How To Be More Efficient In The Kitchen

Let's admit it--as a society, we do like takeout and quick microwave meals.  But given the opportunity, many of us would prefer a simple, home-cooked meal. Unfortunately, in today’s fast-paced world, when spare time comes at a premium, it’s much easier to head to the drive-thru for something quick and ready-made, rather than face the time-consuming process of cooking a meal at home. But what if you could speed the process up? 

How To Be More Efficient In The Kitchen

Make A Plan
Some folks seem to think the majority of the time spent in the kitchen is prepping the ingredients for a recipe, but that's not always the case. Planning meals consists of thinking about what you’re going to make, shopping for the ingredients, prepping and then finally, cooking.  Be sure to take a few minutes to plan out your meals, create a grocery list, and be sure to shop your store's flyer or online circular for the best deals on ingredients.  To save even more (saving money on groceries is part of being efficient in the kitchen, afterall), combine manufacturer's coupons with store coupons AND any digital coupons your favorite market might offer. 

Use The Right Tools
​You can speed up the time you spend in the kitchen by having the right equipment on hand. For example, your knives. If you take a few moments to sharpen your knives regularly, you’ll be slicing through your vegetables with ease, rather than the sawing and hacking with dull, blunt knives. And how’s the oven? If you have a countertop air fryer like the one available at this link, you’ll be able to get your food cooking much quicker than waiting for your oven to preheat and cook your food. That’s because air fryers need much less time to heat up. Use tools that speed things up, and you’ll be creating your meals much faster!
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You May Also Like:

• 5 simple steps for making healthy, balanced meals
• 8 Ways To Make Your Kitchen Healthier

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Prepping Ingredients
Yes, we totally agree--prepping ingredients such as vegetables can be a total drag. That's why we suggest you take advantage of pre-prepped ingredients your grocery store might offer, such as diced onion and carrots, chopped celery and peeled garlic.  While it can be a bit pricey, you can also purchase pre-prepped ingredients at your grocer's olive bar and cheese case, as well. 

Don't Get Too Complicated
​There's no denying some meals take a long time to prep and cook, and are just plain complicated to make (we're looking at you Beef Wellington).  If you're crunched for time, avoid more elaborate dishes for when you have time to spare. Instead, focus on those easy to make, healthy and delicious meals. There are plenty of dishes that only take fifteen to twenty minutes to whip up, perfect for weeknights or whenever you're short on time.

We love this awesome kitchen cheat sheet from Everest Home Improvements.  Whether you are an experienced cook or a complete novice, this cheat sheet will have you on your way to an efficient kitchen in no time!

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