
Jamie Oliver has been chastised for claiming that he can produce budget meals for £1, with some questioning if the dishes are substantial enough.
On his website, the famous chef has a section called ‘£1 Wonders,’ where he attempts to assist consumers find ingredients for affordable dinners that cost less than £1 per dish.
Despite the fact that the pricing is based on individual piece rather than the components as a whole, numerous Twitter users are sceptical that the price is right, as well as if the amount of food on the plate is sufficient for one person.
One of the most recent meals published by the 47-year-old on Twitter was a ‘time-saving roast supper’ with stuffed chicken thighs, veggies, roast potatoes, and gravy, ‘all coming in for under £1 per serving’.
Some naysayers were quick to blast the supposed costs of the meal, with one tweeting: ‘Where do you buy 1 rasher of bacon for 19p?? ‘
‘I’m sorry but you can’t get three onions for 19p,’ another said, while someone else appeared to laugh at the idea of spending just 40p on potatoes.
‘One thigh per person!!! Most people will be starving after,’ one critic remarked.
Someone person commented that it can’t be presumed that ‘people have all the herbs and spices at home’, while another claimed that the costs were ‘insulting the intelligence of us poor folk’.
However, Jamie countered the arguments by outlining the breakdown of the costs that are put forward, tweeting: ‘The pricing of the recipes were calculated by the amount used rather than the whole ingredient cost.’
The cook also added: ‘We believe you’ll already have many of the ingredients stocked at home.’
Jamie’s website includes further details on how the meals are priced at £1 per dish.
‘The aim of Jamie’s £1 Wonders is to be as useful to people as possible, with all prices correct at the time of filming (September 2022 and January 2023). We hope to arm you with the information and inspiration you need to make easy swaps, cook flexibly and make the most of the ingredients you buy, all within a budget,’ it says.
The £1 price of each recipe piece is calculated “based on an average of four UK retailers” – Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, and Morrisons.
‘We’ve calculated the cost per portion by the amount used, rather than the whole ingredient cost, as we believe you’ll already have many of the ingredients in your store cupboard/fridge/freezer. We don’t include olive oil, salt or pepper in the final costings, as we think you’ll definitely have these,’ it adds.
In the FAQs, Jamie’s website acknowledges that £1 per portion ‘isn’t affordable for everyone’, responding: ‘We totally hear that. We’ve simply used it as a benchmark to price meals that is helpful to everyone.’
Despite the criticism from some people online, others enthused over Jamie’s £1 recipes, with one tweeting: ‘It gives me the confidence to create wonderful food without spending hours prepping or pouring over a complicated recipe!! Saves me spending lots of money too!’
‘Your £1 wonders is the best food show I’ve seen in ages,’ another said.
Jamie’s £1 Wonders first aired on Channel 4 on October 31 2022 and is available to watch on All 4.