5 Ways to Be a More Efficient at Mealtime

Even if you like cooking (like me), you might not always have time for it. Introduce a couple of kids into the mix, and all bets are off for leisurely, creative nights in the kitchen. 

Over the years that I’ve become more comfortable in the kitchen, I’ve also learned to be more efficient. Mostly out of necessity, but also because of practice. Like anything in life, the more you do it, the better you get at it.

For now, here’s your shortcut. 

To be a faster cook, try these things. 

1) Mentally walk through your recipe

Before you start cooking, take a minute to think about what you want to do and how you’re going to do it. This will save you from debating on which method you’re going to use at the time. 

For instance: if you’re making a variety of different dishes, then you’ll need to start with the one that takes the longest to cook. You can also use the time that something’s in the oven to begin prep on your other dishes. 

2. Set up your appliances 

There’s a reason why most recipes call for you to heat the oven first. It means you don’t end up scrambling halfway through a recipe. 

If you want to help yourself here, one thing you can do is get all of the other appliances you need out and ready. This again means you’re not scrambling halfway through the recipe. If you are using a food processor, you can cut it up and then put your ingredients in there right away, rather than cluttering up your counter space.

3. Boil your water and hear your 

Same idea: prep while your water heats up. If you are frying something, get the oil heated up too. Just make sure that you don’t leave it too long or it may end up getting too hot to work with. (Total aside: If you want a great fried recipe then this chicken fried steak recipe is delicious.)

4. Load Your a pan

Grab one big pan, and fill it with all of the little pans you need. You can also put all of your baking ingredients into that one pan and go from there. By doing this, you can make sure that you don’t end up hunting for cooking items halfway through the recipe. Preparation is key, and one trip is always better than six.

5. Clean your produce

Cleaning your produce can take a lot of time. One thing you can do is trim everything first and then wash everything together. 

Put everything you need in a colander and then get it all done in one go. Ultimately, it’s easier to rinse your vegetables without having to worry about doing everything individually. Better yet: prep your produce as soon as you come home from the grocery store or farmer’s market. 

Got more tips? I’d love to add your thoughts.