One of the most common questions asked by family members every day
is, “What’s for dinner”? After being at work all day, taking care of the
kids, or running errands, not a lot of time is left for preparing meals
every night. Save time by adjusting your cooking techniques and
prepping some foods ahead. Use these great tips to make the most of your
time in the kitchen.
Sit down ahead of time and make a meal plan for the week before you go grocery shopping. Prepare a shopping list before you head to the store so you can focus on what you need. To go faster, organize your list by store sections such as "produce," "frozen foods," etc.
When you have some time, wash, slice, and portion out fruits and veggies for quick snacks on-the-go. You can also prepare ahead some of the fresh ingredients for upcoming meals.
A one pot meal means less clean up time, which means less time spent in the kitchen. These easy meals also eliminate the need to figure out what sides to cook with your main dish, because each meal provides your protein, vegetables, and grains all in one dish!
When you cook a recipe, make extra portions for another day or two of meals, or to freeze for a different week. Be sure to date and label what goes in the freezer so you know what you have on hand.
Save time with easy slow cooker meals that require little “supervision.” Slow cooker soups and stews are also a good way to use up fresh vegetables that may be a little past their prime.
Don’t spend your precious time every night working hard in the
kitchen to whip up dinner. Instead, follow the tips above to work
efficiently and save time.
The LSU AgCenter and the LSU College of Agriculture