Cooking, like laundry, is one of those household chores that always needs to get done and never really ends. As soon as you think you’re done, and maybe even take off a few days, it’s time to start up again. In order to cut down on the time I spend cooking and make it easier for myself, I’ve implemented the tips below and am here to encourage you to consider some or even all of them for yourself.
7 Cooking Tips for Busy Moms
- Batch cook – “Cook once, serve twice”. When I make certain dishes like kugels or meatballs, I always make a second batch to store in the freezer for a later date.
- Stock your pantry and freezer with basics – If you know your family eats fish sticks every week, consider buying enough for the next few weeks to have on hand. Same for items like cereals and pasta.
- Do prep work ahead of time – many times when I cook dishes with fresh veggies, I prep the veggies in advance and store them in the fridge until I’m ready to cook the dish. This might not save on time, but allows be to use my time more wisely. Additionally, you can prepare the entire dish in advance so you only need to put in the oven at dinner time. I usually do this for Shabbos – I prepare my chicken on Thursday night and pop it in the oven on Friday, so it’s fresh for dinner.
- Use your dishwasher – run it more than once for a quick and easy cleanup and if the dishes are all clean at dinner time, consider setting your table from what’s waiting to be put away. There’s a reason why my dishwasher is my favorite appliance.
- Use time-saving cooking tools, like a veggie chopper, Instapot, immersion blender, or keep multiple sets of measuring cups/spoons on hand to make prepping and cooking faster.
- Buy ready to use ingredients – A while back I used to make my own marinades and sauces, but soon realized it wasn’t worth it, since I didn’t have many of the ingredients on hand. I now save time and hassle by buying one of the many available marinades/sauces. I have also started buying ready-to-go veggies and cut up fruit.
- Have a running list of approved meals for easy reference so you don’t have to make decision on what to make. Here’s how I’ve done this in the past – My Meal Ideas List. This one’s my favorite 🙂
Want more time saving tips and tricks? Check out these posts:
- Time Saving Hacks for Working Moms
- Shortcuts to Help Minimize Mess When Freezer Cooking
- Working Mom Tips to Keep Your House Clean
- Household Shortcuts… Confession Time!
- Freezer Cooking- Handy Kitchen Hacks in Pictures
What tips do you have to share?
Until next time,
Shaindy
