If you’ve been following my social media or blog for even a few weeks, you probably know that I love a good cooking hack. Because let’s be real: most of us do not want to spend hours in the kitchen during the week.
If you’ve been following my social media or blog for even a few weeks, you probably know that I love a good cooking hack. Because let’s be real: most of us do not want to spend hours in the kitchen during the week.
And if you do, that’s awesome. Seriously. But, I’m sure we all can appreciate a good cooking hack every once in a while!
In March, 3 things drastically affected my routine all around the same time: Covid and quarantine, finding out I was pregnant and getting my puppy, Billie. I have no clue which of these was the culprit for me wanting to spend as little time in the kitchen as possible, but I can tell you one thing: since then, my goal has been to spend as little time in the kitchen as possible.
Even before then though, I was all about making cooking easy. Cooking is something I love to do, which means I do it pretty often. That also means that I don’t really want to spend a few hours each night – or even each week – in the kitchen. I want it to be efficient.
And, I know many of you and my clients feel the same way. You’re busy. You work, you have things to do, and oh yeah, you also still have to clean after cooking. So let’s do what we can to make cooking as easy and quick as possible, you know?
Let me preface this too by saying these hacks are not for any trained or even home chefs. I’m sure there’s a chef out there rolling her eyes at some of these shortcuts. But, for people like you and me who just wanna make life a little easier while still being able to enjoy a healthy, home cooked meal… these hacks are a game changer.
And so, I present you: 10 kitchen hacks to making cooking easier and quicker.
10 kitchen hacks
1. Buy pre-cut veggies.
Truly my #1 tip. You’d be surprised by how many veggies you can buy pre-cut and ready to go to, too, and it’s such a time saver. Some of my favorites include: shredded Brussels sprouts, chopped and de-stemmed kale and riced cauliflower. You can even buy zucchini or butternut squash already spiralized into noodles. Not having to chop = a ton of time saved.
2. Cook ahead and use leftovers.
I’m not a big meal prep-er, but any time I’m cooking, I’ll try to make enough for at least 2 days or nights. I can almost guarantee that that next night, you won’t regret having a cooked meal already ready to go. Alternatively, many dishes – like soups, chilis and even meatballs – can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months (!).
3. Take advantage of store-bought sauces and dressings.
Honestly, I rarely make my own sauces or dressings. It’s just so much quicker and easier to use store-bought versions. They’re delicious, they’re easy, and if you already have them in your kitchen, that’s one less thing you have to worry about when cooking. Some of my favorites to keep on hand are tomato sauce for any pasta dishes, teriyaki sauce for stir fries and salad dressing for salads.
4. Utilize frozen items.
Frozen fruit and vegetables are amazing. Not only are they just as nutritious as fresh, but they also are often cheaper and last longer. Plus, they’re super easy to cook with. Heat frozen veggies on a pan with olive oil to make them a little crispy in just a few minutes. Frozen fruit can be added to things like oatmeal or even pancakes – simply reheat in the microwave. And don’t forget about frozen meals too! They can save plenty of time when needed.
5. Keep minced garlic on hand.
Is garlic a very specific item to get its own tip? Yes. Is it necessary though? Also though. I don’t know about you, but I use garlic in a lot of my cooking. While peeling and mincing your own garlic is nice, it’s also way easier to simply keep pre-minced garlic in the refrigerator. I can’t tell you how many times I use this!
6. Consider getting a food processor.
My food processor is one of my favorite kitchen tools. I have this mini one (LINK) for less than $50 and honestly, it’s been worth every penny. I use to grate and chop so many things that would otherwise take much more time to grate or chop by hand. Whenever a recipe needs something finely chopped, I quickly and roughly chop it with a knife, then simply throw it in my food processor.
7. Don’t underestimate breakfast or lunch for dinner.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: when it comes to what you eat, there are no rules. And you know what makes a really easy dinner? Breakfast. Or lunch. Scrambled eggs or even an omelet can make an easy and delicious dinner (pair them with the frozen veggies from #4!). And there’s no reason a sandwich can’t be dinner. Forget any rules or ideas you have about what constitutes certain meals.
8. Utilize pantry staples.
There are a few shelf stable pantry items that I highly recommend keeping on hand to make your life easier. Things like: whole wheat or legume-based pasta, cans of beans or chickpeas and quick cooking oats are all great ways to add protein and fiber to meals and make a super balanced meal, fast (click here to get my list of 10 pantry staples and 10 easy meals to make from them). For example, pair pasta with that store bought tomato sauce from #3 and the frozen veggies from #4, and you’ve got a balanced, nutritious meal ready in no time.
9. Make sheet pan or one pot meals.
When it comes to the actual cooking, the easiest meals use the fewest pots and pans. Less work for you and less to clean up when you’re done. I love a good sheet pan or one pot meal that makes the process of cooking easier. Try this Sheet Pan Tofu Teriyaki or this one pot Vegan Bolognese.
10. Buy a meat thermometer.
Many of my clients don’t make meat because they aren’t sure how to – how do you know when it’s done? How do you prevent under- or overcooking it? Trust me, get a meat thermometer (I have this $12 one from Amazon). Simply stick the thermometer in the thickest part of the meat to see when it’s done. Chicken should be at 165 F, fish at 145 F and beef at 145 F. It takes the guessing game out of cooking meat and makes it so much easier.
Bonus: 11. Plan ahead.
You don’t have to meal prep in order to save time cooking. Instead, try to have a rough plan to guide you. For example, when you buy groceries for the week, think about 2-3 meals that you can make from the food you’re buying. Planning ahead not only means less waste – both financially and food wise – but also saves you time so that when you go to cook, you know exactly what you’re planning to make.
At the end of the day, any cooking you do at home is impressive. It’s a lot to add cooking on top of all the other stuff I know you’re already doing! If you have extra time to spend and want to spend it, by all means, go for it. But, when you want to save a little time and make this one task just a little easier, I promise, these hacks will be invaluable.
