To switch things up from the regular recipe post, I thought I would do a list of time saving kitchen tips. Now most of these ideas are not rocket science or particularly complicated. They are simply tips I have tried in the past and have adapted over time. What I would like to see is people add to the tips in the comments and then I will create an even bigger list in the future.
So without further adieu…
Zesty’s Top 8 Time Saving Kitchen Tips
1. Keep a clean Kitchen
The more stuff that piles up around you, the harder it is to concentrate on what happens next. This results in making it harder to find anything you need, costing you more time and mental frustration than it would take to stay clean.
2. Be-friend the Ice Cream Scoop
When using small pastry shells or individual graham cracker shells to make tarts, I use an ice cream scoop to fill them quickly. A heaping scoopful of pie filling is just the right amount I need for each one.
3. Advanced Table Setting
Set the table for breakfast and prepare breakfast foods the night before. For pancakes, mix dry ingredients the previous night. In the morning, add wet ingredients and cook.
4. Stock on Hand
Pressed for time? Fill an ice cube tray with chicken, beef or vegetable stock. You can even try tomato sauce and/or cream soups. Dump the frozen cubes into a freezer bag. Then grab a couple of cubes to add to your stir fry, pasta, veggies, or to whip up a quick sauce.
5. Keep a running grocery list
This holds true to be very effective when it is grocery time both at home as well as in the grocery store. This will eliminate not having crucial ingredients on hand for your next great recipe.
6. Cook Once, Cook Big
Make large batches of granola and store in an airtight container; Cut up extra ingredients for another meal when using onions, green peppers, etc; Cook double batches of rice or pasta to be reheated later in the week.
7. Beat the stick
Set your dirty pots on the stove with some vinegar and water or dish soap and water. Let them boil while you eat. By the time you finish dinner and get started on the dishes, the hot water solution will have loosened stuck-on food.
8. Sort your dishes
Put like utensils in the same section of the silverware tray in the dishwasher (knives with knives, small forks with small forks, etc.) so that you can pull them out by group and put them away fast. You can also do the same for like sized plates and bowls.
So there you have it, some not so traditional time saving tips. Before I leave you for another day, I really want everyone to make a effort to post a time saving tip in the comments. I think it will be fun!
Have a great day and I will see you tomorrow.
Take care
zesty
Related posts:
- 5 Everyday Kitchen Tips You Must Know
- Top 5 Tips for Grilling Fish
- Barbecue Preparation Tips
- Kitchen Game: Kale, Clams and Linguine
- Blog Makeover Winner and Slicing Dessert Tips
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Whether it is about recipes, food techniques, food tips, or meal suggestions in a rush - this is your one stop food shop. When I was sitting at home - I always wanted to write a blog and help people in everyday life come up with innovative and different approaches to food. So here it is - released for all to see - I hope you enjoy!
FABULOUS tips!! Thank you!!
What a great tip list! You must be the most organized person! One thing I have done , since I go for groceries every 2 weeks is make a 2 week menu up before going to the grocery store, it really helps alot. Whatever day I make the dinner doesn’t matter, it’s not written in stone, what matters is I know I have the ingredients for it when I do.
Great tips!
Love your blog!
Most of your tips I already do. I am going to start cutting up double veggies at each meak and freezing half. It will work great when making soup.
great tips!
- cut all the veggies/fruits you need at one time and bag extras to freeze or for later meals
- pack up lunch for the next day while dinner is cooking
These are great time saving tips! Thanks for sharing
My dad taught me how to cook and the first thing he told me was that a good cook ALWAYS cleans up after themself. I think he said me that so he didn’t have to clean up my messes…but it has held true since I moved out on my own too. Now I have independent confirmation of the facts.
Fabulous hints! Thanks a ton!
Brilliant!! I’m going to have to try #4 for sure!
Great tips, Zesty!
Really great tips!!! I am constantly looking for ways to shave some time off of meal prep. Thank you!
Great tips! Thanks! I do have another for you though-
Double your meals and freeze one. It doesn’t take much more time to make two casseroles as it does to just make the one. Same goes for crock pot meals and even uncooked meals… It’s not much more work to double the batch, and some night when you are too tired to cook, you can pull out a frozen meal, defrost it and cook it with little to no effort!
Thanks fo the tips Zesty!!
Thank you for such great tips! My mom will be glad to know that I’m working on reducing the amount of time I spend prepping in the kitchen LOL
Great tips! Here are mine:
Invest in a crock pot (or if you’re me, take your mother’s crock pot hostage and never return it). Throw everything in for soup, roast, chili, etc. the night before, and then before you go to work, fire that baby on low so you come home to a ready-cooked meal. I know it’s been said, but freezing leftovers is great too.
Make one big batch of rice/qunioa and use it all week for side dishes. Also, when making a salad for dinner, I always make more salad then we need (pre-dressing) so I can have the rest for lunch the next day.
[...] help. Oh, and in case you haven’t checked out his site yet, please do! He posted about some great time saving kitchen tips today. One thing I think he is missing though (but almost got): At the beginning of the week I measure [...]
Should add great post. Looking forward to reading the next one!
There are some great tips here! I especially like #8…it seems so obvious now that you mention it, but I’d never thought to pre-sort my cutlery, and instead spend ages putting everything back piece by piece.
As for other tips…I like to make more food than I need for one meal and box up the leftovers in individual portions. It makes it so easy to bring for lunches during the week. Just grab and go!
I’m also a huge fan of the idea of pot racks or pegboards with hooks to provide open storage for pots and pans. Right now we have everything shoved into a cabinet under the counter, and I swear I’ve spent hours on my hands and knees digging around for the right lid. I’m moving soon, and one of my first goals is to set up easily accessible P&P storage.
great ideas as always!
Thanks for sharing!
Greatings,
Super post, Need to mark it on Digg
Have a nice day
Bodyc