You know those people who say cooking is relaxing? Like, they in reality enjoy reducing onions after a protracted workday? Yeah, I’m now not certainly one of them.
Don’t get me wrong—I love meals. I love the moment you take a seat down and something warm and delicious is in front of you. But the prep? The dishes? The weird, sticky cutting board? It used to drain me.
That was until I started collecting tiny little cooking efficiency tips like Pokémon cards. One by one, they changed the game for me. Now, cooking doesn’t feel like a punishment. Some nights, dare I say, it’s even fun?
So, if you’re tired of spending an hour making something that disappears in 10 minutes (and then another hour cleaning it all up), buckle up. These tips might just be your new kitchen survival kit.
Okay, this one’s easy, however underrated. Clean your kitchen before you start. Sounds annoying, I know. But nothing kills the vibe quicker than looking to slice tomatoes subsequent to a sink complete of the day before today’s dishes.
Give your self a clean canvas—wipe down surfaces, positioned away the rogue blender from closing week’s smoothie, and preserve simplest what you want inside attain.
One of the maximum sensible clever kitchen guidelines? Less is greater. Keep your equipment prepared and ditch the drawer muddle. You surely don’t want 5 ladles. Promise.
The Magical Power of Mise en Place
Yeah, yeah, it’s a elaborate French phrase, but listen me out. Mise en place simply approach “the whole thing in its place.” And it’s honestly one of the best cooking efficiency tips I ever picked up.
Chop your veggies, portion your spices, open your cans before the stove’s even on. I used to cook while prepping at the same time—chaos. I’d burn onions while trying to peel garlic. Or worse, forget ingredients altogether.
Now, I prep everything in little bowls or piles and just... enjoy the rhythm. It feels more like assembling than cooking, which somehow feels easier? Less stressful?
Can we talk about how amazing one-pan meals are? Whether it’s a stir-fry, sheet-pan dinner, or a big pot of chili, limiting the number of dishes is one of the top-tier time-saving cooking tips. Cooking efficiency tips I swear by.
Fewer pots = fewer things to wash = happier me.
Bonus tip: If your recipe doesn’t technically say one-pan, it probably can still be one-pan if you just believe in yourself enough. Combine steps. Improvise. You’ve got this.
Multitasking (The Good Kind)
So here's a trick: start with what takes the longest. That might be roasting veggies or boiling rice. While that’s doing its thing, use that time to prep the faster stuff—chop herbs, mix dressings, snack a little (it counts).
This kind of multitasking is one of those cooking efficiency tips that feels small, but adds up fast. Before you know it, everything finishes at the same time like some kind of meal orchestra.
Also, get familiar with cooking efficiency tips that do the work for you. Sheet pans, slow cookers, air fryers—total game-changers.
Clean As You Go (I Fought This One Hard)
I used to be a “leave it all until the end” kind of cook. It was like my kitchen exploded every time I made pasta. But after one too many late-night dishwashing sessions, I gave in.
Now, I wash or rinse things while I cook. Waiting for something to boil? Rinse the cutting board. Done with the knife? Give it a quick wash.
It’s not glamorous, but cleaning as you go is one of the most life-saving cooking efficiency tips out there. By the time you eat, most of the mess is gone—and you get to actually relax after dinner.
Quick detour for the food nerds: What are the 4 pillars of cooking? It’s not just a fancy phrase chefs throw around—it’s actually useful for regular humans too.
Here they are:
Salt – Season properly. Life’s too short for bland food.
Fat – Olive oil, butter (or dairy-free versions), and so on. Adds richness.
Acid – Lemon juice, vinegar, tomatoes. Makes the whole thing pop.
Heat – Master your stove and oven. Don’t fear the flame.
Knowing those could make even the only meal flavor like it got here from a professional eating place. I began experimenting with acidity and now my move-to salad dressing is better than anything shop-bought. Just lemon, oil, garlic, and mustard. Wild.
Reuse and Repurpose Like a Kitchen Ninja
Cook as soon as, eat twice. Maybe three instances. I always make greater rice, roast extra veg, or cook a chunk extra protein than I need. The subsequent day, I mix and in shape: leftover rice becomes fried rice, roasted veg becomes soup, the day before today’s grilled tofu lands in a taco.
It’s sneaky efficient. It’s like cheating, but in a wholesome way.
Plus, if you’re wondering “How to make cooking more efficient?”—this is your answer: plan ahead without overthinking it. You’re not meal-prepping for an apocalypse. You’re just making your life easier tomorrow.
Invest in a few solid kitchen tools. You don’t need to buy a bunch of gadgets, but a sharp chef’s knife? Totally worth it. A good cutting board? Yes please. A blender that doesn’t scream like a banshee? Bless.
One of the best smart kitchen tips I got from a friend: if a tool saves you 10 minutes every week, it’s a worthy buy. I used to chop onions by hand every time—now I use a mini chopper and it’s done in five seconds. My eyes are happier. My time is better spent.
Quickfire Tips I Keep Coming Back To
Pre-wash fruits and veg after buying them
Use parchment paper to avoid pan scrubbing
Freeze chopped onions and garlic for future recipes
Label leftovers with painter’s tape (life hack!
Keep a “fridge cleanout” dinner night once a week
Here’s the truth: even with all the cooking efficiency tips in the world, some nights you just can’t. Whether you’re mentally wiped, physically tired, or just not in the mood—don’t force it.
That’s when I lean on Gousto. They’ve saved me more than once. Pre-portioned ingredients, clear instructions, minimal mess. Plus, their recipes actually taste like food you want to eat. Not like “Tuesday night sad pasta.”
Best part? They’ve built their recipes around real life. Which means less prep, less cleanup, and more time actually enjoying your evening.
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