Check out these Most Effective Time-Saving Tips in the Kitchen and they will truly help you get your meals on the table quicker even during a busy work and school week. It’s amazing what just a few little prep steps can make.
Cooking can be a fun and creative outlet. Yet when you’re working during the week and looking after a family, whipping up a meal can be a headache. Maximize your efficiency with the six time-saving tips below. From planning your menu to finding simple recipes, learn how to prepare an excellent dish without spending the whole night in the kitchen.
1. Plan the Month Ahead
Do you often pace the pantry and wonder what to make for dinner? Take away the indecision and stress with a month-long menu. The week before a new month starts, decide what you’d like to eat for each breakfast, lunch and dinner. We can help you with that… this Free Printable Meal Planner Set will give you all the tools to get yourself organized for a week… a month or the whole year! We also have a ton more free printable Meal Planners and Meal Plans that you can look through to find exactly what you would like… we even have one for a Diet Plan!
It’s Friday night, and the workweek was draining. Instead of scrambling through the cupboards looking for ingredients, you can refer to your handy menu. Since you planned ahead, you’ll have everything you need to get started, whether it’s fresh veggies, fire roasted tomatoes or something else. Why not add a fun Chalkboard Menu to your home decor and the whole family will know what’s coming!
2. Organize Your Work Area
Do you have a hard time finding stuff in your kitchen? Maybe you misplaced the ladle or can’t find that pesky cocoa powder. Either way, an organization system will save you time and give you peace of mind. Check out our Pantry DIYS and Ideas… bet you will find some of those ideas inspiring.
Designate a spot for everything, from utensils and dishes to cookie sheets and sauce pots. Use a pencil holder to keep your most-used items on top of the counter, such as a spatula, scissors and slotted spoon. You also might want to check out our 12 Ways to Organize Your Kitchen in 10 Minutes or Less for tons helpful tips!
3. Pre-Wash and Cut Veggies
One of the most tedious aspects of preparing a recipe — and the most time-consuming — is washing and cutting up veggies. Don’t wait until dinnertime. Instead, tackle this chore beforehand. When you buy fresh produce from the grocery store, wash it off before while you are add it… cut it up the way your recipe calls for the store it in the fridge. You will be so glad you did this!
Pick one day of the week to chop up all of your veggies, including those for snacks. With everything pre-cut, you can easily shave 10 to 20 minutes off any recipe, such as this delicious ratatouille. The yellow squash, eggplant and zucchini combination makes the perfect vegetarian delight.
4. Stick to Simple Recipes
Do you want to make a classic creme brulee? Perhaps save it for a day when you’ve got hours to spare. For your average week, stick to simple recipes that are easy to prepare.
For instance, you can cook a delicious meal all in one pot! Just think… everything gets put in the pot and miraculously comes out a complete Dinner like this Fresh Tomato and Basil Pasta Dish the family will love! You can become addicted to One Pot Meals… and clean up is a breeze! This will help you add a bit of extra flavor and excitement to many of your meals… especially those quick and easy Stir Fry creations!
5. Opt for Passive Cooking
What’s better than a meal that requires no effort? To maximize your kitchen time, invest in a passive cooking method, such as a Crock-Pot, pressure cooker or air fryer. Pop the dish in, find the appropriate setting and wait until it’s time to eat. There is a Plethora of recipes and how to’s on Pinterest that will help you immensely. Here’s some Crock-Pot Hacks you might enjoy.
Easy Crock-Pot meals make life so much easier. When you have a little time, put together some Cock-Pot Meals that you can freeze and just pop into the Crock-Pot in the morning and Voila! You can come home to a scrumptious meal like Roasted Sweet Potato Chili, Cheesy Mexican Quinoa, Butternut Squash Red Lentil Stew and a million more ideas are out there!
6. Portion out Favorite Snacks
Do you ever have a craving for something to munch on? If so, you’re not alone. Don’t rummage through the kitchen looking for a decent snack. Instead, save time by pre-portioning out your favorite treats. These Mini Fruit On The Bottom Yogurt Parfaits are an amazing snack to find when you open the fridge! Little Mason Jars are a great way to pre-portion all kinds of things. The jars are great because they are sustainable so they will be used for decades! Get those wheels turning and I know your family will be in for a lot of yummy treats.
Ziplock baggies are ideal for holding a handful of protein-packed nuts, such as cashews and almonds. Slice up fruit and dry it in the oven for something guilt-free and sweet. You can also add carrot sticks — complete with salad dressing for dipping — to small plastic containers.
You can even get more creative with the Kids Snacks. Come and check out all of these unique ways to pre-portion snacks for kids! It will make them smile when they open up their Lunch Box for sure and why not keep some in the fridge and in the pantry in a basket marked snacks! You can find more ideas like this here.
Save Time in the Kitchen With These Tips
Don’t spend your precious hours tearing apart the kitchen to whip up dinner. Instead, follow the tips above — such as organizing your work area and pre-washing produce — to work efficiently and save time. Do you have any tips you would like to share because we would love to hear them!
You might enjoy these Food Hacks
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