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6 cooking tips for busy moms

When you have busy days, spending time in the kitchen to prepare meals for your family might seem like a luxury you cannot afford. But, making a homemade meal doesn’t have to take a huge chunk of your time.

With a few hacks in the kitchen, you can fit cooking into your schedule with a little effort. Here are six tips to help you make wholesome meals for your family without sacrificing your other responsibilities.

1. Plan Ahead

During the weekend, plan the meals you’ll be cooking for the coming week, including a menu for each day. Then, ensure that you have all the ingredients and equipment you’ll need. By organizing your weekly meals this way, you’ll spend less time in the kitchen wondering what to cook or looking for the right ingredients.

Also, having a weekly meal plan allows you to note the ingredients you can prepare beforehand and store for use during subsequent days. Vegetables, rice, stews, and meat are some of the foods you can cook and keep frozen. This significantly reduces the time you spend in the kitchen during the weekdays.

2. Clean As You Go

Cleaning after cooking can be a time-consuming and tiring process. To save time on this, clean the crockery and utensils you use during meal prep as you go. By doing this, you’ll have less of a mess to deal with after your meal is ready. Also, getting the dirty dishes out of the way as soon as you’re finished with them keeps the working surface free of clutter, which increases your productivity.

3. Use Non-Stick Cookware

When you’re busy, it’s easy to get distracted from your cooking, which can lead to burned dishes. Using non-stick cookware can save you this setback. Non-stick pots and pans are made with a coating that prevents food from sticking to the surface.

The best non-stick cookware is made using safe coatings such as enamel and tested to ensure it is not exposing your family to harmful chemicals. Also, a non-stick pot is far much faster and easier to clean than a regular pot because it doesn’t absorb grease or come away with food remains.

4. Use a Slow Cooker

A slow cooker simmers food at a low temperature over several hours, allowing you to cook without paying close attention to your dish. You can put together your ingredients in the morning, then leave for work and come back home to a well-cooked meal.

Modern slow cookers come fitted with control panels that allow you to program cooking time, temperature and even select the method of cooking. The best part is that there are countless recipes you can prepare with a slow cooker, so you’ll be able to make versatile meals for your family without spending too much time in the kitchen.

5. Keep Frequently Used Utensils and Cookware Within Reach

Keep spatulas, knives, ladles, and other utensils you’ll need when cooking close to the stove. The same goes for the pots and pans. Store them in a cupboard that’s easily accessible from your cooking surface. It might seem trivial, but searching around the kitchen for the right equipment can take a lot of your time and make the entire process more tasking.

6. Use Leftovers

Leftover foods can save you more cooking time when you store them well and serve them for the next meal. For instance, leftover dinner can make for packed lunch the next day. Another trick is to use leftover foods as part of another recipe. Leftover vegetables can, for example, be a great addition to a soup. You’ll not only be reducing food wastage but also saving time you would have used preparing fresh ingredients.

With these tips, you can spend less time in the kitchen without sacrificing the quality of meals you serve your family. With the right cookware and enough planning, you’ll find cooking to be more enjoyable and less tasking.







Note: This information was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the businesses in question before making your plans.

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