Wednesday, November 30, 2016

How to Save Time in the Kitchen

How to Save Time in the Kitchen

Get clever tips to help limit the time you spend prepping and planning for meals.



What's for dinner? Every cook dreads those words, at one point or another. The last thing you want to think about after a long day is what to make for dinner. Here are some time saving measures you can take today to ensure the next time you hear this nagging question, you'll have a confident answer.


Menu Plan


Menu plans can do wonders to a week, schedule, and you. Ditch last-minute meals with over-processed foods, and insert healthy, well-rounded meals.

Saves Time On: Thinking, stress, meal prep, driving to a restaurant.


Photo: Kristin Sterk

Keep the Pantry Stocked


The worst feeling is looking through your cupboards and realizing you don't have anything you need for a complete meal. By keeping family "staples" and favorites in your home, you'll always have meals to make.

Saves Time On: Meal prep, thinking about what to make, a last-minute grocery stop.


Utilize Batch Cooking


When you're making a meal, make a double portion and freeze the other half. That way, you have a meal already prepared and just needs to be thawed out and baked.

Saves Time On: Meal prep.


Keep a List of Pantry Staples


Make a list of your basics, and maintain a pantry stocked with flour, milk, cereal, pasta, grains, etc. If you need to quickly make a dessert or meal, you have the ingredients needed.

Saves Time On: Driving to grocery store for store-bought cookies and last-minute meals.


Use a Crockpot


Ah, coming home from work and smelling a ready-made is worth the purchase!

Saves Time On: After-work meal prep, thinking about what to make.


Search the Internet


Photo: Kristin Sterk

Do you ever have ingredients you need to use up? The Internet is your answer: type in "meals using ..." and all sorts of recipes will pop up, using those specific ingredients. I did this with heavy cream and ended up making the best chicken and rice soup I've ever had!

Saves Time On: Throwing away spoiled food, searching through cookbooks to find a recipe using that specific ingredient.


Delegate Duties


If you're married or have a family, delegate the chores by making a chore list or giving each person certain daily duties. They can be as simple as clearing the table and doing the dishes, to helping pick up the house before bedtime. Each person that helps, only gives you more time for what you want time for.

Saving Time On: All kitchen duties, which means more time for you.


Do the Dishes as Needed


Don't let piles collect. As piles and dishes begin, put an end to it!

Saves Time On: Long spells of having to do the dishes.


Make All Lunches at the Beginning of the Week


Instead of making lunches for your family every morning, make them at the beginning of the week. Divide food into snack-sized bags so you can grab and pack.

Saves Time On: Making lunches in the morning, taking out individual foods, the stress of wondering what to pack.


Now that you're saving time in the kitchen, you now have more time to spend on the things that matter even more to you! How do you save time in the kitchen?


Original article and pictures take secure.img1-ag.wfcdn.com site

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