Time is our most valuable resource so it is only natural that we maximize each moment. Have you ever thought about the amount of time it takes to fix breakfast or dinner? Everyone enjoys home cooked goodies and healthy dishes, but surely there must be a few shortcuts that make perfect sense to home chefs. Instead of spending long hours in a kitchen preparing meals you can use these 10 practical tips to cook faster.
1. Save time when you need to peel those garlic cloves. You can just smash the cloves as normal and add them to a clean jar. Then shake the jar vigorously and in seconds the peels will be separated and the garlic is ready to be added to your dish.
2. There are lots of tasty recipes that allow you to cook pasta in the same pan as the sauce. These 1 pot ideas shave a great deal of time compared to regular pasta preparation. As a bonus there are fewer pans to wash.
3. It may seem very obvious but you really need to have a plan in mind before you begin cooking. If you want to speed up the cooking process you should remember that organization plays an important role. Gather all of your ingredients, dishes and kitchen tools so that no time is wasted searching for various items once you begin the meal preparation.
4. Some cooks suggest that you cook potatoes and boiled eggs in the same pot to save time and energy. Just remember that the eggs will be ready much sooner than the spuds. You can even cook potatoes in their jackets, even if you are boiling them. Then you can enjoy the additional vitamins and fiber that are in the potato skins.
5. Microwave cooking is extremely fast. Learn to put your microwave oven to good use. Instead of just heating popcorn or coffee this small appliance can be used to defrost food, bake cakes and make candy.
6. Love baked potatoes but don’t want to wait for them to cook in the kitchen oven? Begin heating the potatoes in the microwave first. Leave the potatoes in the oven for about 8-10 minutes and then slide those ‘taters into the regular oven for an additional 5-10 minutes for ultra-delicious baked goodness that everyone will enjoy.
7. Roasted chicken (or turkey) can be prepared in about 1/2 the regular cooking time. Just use aluminum foil to cover the bird during the majority of the roasting process. This helps the meat cook faster without becoming dry and tough. For a nicely, browned skin you should peel back the foil during the last few minutes of roasting.
8. Parboil veggies that will be used in stir-fry dishes. You can parboil chopped vegetables whenever you have the time and keep them refrigerated in cool water until you are ready to use them in a meal. Then you will only have to heat them briefly as you are cooking.
9. Use your leftovers to cook an omelet or create a unique fried rice dish. You can even raid those leftovers and add the ingredients to a frozen pie shell for a healthy, delicious quiche.
10. Make sure that you package those leftovers properly. Refrigerate them or freeze them and you will have instant meals ready whenever you need a quick dish to set on the table.
Benjamin D Smith
