Korean Job Discussion Forums

[simon_capetown]

Hi
I'm coming to Korea as part of the Epik program in March 2011.
Does anyone know if the George Foreman grill or something similar is freely available?
I'm a bit of a health nut and plan to cook chicken breast or fish, and steamed vegetables at least 5 times per week.
Can anyone tell me what this type of cooking would cost per month.
I assume you can buy chicken breasts or frozen fish in bulk?
Thank you.

[Died By Bear]

Yes, I had one in Korea - we ordered it online. Reasonable price too.

Can't tell you about costs, because I didn't get involved with shopping runs.

[zhanknight]

You CAN buy them in bulk, but your apartment will likely have a tiny fridge that doesn't hold bulk items so well. If it's like our fridge, the freezer section won't ever get cold enough to actually freeze anything.

In our area of Seoul, we can get two chicken breasts for about 2000 Won, some carrots for about 1000 Won, and many other veggies on the cheap too. I will usually just grab whatever we need the day we plan on using it. There are lots of tiny markets around every neighborhood.

[Missihippi]

In my local mart, a bag of frozen chicken breasts (about 6 in a bag) costs about 6,000 won. I havn't seen george foreman brand grills in stores (maybe costco?) but like someone said you can get them online.

[decolyon]

Foreman grills are online. I think just a touch more expensive than back home, but well worth the investment as your kitchen will probably be bare in terms of cooking things. No oven, probably no microwave, and just a two eyed stove top for cooking.

Getting healthy food is another issue though. Yeah you can buy bulk chicken breasts, but like someone said, storing them is an issue because everyone here has what we call back home "dorm room fridge's." I don't know many people with a full sized fridge. Secondly, quality healthy food can be a bit expensive too. I can get a pack of 3 of the tiniest chicken breasts I've ever seen for like 6,000W (roughly $6.) They're quality, but little. I knock them all out in a single setting. Fresh veg might be easier to get depending on your location. The further away from the markets you get, the higher it goes. A broccoli spear can be anywhere from a dollar to 3 depending on where it is. There is often an inconsistency as to the size and quality of veg. I've seen huge heads of broccoli for a little more than a buck, and then the next week, same store, same veg center, these ubber tiny little broccoli spears for 3. Wth is up that that?

So, it can be a bit of tossup really. Most of the time cooking at home is more affordable and a healthier choice. But there are times you're better off ordering from one of the local restaurants in your neighborhood that delivers to your house. You can get a huge dish with tons of sides for 4 bucks. It won't be the healthiest thing however. So much Korean food is cooked with oil and fermented to the point there's almost no nutritional value to it.

When I motivate myself to do it, what works best to go grocery shopping on Sundays (as this is the busiest day but also the day they start clearing out all their stuff for deliveries on Monday, thus cheaper) and come home and cook it all up and put it in your fridge for the week. That way you come home after work, throw a tuperware in the microwave and boom, hot and easy.

[blackjack]

http://english.gmarket.co.kr/challenge/neo_goods/goods.asp?goodscode=153841522&pos_shop_cd=EN&pos_class_cd=90000001&pos_class_kind=T&keyword_order=10+kg

43,000

http://english.gmarket.co.kr/challenge/neo_goods/goods.asp?goodscode=124766061&pos_shop_cd=EN&pos_class_cd=90000001&pos_class_kind=T&keyword_order=10+kg

49,000

http://english.gmarket.co.kr/challenge/neo_search/search_total.asp?page=1&prev_keyword=forman&sort_field=rank_point_desc&page_size=50&gdlc_cd=&gdmc_cd=&gdsc_cd=&value_id1=&value_id2=&value_id3=&price_unit=&brand_nm=&maker_nm=&gd_state=&maker_no=&link_type=LIST&SearchClassFormWord=goodsSearch&anchor_flag=N&HalbumonthYN=&DiscCouponYN=&RtnOldGdYN=&DelFeeX=&isKR=&isMulti=N&OverSeaTrans=&gdlc_nm=&gdmc_nm=&gdsc_nm=&trad_way=&premium_brand_yn=&brand_no=&show_more_yn=N&keyword=George+Foreman&search_type=goods

from 74,000 to 300,000

[johnnyrook]

Until now, I never appreciated the spacious 400L fridge in my apartment. WOOT WOOT!

[Sector7G]

[red_devil]

I made a cold Italian dressing pasta dish with spiral Rottini pasta, a few bell peppers, small bag of mushrooms, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, black olives, and mozzarella cubes (couldn't find sticks of pepperoni tho). Cost me around 100,000 won. And the amounts of veggies i bought were hardly a lot. I was pretty shocked.

[kiknkorea]

I actually got mine at E-mart.

But if you'll be doing as much cooking with it as you say, the Costco model may be better. You'll definitely want to go to Costco for your frozen chicken breasts and fish anyway.

[blackjack]

[Illysook]

I bake chicken breasts in my toaster oven. It's very versatile and electrical appliances are somewhat expensive here, so you may want to give it a try.

Tonight, I needed comfort food so I made mac n' cheese and baked it for 20 minutes. This resulted in a major food coma and I will have to do some extra walking tomorrow, but it was totally worth it. Whatever you call comfort food, you will want the option once in awhile, plus you can take it to school and make things with your kids. It's one of the easier activity based lesson plans that doesn't really require a plan, just some shopping!