How can I be organized when cooking?!
k when I cook I end up using all these bowls, pans, pots, knives, etc!.!.!.the kitchen is a mess when I'm done and get this, I only cook for myself and this happens for almost every meal that I cook!. I don't have kids or a bf/husband!. There has got to be a way to be better organized without going through all these utensils and appliances!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
Clean up as you go!. When you use a bowl to mix ingredients, rinse it out as soon as you're done, leave it on a towel out of the way, and when you need another bowl, use the same one!. Get all of the ingredients you will need first!. Place them all on the counter, and as you use them, stick them back up in the pantry!. You start with a little clutter, and by the time you're done with all your ingredients, your counter will be cleared of everything but the mixing bowl and pans you're using!. This is what I do, and it helps a lot!. It seems like I can make a huge mess just making a bowl of cereal lol!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I have a tendancy to do the same thing!. I can be a bit scattered, but I have noticed that the more prepared I am the smoother things go!.
My hubby actually quit helping with dishes so much becasue he says I make to many!.
If you go by a recipe review it and get out everything you need!. If it is something that you know by heart go thru it mentally, you may not always get everything out but you will be pretty close!.
When doing and chopping/dicing do veggies first!. Then meats!. It is recomneded that you use a seperate cutting board but if you don't have a seperate one it will help!. also then you can use the same knife with out cross contamination!.
When cooking use the same pot/pan as much as possible!. If you have a cookie sheet, long tray or a big platter you can start stuff then remove from the hot pan and put it on the tray/dish!. This is for something even as simple as a swiss steak and cheese sandiwch with peppers, onions and mushrooms, (of course you wouldn't needa huge platter for this)!. Then you can wioe out the skillet or leave it as t is for flavor, and toast up the bread, remove and set on the plate/platter!. Cook meat and assemble sandwich!. return to pan to heat and melt cheese!.
Wipe the plate off and use it to hold your food!.
I know this was a bit drawn out for something so simple but oh well!.
also if I am chopping a bunch of veggies for a dish and I am going to add them at different times!. I use one bowl but seperate each addition with wax or parchment paper!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
My hubby actually quit helping with dishes so much becasue he says I make to many!.
If you go by a recipe review it and get out everything you need!. If it is something that you know by heart go thru it mentally, you may not always get everything out but you will be pretty close!.
When doing and chopping/dicing do veggies first!. Then meats!. It is recomneded that you use a seperate cutting board but if you don't have a seperate one it will help!. also then you can use the same knife with out cross contamination!.
When cooking use the same pot/pan as much as possible!. If you have a cookie sheet, long tray or a big platter you can start stuff then remove from the hot pan and put it on the tray/dish!. This is for something even as simple as a swiss steak and cheese sandiwch with peppers, onions and mushrooms, (of course you wouldn't needa huge platter for this)!. Then you can wioe out the skillet or leave it as t is for flavor, and toast up the bread, remove and set on the plate/platter!. Cook meat and assemble sandwich!. return to pan to heat and melt cheese!.
Wipe the plate off and use it to hold your food!.
I know this was a bit drawn out for something so simple but oh well!.
also if I am chopping a bunch of veggies for a dish and I am going to add them at different times!. I use one bowl but seperate each addition with wax or parchment paper!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Clean as you go is the best suggestion!.
Get organized!. Only pull out what is absolutely needed!. Choose a recipe that doesn't need umpteen bowls etc!.
If you are baking, put all the ingredients you need on the left side of the bowl or mixer bowl!.
As you add an ingredient to the bowl or mixer bowl, place the container on the right side of the bowl or mixer!. That way, you will know that you have added it to the bowl!. This is really great if you get a phone call or other interuption while working!. You'll know where you are in the recipe, because all the ingredients that have been used will be on the right side, and the unused on the left!.
Put the ingredients away as soon as you are finished with them!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Get organized!. Only pull out what is absolutely needed!. Choose a recipe that doesn't need umpteen bowls etc!.
If you are baking, put all the ingredients you need on the left side of the bowl or mixer bowl!.
As you add an ingredient to the bowl or mixer bowl, place the container on the right side of the bowl or mixer!. That way, you will know that you have added it to the bowl!. This is really great if you get a phone call or other interuption while working!. You'll know where you are in the recipe, because all the ingredients that have been used will be on the right side, and the unused on the left!.
Put the ingredients away as soon as you are finished with them!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
As others here have said, cleaning as you go helps tons!. However, as much as I try, often there are four burners going, something in the oven, or I am running back and forth from the kitchen to the grill on the now snowy patio!. (Adding that I often have three kids in and out of the kitchen checking on "when is dinner going to be ready"!?)!.
One thing my neighbor has said to me when visiting is, "my, what did you spoil them with tonight", and we just laugh!. This is at the sight of the amount of dirty cookware/dishes, etc!., ready to be loaded into the dishwasher!. To me, it shows that you do cook thus work hard to feed your family/self, and more than "crock-pot" or "one-dish meals" (not that there is anything wrong with that either !.!.!. it's cooking)!.
