How can I save even more time in the kitchen?
Chef Darshana put together a few handy tips for you that will save you hours in the kitchen:
- Plan ahead and use the weekend prep cheat sheets. The time you take to prepare food on the weekends will significantly reduce time spent in the kitchen on weeknights when you want quick and easy meals.
- Some members also scan the grocery list on the weekend to see whether there are other ingredients (for example: chopping onions, sweet potatoes, bell peppers) that can be prepared ahead of time.
- Look to buy pre-cut ingredients (sliced mushrooms, grated carrots, minced garlic, pre-cut butternut squash) when shopping.
- Always read both the ingredient list and the recipe method all the way through before you start cooking. It’s a simple tip, but really helps to ensure that you won’t miss steps and understand which parts of the recipe you may have already prepared during weekend prep. Make sure you also review the recipe tips, as well, which could come in handy, especially if you have children as we often point out modifications that you can make for little ones.
- You’ll find that you can prepare the meals even faster if you use a “mise en place” technique. Instead of chopping each vegetable right before you add it to your dish, organize and measure all of your ingredients before you start cooking so that the meal comes together quickly and effortlessly.
To do this, assemble all of the bowls, utensils, ingredients, and spices you’ll need. Then chop and prepare all of the produce so that when it’s time to use each, you’ll be ready.
Every ingredient includes the accompanying prep beneath it, so simply work down the list, chopping, dicing, and/or measuring each ingredient in turn. It’s a great way to get your “mise en place” set up, and means you won’t have to scroll back-and-forth in the recipe if you’re cooking from your mobile device.
- Check out our equipment list for other handy tools that can save you time in the kitchen!
