A kitchen is a meditative place for many. The act of going through the motions, from preparing the mise en place to garnishing the meal and then cleaning up the dishes after, can soothe the nerves and bring someone back to the present. Sustenance is part of our day-to-day life, and there's something about the kitchen spaces we inhabit that has to be of a certain standard to be able to not be another chore for us. If the kitchen space is chaotic and unruly, it will take us away from the joy of creating incredible dishes in them. In our hustling lifestyle, good food or home-cooked meals are like a form of currency. Providing ourselves with the right nutrition to cope with our demanding jobs is crucial, and the only way to get that is by learning how to cook and feed oneself and not depend externally, for means of sustenance. Setting the house in order, and beginning from a stable base is so important, which is why we've come up with 10 golden tips to follow, to save time in the kitchen, and make your cooking journey easier.
1. Plan and meal prep ahead of time
It would behoove you to know how much time you are going to save every day if you simply plan out your meals for the week. You can even prepare your lunches and dinners beforehand and in bulk, then portion them out for each day and store them in the microwave and freezer-safe glass containers. It cuts down on the number of times you have to go to the kitchen every day and think about what you're going to have and then cook it.
2. Make grocery runs on the weekends
Take note of the inventory or the food items that are in your pantry and if they need to be refilled. Do not visit the grocery store to buy one food item. Make a list of items to buy when you're making your supermarket run and get them done in one instance for the week ahead.
3. Wash fruits and vegetables before refrigerating
Wash your whole vegetables and fruits before keeping them in the fridge. So that when you commence cooking by taking them out, you don't have to wash them thoroughly. After they're cut, you can put them under running water and wash them lightly.
4. Stock up on frozen vegetables
Having vegetables at hand is quite important. One can whip up a quick meal if the building blocks of a simple dish are there in the refrigerator. The best part about these is that they won't perish that easily if they're in the freezer and they don't need further chopping down or peeling, which saves time as well.
5. Eggs, cereals, and lentils are a must-have
Buying cereals and lentils in bulk will serve you well. They are long-lasting and fresh eggs can be stored for 21 to 30 days from the day of packaging. Fresh meat and fish can be brought from the market the day of preparing, but these ingredients can be bought beforehand, and in bulk to save cost and frequent visits to the supermarket.
6. Keep the kitchen space clean, tidy, and organized
"Clean as you go!" this motto is very important in the kitchen. From taking the peels off your vegetables and discarding them, to cleaning the stovetop after a greasy and grueling dish preparation, cleaning the kitchen makes it a more hygienic and welcoming space. Cluttered and wasteful use of the kitchen will only lead to more cleaning down the path so make sure to always keep cleaning and organizing the kitchen space even when you're there cooking up a storm!
7. Keep the utensils or cooking tools at hand
In a crockery pot or a beer mug, make sure to keep all your cooking utensils in one accessible place near the stovetop. This is to serve the purpose of immediacy while cooking. If you're in need of a particular spatula while turning something in the pan, it's there in front of you and there's no need to leave the stovetop to search for it in the cupboards and shelves.
8. Organize your cupboards and shelves
Knowing what ingredients are in which cupboard is important. This is so true if you're cooking something up in a hurry and you don't have the right ingredients to throw in at the opportune time. You'd have to scour the corners and ends for that one ingredient and it takes away from the satisfaction and enjoyment of making the dish itself. Make things more convenient for yourself, label your spice containers and organize them in one place so that they're recognizable and distinguishable from the rest.
9. Freeze fresh herb pastes
Ginger paste, garlic paste, coriander paste, chilli paste, these are some of the commonly used ground herb or vegetable pastes in Indian cooking. You can freeze the pastes for a week in the deep freezer which will cut down on the effort of bringing out the mixer grinder or a mortar and pestle, everytime you need ginger-garlic paste, or a chilly paste.
10. The importance of sharp knives
Having a dull knife can significantly take up prep time for the meal that you're about to make. The presence of a sharp knife in the kitchen is so underrated. It is important because it can make assembling the mise en place feel like a breeze and fly through many of the menial tasks that involve a knife. Having a sharp tool around the house is dangerous, so in effect, even if you're comfortable using a sharp knife, make sure to keep a first aid kit in the kitchen handy, so that if a mishap occurs, you'll know what steps to take next.
