Fast Food by Murdoch Books Test Kitchen

Murdoch Kitchen’s Fast Food is a vibrant, no-nonsense cookbook that delivers exactly what it promises: flavourful meals made with minimal fuss. With over 180 triple-tested recipes and a photograph accompanying each one, this cookbook is designed not just to inspire but to reassure home cooks of every level that delicious, satisfying food needn't take hours to prepare.

What makes Fast Food particularly appealing is its clever organisation. Rather than separating recipes by course or cuisine, dishes are grouped by cooking method—saucepan, frying pan, wok, grill, or oven—allowing the reader to choose based on both the ingredients at hand and their preferred style of cooking. This structural choice makes the book particularly usable for busy weeknights, when time, energy, and washing-up are at a premium.

The recipes themselves are impressively varied, from Asian-inspired stir-fries and hearty soups to elegant fish dishes and moreish grilled meats. Options like pan-fried steak with peppercorn sauce, fragrant chicken noodle broth, and even speedy sweet treats like caramel bananas or fruit crumbles all offer a balance of comfort and sophistication without demanding hours in the kitchen. The book caters to a range of tastes, with vegetarian and pescatarian options woven naturally throughout.

One of the greatest strengths of Fast Food is its clarity. Instructions are concise, ingredients are easy to source, and most recipes require only a handful of steps. This makes the book an ideal companion for novice cooks, students, or busy professionals looking to expand their repertoire without investing in niche equipment or exotic ingredients. Experienced home cooks will also find value here, especially on evenings when simplicity trumps culinary experimentation.

The aesthetic appeal of the book should not be understated either. Each recipe is accompanied by an appetising photograph, a feature that not only sets expectations but inspires confidence. The visual consistency contributes to the book’s overall accessibility and ease of use—qualities praised consistently by households where cooking is more of a requirement than a luxury.

While Fast Food does not claim to reinvent the wheel, its strength lies in its practicality. This is a cookbook that will see genuine use in everyday life, not one that gathers dust on a shelf. A must-have for busy households, students, or anyone craving reliable, tasty meals without the time commitment.

Reviewer: Chris Reed

Murdoch Books