Even if you normally enjoy cooking, it can be a time-consuming venture when you can't find the items you're looking for. A well-appointed and organized kitchen can go a long way toward improving your overall cooking experience. Here are some tips on how to make food preparation a pleasure rather than a chore.
Better Organization
The first thing you should do before reorganizing your kitchen is to determine which tools and utensils you use the most. It stands to reason that these items should be within easy reach of your usual prep space. Conversely, if you don't use certain items very often or at all, it's time to shed this dead weight. You can donate the items or throw them out, depending on their condition. If you only use items on special occasions, like a mixer for baking holiday cookies or birthday cakes, store them on high shelves or in other out-of-the-way places.
More Light
A dark, dull kitchen will make your job that much more difficult, not to mention unappealing. Fortunately, there are easy and inexpensive ways to brighten up a space. You can put lights in unique places to make your cooking easier. If you have low cabinets, try installing new fixtures or stick-on lights to their undersides. You might also want to try using brighter bulbs in the fixtures that you have. Just make sure to check their specifications beforehand to reduce any fire risk posed by overloading an electrical socket.
Advance Prep
Once your kitchen is well-organized and brightly lit, it's time to focus on the act of cooking itself. If you find that many recipes are taking too long to prepare, it's likely because you are following the directions as you go along without having anything ready in advance. Before you start to cook, read through the list of ingredients to ensure that you have everything you'll need. Then, prepare each component in the order you'll need it, separating ingredients into groups as needed. For example, if a soup recipe begins with sautéed onions and carrots, with minced garlic and fresh herbs to be added later, place the diced onions and carrots in one bowl and the garlic and herbs in another. This way, when it's time to add the next group of ingredients, you won't have to scramble around to find them.
If you've ever watched a cooking program, you'll find that the professional hosts typically follow all of the advice listed above. That's how they make it look so easy and also why it can be just as easy for you.
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