Heatwave: our top recipes and tips
What should you eat and drink during a heatwave? And how can you stay as cool as possible? We've compiled a collection of expert guides to answer these questions and support you during extreme temperatures
With temperatures rising to extreme heights, we've been exploring the best ways to stay cool and hydrated during a heatwave. Whether you're wondering the best foods to eat and drink; how to stay cool at night or how to manage temperatures during the day, you'll find lots of expert tips and advice in our guides below.
Check out our cooling iced tea recipes, delicious no-cook recipes and healthy picnic ideas for when it's too hot to eat inside. Plus, see our summer traybakes and summer storecupboard recipes, for when rising temperatures call for minimal shopping and prep.
Tips for the heatwave
How to keep cool at night
When temperatures climb, it can be hard to get a restful night’s sleep. Health writer and nutritionist Kerry Torrens explores how you can stay cool and wake up refreshed for a new day.
How to keep cool in a heatwave
We all look forward to summer but sometimes the heat can get the better of us. Health writer and nutritionist Kerry Torrens explores how to beat the heat and stay healthy through the summer months.
What to eat and drink during a heatwave
The sun is shining and the mercury rising. We asked a nutritionist how we should adjust our diet during hot weather and whether you can cool off through what you eat.
Heatwave recipes
From no-cook meals and crunchy salads to easy barbecue recipes and frozen desserts, we have every recipe you need for eating during a heatwave. Tuck into our veggie fajitas, chicken noodle salad or prawn burrito bowls, and finish things off with a refreshing watermelon ice lolly.
Healthy summer recipes
From salads and light soups to grilled meats and fish, make the most of summer produce with our healthy BBQ, picnic and al fresco recipes. This colourful quinoa salad with mint, basil, avocado and peaches is a celebration of all things summer.
Healthy picnic recipes
Too hot to eat inside? Pack your hamper with lighter summer treats, from healthier scotch eggs and chicken sandwiches, to healthy pasta salad and fruity desserts. Be sure to read our list of the best picnic accessories, to make sure you have everything you need for dining al fresco.
No-cook recipes
Don't sweat it, make our easy no-cook recipes for a speedy supper or an impressive dessert in a flash. Assemble simple ingredients to make something special, like these salmon and smacked cucumber noodles.
Ice lolly recipes
Perfect for a summer day, these fruity, creamy, easy ice lolly recipes are sure to be a hit. Cool down with raspberry tea ice lollies, frozen banana lollies and watermelon lollies.
Iced tea recipes
Make a refreshing batch of iced tea to cool down this summer, it's great for easy entertaining. Try a sweet peach version or a blueberry and mint twist.
Summer traybake recipes
When it's too hot to stand in the kitchen for hours, a traybake recipe like this one with tomatoes, mozzarella and aubergine can be a life-saver. Whether you want a light family dinner or a fruity pudding, try our selection of summery traybakes which involve nothing more than arranging ingredients on a tray and popping in the oven.
Summer storecupboard recipes
Throw together a delicious summer meal using storecupboard staples such as chickpeas and lentils, plus a few extra ingredients. Our halloumi and lentil salad, chickpea burgers and pesto spaghetti are full of the fresh flavours you want on warm days.
Best ice cream makers
From sweet, refreshing sorbets to delicious ice cream, whip up your own frozen desserts in a flash at home with some of the coolest ice cream machines around. If you don't have an ice cream maker, we still have lots of ice cream recipes which can be made in the freezer. Cool down with classic vanilla, chocolate or strawberry ripple.
*With temperatures reaching an all time high, it is recommended that you try to stay out of the heat and cool yourself down as much as you can. Try to be mindful of friends, family and neighbours who might be more vulnerable in these conditions and seek medical advice should you begin to feel unwell.
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Is there something you'd like to see in this heatwave section in the future? Let us know in the comments below.
