No need to feel frazzled in the kitchen! Speeding up your cooking is easy when you follow these make-it-easier strategies and tips.
Get Organized
Locate your kitchen equipment at the point of first use: Store equipment and serving pieces so they’re easily accessible: skillets and pot holders next to the stove, the coffee maker and mugs next to the sink, etc.
Clear the Cupboard
Move kitchen equipment that you don’t use often, such as items for holiday cooking, to a high cupboard or store in a “seasonal” cupboard.
Bring to a Boil
Jump-start boiling water by starting with hot water. Cover the saucepan with a lid so it will come to a boil faster.
Mash it Faster
Mash potatoes in minutes by cutting potatoes into small pieces (1 to 1/2 inches) to cut cooking time in half. This works great for other veggies, too!
Pasta Pronto
For promptly prepared pasta, toss frozen or fresh vegetable into the pasta cooking water during the last few minutes of cooking instead of cooking the pasta and vegetables separately.
Quicken Chicken
For faster-cooking chicken, pound boneless, skinless chicken breast halves between sheets of waxed paper with a meat mallet or the bottom of a heavy pan to about 1/4-inch thickness.
Nonstick in No Time
For easy cleanup when measuring honey, syrup or other sticky stuff, spray measuring spoons and cups with cooking spray; the sticky stuff with slide right out!
Make it Mini
Cut meat loaf bake time in half by pressing the uncooked meat loaf mixtures into muffin cups instead of a loaf pan.
Skip the Pan
Save cleanup time by using aluminum foil instead of a baking pan. Bake fish sticks, chicken fingers and other foods on a piece that’s large enough to hold the food, with extra to hang on to.
Source: Betty Crocker’s Quick & Easy Cook Book, 2002
Printable Version: Make-it-Easier Strategies & Tips
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I love the blog post! Thank you!!! While the tips can be intuitive, it's nice to have a reminder. I've always wondered about an easy way to get peanut butter or honey out of the measuring cup. I never took the time to research it. The thought always came to mind while I was in the middle of recipe prep. Your post gave me an answer I forgot I was searching for. :^)
Great tips!