Save TIME in the kitchen

I spend a majority of my time when at home in the kitchen.  Meal prep, cooking, cleaning, packing lunches, making snacks, I feel like I am ALWAYS in there.  But, I have employed some time saving tips over the years that help me to spend less time in the kitchen and more time….doing other chores ;)  A mom’s work is never done!  haha

Time saving tips:

      1. Keep a supply of cone-shaped coffee filters on hand—even if you don’t have a coffee maker! These handy paper cups serve as little snack cups and you don’t have to waste a good bowl or plate, and if your kids snack as often as mine these will come in handy.  Perfect for trail mix, popcorn or cut up fruit.

.         2. Get  your kids to help! When I am making dinner or packing lunches, I enlist the help of one or two eager little helpers.  I have them help empty the dishwasher, or gather half empty cups from around the house to put into sink to be washed.  The kids love to help and I love to have a third or fourth hand.

      3.  Instead of rummaging through the pantry for beef or chicken broth for your recipes (then putting the left over can in the fridge to take up much needed space) I fill an ice cube tray with the broth and stick in the freezer for grab and go use later.

      4.  To save time on dessert for the kids, take a muffin tin and line with paper liners.  Scoop your favorite ice cream or frozen yogurt in each muffin spot.  Once frozen, pop each one out and put in a gallon size Ziploc bag (try to keep the paper liners on them for grabbing ease later).  Then when the kids want ice cream for dessert no need to spend all that time scooping the rock hard ice cream.  Just grab a scoop and put in a bowl!

      5.  After cooking dinner, set your dirty pots on the stove with either vinegar and water or dish soap and water and let it boil while you eat.  When you are done with dinner, your pots will be un-stuck with food and easier to clean.

      6.  Make your dishwasher work for you!  Put like utensils in the same section of the silverware tray in the dishwasher (knives with knives, small forks with small forks, etc.) so that you can pull them out by group and put them away fast.  This also helps when you have the little ones unloading!

     7.  Just made a delicious dinner full of garlic but hate the smell in the house?  Instead of wasting time running around with air freshener or lighting all the candles in the house, while you’re cooking a meal or just after, set a small pot of water on the stove and drop in a slice of lemon, a cinnamon stick, or a couple pinches of your favorite aromatic spice. Let the pot boil for several minutes, and the smell will permeate your kitchen with its fragrance.

8.  Pre wash and chop your family’s favorite fruits and veggies and place them in a paper towel lined Tupperware (one for each type of course).  These make quick and easy to grab snacks for the kids, and you don’t even have to be involved.