If you want to cook but don’t feel as though you have time then you have come to the right place. This guide will show you how to cook faster, even when you are on a busy, tight schedule.
Take a Minute
Before you even start cooking, you need to give yourself a minute so you can think of everything you need to do. If you are making multiple dishes then you need to pick the one that takes the longest to cook and then go from there. See opportunities to prep ingredients when you have small windows of time, and come up with an efficient gameplan. If you can do this and if you can avoid hitting any bumps in the road then this will make it much easier for you to stay on track.
Set Up Appliances
There is a very good reason why recipes often tell you to heat the oven prior to starting. Get the oven turned on before you even start, so it is ready to go when you are. You also need to get any equipment you may need out as well. If you can do this then you will find it easier than ever to get the results you are going for. It’s hard to hunt down gadgets or attachments when you have things bubbling on the hob, so make sure that you think about things like this in advance.
Get the Water Boiling
If you need some water then get it boiling or steaming right away, so it is good to go. If you have to boil water during your recipe then this will cost you valuable time and this is the last thing you need. If you can, take the time to put a lid on your pans as well, so you can speed up the amount of time something takes to boil.
Ingredients from your Pantry or Fridge
If you have ever watched a cooking show then you will know that they often grab all of the pans that they need at once, as it saves them from having to run back and forth all the time. While your kitchen might not be professional, or a TV studio, you do need to make this concept work for you. One way you can do that would be for you to make sure that you grab most of your stuff and set it up in advance. Measure and grab your ingredients too, so you don’t have to worry about running out halfway through cooking.
Clean your Produce
Take the time to trim your produce. Taking the tops off your root vegetables and cutting your lettuce are all good things to do. You can also combine vegetables when rinsing, as this will reduce your water usage. If you can do all of this ahead of time, or if you put them back in your fridge the night before then this will save you a great deal of time the next day so you can focus on your meals more.
Focus on Quick Meals
One way that you can make your meals easier and faster would be for you to choose quick and easy recipes. Don’t choose recipes that require you to cool things down, or that take a long time on the hob. If you can do this then you will soon find that it is easier for you to get the result you are looking for. Stuck for ideas? Make sure you check out this authentic chicken enchiladas recipe. It’s a great way for you to get some veg and you may also find that it is suitable for the whole family. If you have never given recipes like this a go then you are missing out, as they are super easy, don’t have a lot of ingredients and most of all, can be prepped ahead of time.
Invest in Good Cookware
A great pan will cook things way faster when compared to a pan that has poor heat conduction. If you want to do something about this then make sure that you invest in great products. If you can do this then you will soon find that your meals are faster and easier to cook. You may also find that you can cook things to a higher level of quality, as you are not losing your heat halfway through the cooking process. Make sure you follow the maintenance instructions on the cookware if you can, as some pans cannot be put in the dishwasher, for example.