Aside from cleaning as you go, time permitting, I try and always pre-measure/prep ingredients before I begin!. This will not only be more convenient, but gives you additional time during cooking to rinse/wash what you use as it affords free time!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
One thing my neighbor has said to me when visiting is, "my, what did you spoil them with tonight", and we just laugh!. This is at the sight of the amount of dirty cookware/dishes, etc!., ready to be loaded into the dishwasher!. To me, it shows that you do cook thus work hard to feed your family/self, and more than "crock-pot" or "one-dish meals" (not that there is anything wrong with that either !.!.!. it's cooking)!.
Aside from cleaning as you go, time permitting, I try and always pre-measure/prep ingredients before I begin!. This will not only be more convenient, but gives you additional time during cooking to rinse/wash what you use as it affords free time!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I'm not sure what to tell you - if you cook at home, you use dishes and utensils! You might try washing the dishes as you use them, so that they don't pile up!. i!.e!. once you finish with a bowl, go ahead and wash it right then and put it up!.
You might also consider preparing certain items in advance, such as cutting all of your vegetables up when you buy them and separating them into bags so that you don't have to haul out cutting boards and cutting utensils when you cook - you just take the bag from the fridge and you're good to go!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
You might also consider preparing certain items in advance, such as cutting all of your vegetables up when you buy them and separating them into bags so that you don't have to haul out cutting boards and cutting utensils when you cook - you just take the bag from the fridge and you're good to go!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
That sounds like my mom + sister!. The problem is they never clean as they go! I learned this technique from watching a lot of cooking shows and they always say "clean up as you go"!. When you spill something, wipe it immediately!. When you use a bowl to mix something in and then don't need it anymore, quickly put it in the sink, don't just put it there on the counter or else it'll start piling up with other dirty bowls!. After I'm done cooking/baking the kitchen is always spotless and no one even knew I cooked something!.!. except the smell of course ;)Www@FoodAQ@Com
Well, don't use a separate knife for each vegetable!.
Use the same bowl to put ingredients in!.
Put stuff away as you go!. (like stuff you don't need)
and prepare hot water in the sink so the grease gets off quicker!.
I have tried, believe me, theres always a mess left!.
lol
Hope I helped!
=>_<=Www@FoodAQ@Com
Use the same bowl to put ingredients in!.
Put stuff away as you go!. (like stuff you don't need)
and prepare hot water in the sink so the grease gets off quicker!.
I have tried, believe me, theres always a mess left!.
lol
Hope I helped!
=>_<=Www@FoodAQ@Com
well put all your ingredients that your going to use ONLY!. and then do anything in the meal that doesnt take much time like sauces or stuff like dat!.!.!.then wash dirty dishes, then cook your main meal and try not to use so much dishes!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
1!. Gather together all needed ingredients
2!. Put the ingredients away once they've been used in the recipe
3!. Wash your dishes and clean up as you go!. It breaks up the cooking routine while keeping ahead of the dirty dish brigade!.
I forgot to add prep all needed ingredients before starting the actual cooking process!. This applies to almost all quick cooking dishes, especially stir fries as they go together quickly!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
2!. Put the ingredients away once they've been used in the recipe
3!. Wash your dishes and clean up as you go!. It breaks up the cooking routine while keeping ahead of the dirty dish brigade!.
I forgot to add prep all needed ingredients before starting the actual cooking process!. This applies to almost all quick cooking dishes, especially stir fries as they go together quickly!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
have everything tighty like all the ingrediants in one bowl and ect!.!. cleaning as you go!. so if your cooking something you have to let it simmer use that time to clean up dishes and everything!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
get out all the bowls and utensils that youll need first and lay them on a worktop in some sort of order, that way you wont be using any more than you need toWww@FoodAQ@Com
Use the downtime while cooking to put the utensils away as soon as possible!. You can go a step further and put things away right after you use them!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Fix everything ahead of time, measure out your ingredients and then put away the things you have taken out!. It is better and quicker when cooking!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
wash bowls in the middle and use them for something else- use 1 knife for alll veggies etc!.!.!.and 1 knife for meats and whatever else!.!.!.once you figure out a method it'll be easierWww@FoodAQ@Com
Wash each bowl as you go!
Place other things straight in the dish washer if you have one!.
A tub inside a sink and a tea towel on your shoulder helps!Www@FoodAQ@Com
Place other things straight in the dish washer if you have one!.
A tub inside a sink and a tea towel on your shoulder helps!Www@FoodAQ@Com
Plan before you start preparing!. Rinse bowls, utensils between use!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
clean up as you go!. sorry thats the only adive I have!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Books at Indigo and chaptesr or hire a butlerWww@FoodAQ@Com