With the South African Weather Service issuing Orange Level 6 and Yellow Level 2 warnings for severe thunderstorms, heavy rainfall up to 50mm, large hail, and localised flooding across parts of the country, households are turning to slow cooking, batch meals, and one-pot recipes as a practical response.
Preparing warm, nourishing meals in bulk does more than fight off the chill - it stretches groceries further, eases stress during potential power disruptions, and brings essential comfort to stormy days.
A Yellow Level 2 warning is also in place for parts of the North West and Free State as well as areas along the Lesotho border.
For households facing disrupted travel and the possibility of power cuts, cooking a large pot of food can offer more than just comfort.
It can reduce the number of meals that need to be prepared, help use ingredients before they spoil, and stretch a grocery budget.
Why cold weather sends us back to the pot
There is a reason warm, filling meals become more appealing when temperatures drop. Food is closely connected to memory, routine and emotional well-being, particularly during periods of stress.
Health expert Maria Ascencao said the food people eat can influence mood, energy and brain function.
“Comfort eating is a way to deal with stress or loneliness and often includes sugary, salty, highly processed or unhealthy foods such as chocolate, potato chips, soda or even heavy steak or casserole dishes,” she said.
Ascencao said comfort food itself is not necessarily a problem when eaten in moderation. The focus should be on making nourishing choices.
“Eating comfort food in moderation is not a problem, but it's best to choose nutritious, healthy foods which will help improve mood,” she said.
She recommended a balanced diet that includes fruit, green leafy vegetables, lean protein, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, cold-pressed olive oil, avocado and fatty fish.
“The more balanced and healthy your diet, the more balanced your brain will function,” said Ascencao.
One pot, several meals
A large pot of stew, soup or curry can become one of the most economical meals during cold weather.
Slow cooking allows households to use affordable cuts of meat while adding beans, lentils and vegetables to increase the volume of a meal. Root vegetables can bulk up a stew while leftover vegetables and herbs can be used in soups rather than ending up in the bin.
The same approach works with batch cooking. Preparing enough food for several meals means less time spent cooking and fewer ingredients used throughout the week.
For families facing long commutes or difficult road conditions, having food ready at home can also reduce the temptation to order takeaway meals after a demanding day.
Cooking when the power goes out
Severe weather can also change how households approach cooking. With strong winds creating the possibility of power outages, methods that use less electricity can become useful.
Thermal cooking is one option. A pot can be brought to the boil before being placed inside an insulated cooking bag where retained heat allows the food to continue cooking.
Wonderbag founder Sarah Collins said the method can also help preserve moisture and nutrients.
“Cooking in the Wonderbag keeps the moisture inside your food, and the nutrients don’t boil away, thus promoting healthy food,” Collins said.
She said the method also uses less water and can tenderise meat while allowing flavours to develop.
Cooking smarter during stormy weeks
The return to slow cooking is not about abandoning convenience. It is about finding ways to make everyday cooking work harder.
A single pot can provide dinner one night, lunch the next day and another meal later in the week. A stew can be served with rice, pap or bread depending on what is already available at home.
It also creates an opportunity to plan around weather disruptions. If heavy rain makes travelling difficult, a prepared meal can mean one less reason to leave home.
As South Africans wait out the latest cold spell, the humble cooking pot offers a simple response. Cook once, make it count, and turn what is already in the kitchen into several meals.
In uncertain weather and tighter economic times, slow cooking is proving that comfort and practicality can share the same pot.
lutho.pasiya@nationalmg.co.za