How to Save Time in the Kitchen

Опубликовал Admin
29-09-2016, 12:20
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There are 24 hours in a day, but how much time do you spend in the kitchen preparing meals? Daily commitments such as work, taking care of kids, studies, and taking care of yourself don't leave you much time for preparing meals every night. Saving time in the kitchen needs to be a priority for the person who is determined to fit in making healthy homemade meals with a busy schedule.

Steps

  1. Be prepared. Preparing in advance will significantly make tasks and time more organized. Much of this article is about good advance preparation that will ensure you have what you need in front of you and you're not left wondering what to cook or where the ingredients to cook it are.
    • Keep a well-stocked fridge and pantry. Keep a shopping list for items that are needed each shopping trip. Having ingredients available always speeds things up instead of having to find substitutions, change recipe ideas or even head off to the store.
    • Use quality kitchen tools and cooking equipment. While they may cost more initially, they work better and therefore speed up your cooking time while ensuring safety and good outcomes.
    • Be organized in your food storage, using labels and ensuring that food is used up while fresh. A little bit of initial effort to organize a pantry and fridge so that they allow for easy and fast food finding will speed up your daily cooking routine.
  2. Plan out meals with calendars or menu planners. The worst (and slowest) start to making a meal is by standing in front of an open pantry wondering what to make. By using a calendar, you can jot down what each person in the family likes, and even set aside some days for meals outside of the kitchen. Preparing meals for one might be easier or harder to plan in advance, depending on the ingredients you have; follow whatever works best for you when cooking for one but don't skimp on healthy choices!
    • Read How to cook just for yourself, How to plan dinner menus for the family and How to plan a meal using only what's in your pantry for more ideas.
  3. Use the internet. In those situations where you do open the pantry door and wonder what to cook, choose several ingredients and type them into your search engine of choice along with the word "recipe". Exact matches incorporating those ingredients will return, enabling you to quickly choose a recipe that you like and can get on with preparing. Doing this is a lot faster than both wondering what to do or hunting for recipes in cookbooks while hungry!
  4. Take out supplies beforehand. Before you go to bed or leave the house in the morning, place any pots, pans, measuring utensils, different bowl sizes, spice containers, and appliances that are tucked away on the countertops. When you're ready to start, everything is all set for you and this not only cuts the preparation time but provides you with the motivation to start preparing the meal.
    • Setting the table in advance is also an advantage. Ask older kids to help you set up a placement for each person. In fact, it's never too early to teach kids how to set the table, so encourage them to do so from a young age.
  5. Cut vegetables in batches and store in the refrigerator in containers. Whether you're having tacos, stir fry, casseroles, or salads, using Tupperware or similar containers to store pre-cut ingredients will save on preparation time. With the ingredients already prepared, this can also be a motivation to eat healthier for breakfast and lunch, such as quick fix salads or vegetable omelets.
    • Do tedious, non-cutting preparations elsewhere. When you're in front of the computer or watching television, you can easily snap beans at the same time.
  6. Make seasonings in advance. If you have a favorite recipe that uses spice mixes and seasonings, measure out the ingredients in separate snack or sandwich plastic bags. Secure them tightly and stash them away for future uses.
  7. Save time with slow cooker recipes. Thick meats, such as pot roasts, are excellent for beef stew. Add vegetable chunks, such as onions, carrots, and potatoes with the sauce or cooking wine of your choice. Leave it up to the slow cooker to do the rest for at least 8 hours.
    • Read How to use a slow cooker for more details.
  8. Prepare meals in batches and freeze them. Recipes such as lasagna, pies and casseroles can be prepared in advanced and divided. Cook one portion for that night and freeze the rest for future meals.
    • Read How to do once a month cooking and How to start or create a freezer group for more ideas.
  9. Clean as you go. Even before preparing anything, start filling up the sink with a mixture of dish soap and hot water. Wash cutting boards in between cutting vegetables, meat, and fish and place them upright to dry. Wash any bowls, knives, and measuring utensils that won't be used again and leave them to air dry. While the meal is being cooked, utilize this time to continue any cleaning or putting away dishes in the dishwasher. By following the clean-as-you-go method, at the end of the meal the only things you need to worry about are the dishes on the table!

Tips

  • Dishwasher-safe products are a time saver. Rinse off any junk on the dishes and load it up as you go. Turn the dishwasher on after all dishes have been rinsed and enjoy your night.
  • Always label your extra food with the name and date prepared. Sauces and other non-solid foods can be store in sealable plastic bags and placed in Tupperware containers for a "uniformed" and organized look in the refrigerator or freezer.
  • Replace any appliances that are worn out or not functioning correctly. Dull knives not only makes it hard to cut through meats, but also gives a more shredded cut.

Things You'll Need

  • Internet
  • Organizing containers and tools
  • Menu planner and/or calendar
  • Ingredients stocked up
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