Who doesn’t want to spend less time cooking and cleaning up after meals? Especially after a long day at work, spending hours in the kitchen is the last thing anyone wants to do. The good news is there are lots of simple ways to streamline meal prep and cleanup so you can enjoy more of your free time.
In this article, we’ll share 5 clever tips and tricks for saving time in the kitchen. Whether you cook for yourself or a whole family, these shortcuts will help you get dinner on the table faster and with less hassle. Read on to learn how small changes to your cooking routine and kitchen setup can add up to big time savings.
Tip 1: Prep Ahead of Time
One of the best ways to save time in the kitchen is to do some of the prep work in advance. This allows you to cook meals faster since ingredients are prepped and ready to go.
Chop vegetables and measure spices and seasonings ahead of time. You can do this the night before or even on weekends when you have more free time. Store prepped ingredients in containers in the fridge or freezer to use throughout the week.
Having vegetables cleaned and chopped ahead cuts down on prep work each night. Measuring out spices, herbs and other flavorings also saves you time so you don’t have to search for bottles and measuring spoons while cooking.
Another time-saving trick is to pre-make seasoning mixes or sauces you use frequently. This way you can skip measuring multiple ingredients during the cooking process. Make a big batch of taco seasoning, ranch dressing mix, bread crumbs or whatever you use often. Portion and store for quick access while cooking each meal.
Tip 2: Stock Your Kitchen Strategically
A well-organized, strategically stocked kitchen will allow you to cook more efficiently. Look at how you currently store foods, utensils and equipment. Make changes so items you use most are easiest to access.
Store everyday items like plates, glasses and pots near or at your prep and cooking workstations. Keep frequently used ingredients close at hand, such as olive oil, salt and pepper, garlic, etc.
Organize your pantry, fridge and cabinets so you don’t have to hunt for items. Group like foods together – pastas, canned goods, spices, etc. Use clear storage containers so you can quickly see contents.
Also, take inventory of your kitchen tools and gadgets. Remove duplicates and specialized items you rarely use. Clutter makes the kitchen feel smaller and gets in the way when cooking. Pare down to essential, multi-use tools and appliances that streamline food prep.
Finally, compile a list of ingredients you use frequently and make sure they are stocked. There’s nothing more time consuming than starting a recipe only to find you’re missing key ingredients! Developing a well-organized kitchen setup takes some work up front but the time savings are immense.
Tip 3: Master Multi-Tasking
One of the keys to fast meal prep is multi-tasking—working on two or more tasks at the same time. Look for ways to combine steps in recipes. While one dish is cooking, chop ingredients for the next recipe.
When boiling pasta, use waiting time to prepare the rest of the meal. Chop veggies for salad or sauce, cook meat or warm bread in the oven. Be sure to time tasks so everything finishes cooking together.
Use tools that allow you to prep ingredients while other food cooks. A slow cooker frees up your stove to cook another dish. Microwaves steam vegetables while you cook meat on the stove. A double oven allows baking multiple items at once.
Mastering the art of multi-tasking takes practice but it’s a great timesaver. Look for ways to work efficiently and utilize down time between steps to prep ahead. With some experience, you’ll handle several cooking tasks simultaneously like a pro!
Tip 4: Cleanup As You Go
Dirty dishes and spills can accumulate quickly while cooking. But letting messes pile up only creates more work after the meal. The best way to save time post-dinner is cleaning up along the way.
As you prep ingredients and cook, place discarded scraps, peels and trimmings directly into the trash or compost bin. Don’t leave them on the counter to deal with later. Rinse produce bowls, prep tools and utensils and load into the dishwasher between steps.
While food simmers on the stove or bakes in the oven, tackle any dishes in the sink. Quickly rinsing plates and loading the dishwasher takes just a few minutes but prevents facing a mountain of dirty dishes after eating.
Wipe down counters and the stovetop during natural breaks in cooking. Deal with any food spills right away to avoid crusty messes. When cooking involves frying or baking, use paper towels to quickly mop up grease splatters before they harden.
Making cleanup an ongoing process keeps your workflow smooth. And not having to face a disaster zone after dinner is reward enough for these quick tidying efforts during meal prep.
Tip 5: Leverage Convenience Foods
One of the most effective ways to save time cooking is taking advantage of convenience foods. While homemade meals are ideal, realistically we can’t always cook entirely from scratch. Using certain store-bought items simplifies meal prep.
For example, pre-chopped vegetables, already cooked meats and canned beans reduce prep work. Frozen fruits and veggies provide healthy ingredients without time-consuming washing and chopping.
Boxed broths and stocks eliminate having to simmer bones and scraps for hours to make your own. Pre-made sauces and dressings like barbecue, teriyaki, ranch, etc. means you skip lengthy recipes.
While scratch cooking does generally provide the healthiest options, don’t feel guilty relying on some convenience foods. They reduce preparation and cook times so dinner is on the table faster.
The key is choosing quality convenience items and using in moderation. Check labels and avoid products with additives and preservatives when possible. Incorporate just to simplify portions of meals without sacrificing nutrition.
More Time-Saving Tips
In addition to these 5 kitchen time-savers, there are lots more ways to streamline cooking:
- Use a slow cooker or pressure cooker to reduce hands-on time for roasts, soups, stews and other one-pot meals.
- Double recipes on weekends to freeze or set aside for quick weekday lunches and dinners.
- Invest in useful kitchen tools like an immersion blender, garlic press, air fryer or convection toaster oven.
- Cook once, eat twice. Repurpose leftovers into new meals later in the week.
- Set a kitchen timer for each task to keep you on track when multi-tasking.
- Assign kitchen tasks to family members or roommates to share the workload.
- Listen to podcasts or audiobooks while cooking to make meal prep more enjoyable.
With all the demands on our time these days, spending less of it cooking can make a big difference. Try out these handy tips and tricks to streamline your meals. You’ll enjoy fast, fuss-free cooking while freeing up time for other priorities.
