Kitchen Timesavers

Try these kitchen timesavers to cut back on time and make less work for you.  By taking the stress and hassle out of cooking, you’ll have more time to enjoy it and to spend with your loved ones.

  1. Organize your kitchen.  Keep frequently used items such as cooking oils and sprays, spatulas, cutting boards, and spices within easy reach.  This will save you from having to search for them later.
  2. Clear the clutter.  Before you start cooking, clear off your counters.  This allows more room for prep space.
  3. Chop extra.  When chopping up veggies for a meal, chop more than you need.  Take the extra, place in a reusable container and freeze.  Then next time you need it, you can skip a step.
  4. Have everything in place.  Grab all ingredients needed for your meal: chopped vegetables, measured spices, and thawed meats.  It will be easier to spot missing items and avoid skipping steps.
  5. Double your recipe.  For your next casserole or stew, try doubling the recipe and freezing the extra.  You’ll save time and make cooking next week’s dinner a snap!
  6. Clean as you go.  Fill up the sink with soapy water and wash the dishes as you cook.  It’ll make clean up go much smoother!
  7. Save some for later.  Freeze leftover soups, sauces, or gravies in small reusable containers.

DO:

  • Plan at least one crock pot meal a week for your busiest evening.
  • Make the next day’s prep (chopping, thawing, etc.) part of today’s meal plan.  For example, include Tuesday’s prep with Monday’s meal plan.
  • Use technology like apps, downloads, and subscriptions only if it’s helpful, and make a change when it’s not.
  • Take inventory of your fridge, freezer, and pantry before you start planning.
  • Start your meal planning with what you already have on hand so you are not always buying new ingredients for every meal.
  • Use the sales flyer for your preferred store while you are planning.  These are often found online.
  • Plan to use leftovers for meals or as parts of new meals.
  • Consider doubling favorite recipes to put in the freezer.
  • Share meal plans with friends to save you time and energy.

DON’T:

  • Be too hard on yourself.
  • Think you’ve failed if a week of meals falls apart due to schedule changes.
  • Decide you stink at meal planning or can’t do it if your desire decreases after a few weeks.  Get back on the horse!
  • Hesitate to change your system if it’s not working.