5 Tips for Easier Cooking

Begin with a Clear and Clean Countertop

There is nothing worse than trying to work in a cluttered space. It’s no fun to be working away, and then have to stop because something gets knocked over, and you have to deal with the mess before continuing. When you begin cooking with a cleared off and clean countertop, it makes the process so much easier.

ALWAYS Read the Recipe All the Way Through

Become familiar with the recipe before you attempt to make it. Once in a while, a recipe will call for a certain amount of an ingredient, and in parenthesis there will be a note to keep some in reserve, say for a sauce or frosting. If you don’t see it, you may ruin what you’re cooking.

Have All Ingredients On Hand

Gather all of your ingredients before you begin. The fancy cooking term for this is the French mise en place, which means everything in its place. This way you know you have everything available, and you’re not wasting time going to the pantry over and over again. Once you get this habit set, you can measure everything out ahead of time.

Preheat The Oven

This may seem obvious, but preheating the oven saves time. The purpose of preheating is to have a consistent temperature from start of cooking to finish.

Sharp Knives

I can’t stress this enough; dull knives are dangerous knives. It may seem counterintuitive, but dull knives aren’t sharp enough for slicing food, but they are sharp enough for slicing fingers. A knife is a tool, and maintaining a tool means making sure it is capable of doing the job it’s intended for.