Do you watch tv while you cook?
I'm glad to say I cook MUCH more than I used to - nearly every meal if I can. I'm also cooking things ahead of time a lot more than I used to - random pots of beans or grains after dinner, for example. But what I'm realizing is that having a view of the TV is crucial for me (or being able to participate in the living room conversation, my house has a lot of open space).
If my plans after dinner are to relax and watch tv or a movie, it seems like so much less work to chop some vegetables or get something started for the next day if I don't have to interrupt my mindless entertainment. Granted, I pay less attention to the show, but it seems to make cooking feel less like work.
I've started taking note of whether there is a clear view to the tv/living room from the kitchen whenever I visit a friend's place, and I start to wonder if it affects their cooking habits as I think it is affecting mine.
How about you?
*disclaimer - Ironically enough, I don't even have a real tv, I have a REALLY big computer monitor hooked up to an old laptop dedicated to playing DVDs (netflix!), and streaming things off the internet.
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18 Comments:
Sometimes... depends what's on, and sometimes I listen to music. Most times these days, though, I talk to my granddaughter who likes to watch me cook, since she'll be off to college at the end of next week, and I'll be missing her the second she leaves!
Brownie at 1:17PM on 08/21/08
Music. Lots and lots of music is what I do while cooking. However, I should say, that while I OWN a big fancy TV, I do not have Cable or satilite or anything of the like. My TV is for video games, or maybe some movies when I get something good.
thepirateking at 1:46PM on 08/21/08
I have a small under-the-counter telly in my kitchen, as well as an under-the-counter iHome thingy that I can put my iPod in. I always have either one or the other on when I cook, and if my Other Half is home, I engage him in a conversation as well.
We also have a very open floor plan, so our kitchen, dining and living rooms are actually one large space with something that could be described, perhaps, as a quarter wall roughly in the middle (this "wall" is home to a fridge and a cupboard on the "kitchen side", a CD/DVD shelving unit on the dining room side and a large telly - on the living room side). My OT is very gracious - if he happens to watch the big telly in the living room while I'm cooking and have the small one in the kitchen on, he turns the sound down on and puts the CC on...he realises it's best for everybody that I'm happy while cooking:-).
That said, I never really follow whatever it is on telly while I'm cooking anyway, and if something that I really want to watch is on, I'll Tivo it and have something else on as I cook. I do sing along if I listen to the music though:-).
brooke29 at 2:23PM on 08/21/08
My preference would be to listen to music but due to the open floor plan of a smallish house and a 5 year old...I usually am watching spongebob or the backyardagains (even if the child decides halfway through to go play outside...then I am by myself, singing along with the cartoons ;)
hammondcheese at 3:12PM on 08/21/08
I could not live without my kitchen TV and I don't know what I'm going to do when Feb. '09 rolls around and all the signals go to digital. I refuse to hook a kitchen TV to cable. Sure hope one of those converter boxes work out.
By the way, I'm in the market for a new 5"-9" TV for the kitchen but I'm having a hell of a time trying to find a quality one. Really don't want to spend more than $100.00 and don't mind if it's only Black&White. Any ideas?
bessfour at 4:49PM on 08/21/08
I usually have TV on in the background but I don't have a TV in my kitchen (yet).
therealchiffonade at 4:51PM on 08/21/08
Ham i feel your pain i often am singing to bob the builder before i notice i am alone:)
i often am streaming as well that way i get to watch something other then pbs or qubo. (love quincy on netflix) I do get tired of prep work so that makes it easier. Great for when rolling out 1,000 cookies :)
love2cook at 5:10PM on 08/21/08
I have a brand new HD tv in my kitchen complete with the HD converter box. I got this because.... I like noise in the background since I live in my kitchen and B: ...I enjoy(ed) watching food porn on FN. I did a reality check the other day and realized that I hadn't flipped to FN for quite some time. DH hooked my laptop to itunes, and now I listen to my favorite tunes as my cooking inspiration: Blue OYSTER Cult, STRAWBERRY Fields Forever, Baby I'm a Want You by BREAD. Hehe...dating myself!
Josdean at 1:13AM on 08/22/08
At my house I am pretty much isolated from the livinn area where guests and tv are, so I have a cd/radio in the kichen and dance around while cooking.
pjracz10 at 5:25AM on 08/22/08
All the time.
- Press button on microwave.
- Press button on TV remote.
- Stir or rotate during commercials.
I love cooking!
FastFoodCritic at 7:29AM on 08/22/08
Sometimes the TV distracts me from cooking and things burn! :-O
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 11:20AM on 08/22/08
I was that kid in school who couldn't study without the TV on...made straight A's so I guess it didn't ruin my concentration. Anyway, yes, I must have the TV on while cooking - can't concentrate without it :) And it's those embarrassing, cheesy daytime soaps that keep the flow, well, flowing as I chop, stir, saute and bake.
Chef Jo at 1:00PM on 08/22/08
oh yeah, i watch the old movie channel. it's an automatic thing, lights, tv and action. let the cooking begin!
p.s. and i thought i was the only one doing this, lol.
jobug_tincher at 1:24PM on 08/22/08
I wish I had a TV in my kitchen. For long cooking sessions, I bring in a laptop or portable DVD player. I watch the Oceans 11 series and Lord of the Rings. Usually, I just throw in a CD. What I can't do is talk on the phone. I mess up something every time.
NuJoi at 5:39PM on 08/22/08
I listen to music while I cook. These days it's Charles Trenet, Edith Piaf and Astrud Gilberto...heaven.
I NEVER watch TV while I cook.....but.....um, I do watch it when I eat.....
Pointy at 6:06PM on 08/22/08
i don't have a television.
cybercita at 11:30PM on 08/22/08
that doesn't mean you can't still watch tv :P
joyyy at 12:26AM on 08/23/08
I REALLY want a TV in the kitchen - it's on my list when we move back in 2 years. Here, I can almost see the living room TV from the kitchen, and if it sounds like a part I need to see rather that just listen to (I like CSI and the like but have watched so many I can kind of see what they're talking about in my head...) I just step away from the stove/sink for a second.
cowprintrabbit at 12:51PM on 08/23/08