork. The potato is done when the center is soft. Let it sit for another five minutes for final cooking, then cut and enjoy with butter and salt.

Step 4. Try Other Recipes.

Microwave ovens are versatile cooking appliances. Look for articles with many other recipes and general cooking tips.

• Some recipes may require frozen ingredients. If your room doesn’t have a mini-fridge, ask the manager to provide one.