Aside from my work space (which is at home), I spend more of my awake hours in the kitchen than I do any other home in the house. If you regularly prepare meals, the odds are good that this is true for you, as well.
But is it the room where you want to spend the majority or your time, or would you really love to reclaim a bit of the time you spend there for other things? For me, I crave any and all tips that can help me save time in the kitchen because frankly, I just have other places I’d rather be!
Here are 3 things that have helped me cut back on my hours logged in this particular room of the house. I hope they help you!
- Take Out the Garbage Less
No, I’m not advocating for you to make a statement with your family and let the garbage just start overflowing until someone else finally takes it out (though I do understand if you feel tempted for this reason, believe me!). But rather, I’m talking about using the right product so that you don’t have to worry that if you pack down the garbage a time or two that the bag will break when you are trying to take it out. I’ve purchased “bargain” bags before and found myself taking out the trash much more often for this exact reason. In the end I didn’t save money because I went through the bags quickly and I certainly didn’t save any time.
Hefty Ultra Strong trash bags are an excellent choice if you are tired of having to stop and take out the trash in the middle of dinner prep every night. The durability of these bags means you don’t have to worry about how full your garbage can gets before you have to stop and take it out. Go ahead and push that pile down a time or two to compact it. No judgement from me!
2. Let Someone Else Plan the Meals
Again, don’t misunderstand me and think I’m suggesting that your 7-year-old gets to decide what’s for dinner every night, unless you want to eat ice cream and no veggies (that’s what my oldest would suggest). But a little internet research can help you discover a treasure trove of pre-made menu plans that can make your life SO much easier. I happen to use a paid option (#wortheverypenny) but you can easily find free meal plans, too, complete with grocery lists to help you spend less time in the grocery store. Pro tip: look for 30 minute meals or easy meals or something similar to further cut back on time spent in the kitchen!
3. Use the Right Tools
Ok, so at some point you’ve just got to cook, and when that time comes, it is SO important that you have quality tools to help you get through the prep and cooking process efficiently and effectively. Take a minute to think about the quality of your cookware and your knives, in particular. If they are struggling, then replace those items ASAP because I promise you, they are costing you time! Anyone who has ever tried to chop vegetables with a dull knife or tried to skillet fry something in an uneven pan can attest to what I’m saying. The initial cost will pay for itself over and over again in the time you’ll save over the coming years, I promise.
I hope I’ve given you a little inspiration for some ways you can save yourself some time in the kitchen. And if you like saving time, you also probably like saving money, so be sure to head over to Walmart or Target ASAP to pick up some Hefty Ultra Strong trash bags. They top quality in performance and are currently selling at a new, lower price (woo hoo!). And if you use the Ibotta app, you can also earn $1.00 cash back after purchasing one box of Hefty trash bags.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.