From The Kitchen

February 27, 2010 Judy Doherty, MPS, PCII

A Cook Can Make All The Difference

Annual savings for cooking dinner at home:

$12,804.20 - for cooking at home for dinner for four versus going out to eat
182 hours - for cooking dinner at home instead of eating out
134,685 calories- for ONE person for cooking at home for dinner versus eating out

Cooking at home can make quite a difference for time, money and calories saved. This article will help you get more organized in the kitchen so you can learn to develop and love your inner cook!

Let's get organized in the kitchen and learn some tips for faster meals.

Love your space!

Did you know there are three main areas of a kitchen? They are prep, cook and clean. Each key area needs adequate space, equipment and organization:

1. Prep Area Must Haves:

Big, non-slip cutting board
Sharp knives, peelers
Elbow room
Mixing bowls
Utensils: spoons, spatulas
Clean refrigerator and freezer

2. Cook Area Must Haves:

Spices and herbs, oils (spray or drizzle)
Variety of pots/pans
Elbow room
Utensils: spoons, spatulas
Clean stove and oven
Oven mitts

3. Clean-up Area Must Haves:

Apron
Room to land for dirty items
Great scrubbing brushes
Adequate detergents
Elbow room
Drying rack

And a note about the refrigerator:

Won’t ever use it? Throw it out!
Messy = #1 stifler for “what do I make”
Too packed = can’t find anything
Make soup to use items up once a week
Consider zip lock bags to save space
Have a place to land to “chill it quick”
Prep ahead, store it in the refrigerator
Planned leftovers, store in the freezer

Love Your Equipment:

Here are great pieces that save time and money and won't get permanently stashed under the counter:

Pannini maker – quesadillas, grilled sandwiches, garlic toast
Bread machine – pizza, calzone, breadsticks - our bread machine saves a ton of money because we use it to make pizza dough once a week
Popcorn popper – hot air popcorn (whole grain)
Blender – smoothies, cream soups
Food processor – salsa, sauce, desserts
Griddle – volume pancakes, omelettes
Timer – never burn; take it with you to other rooms of the house when cooking and baking
Rice cooker – many grains!
Two microwaves – steamed veggies, beverages, leftovers
Crock pot - an absolute must for cooking dried beans, chili and soup