6 hacks to spend less time in the kitchen

I could spend all day in the kitchen – it’s pretty much my favorite place to be! But I know that a lot of people would prefer to get in, get out, and get eating as fast as possible.

If you find that preparing and cooking meals takes you longer than a Centr recipe indicates, that’s okay. We all come to cooking with different levels of experience. No matter your skills, there are hacks that make your time in the kitchen more efficient.

A little bit of prep can go a long way. So to help you get those healthy and delicious meals on your plate ASAP, I’m going to let you in on a few secrets.

1. Get organized

Before making your next meal, my first big tip is to clean out your fridge and pantry. Go through shelf by shelf and toss anything that is beyond its expiration date, and reorganize in a way that makes you happy. This will make it easier to keep track of what’s in there and what needs to be eaten, which will make your nightly cooking that much easier.

Okay now let’s get ready to cook.

• Clean start: Wipe down the bench and make sure your cooking area is clean and uncluttered so you have enough space to prep your meal.
• Mise-en-place: It’s French for “putting in place” and it basically means you get all your ingredients out before you begin. Take one trip to the fridge and pantry, gather everything, wash veggies if necessary and have it all ready in bowls on the bench.
• Equipment: While you’re at it, grab your pots and pans, trays and any appliances you need to use.
• Scrap bowl: Have a big bowl ready to throw in food scraps, packets, or tins so you aren’t making multiple trips to the trash. While your dinner is simmering, use that time to sort out compost, recycling and waste.

2. Sharpen your knives

Ever tried to cut a tomato with a blunt knife? If it’s not sharp, it’s going to slow you down.

• Stay sharp: Sharp knives cut cleaner and faster than blunt ones. If you can, invest in a decent knife and something to keep it sharp.
• Make the cut: Once you have a good knife, learn the basics – get dicing and slicing, because practice makes perfect.

Short on time? Check out Dan's four most important tips in this video.

3. Use your appliances

Have a friend who is obsessed with their air fryer or blender? They may be on to something…

• Go high-tech: Why spend time grating vegetables (and your knuckles) when your food processor is sitting there gathering dust? Reacquaint yourself with your appliances and put them to work!
• Go slow: In cooler weather, the slow cooker is your best friend. Throw in everything in the morning, switch it to the low setting and when you get home, there will be a warm, hearty meal waiting for you. We’ve thrown together 6 of our favorite slow cooker recipes to get you started.
• Air fry it: Did you buy into the air fryer buzz, but now you’re only using it to reheat pizza? This bit of kitchen gear can be so much more handy than that. Put it to work with 6 quick air fryer recipes you’re guaranteed to have on repeat.

4. Batch cook your staples

If your goal is to spend less time in the kitchen, getting a bunch of meals together in one session is the answer.

• Plan ahead: Step one is to dive into our ultimate meal prep guide. This is jam-packed with advice to help you make the most of the time you do have to cook. Once you’ve planned your meals for the upcoming week, you can then use the shopping list on the Centr app to bring it all together.
• Fill the freezer: Think about what dishes or ingredients you can batch cook and freeze. Classics like pasta sauce and soups always freeze well. But did you know my Creamy Chicken Masala is also one you can make now and eat later? We’ve put together 10 easy recipes to help you meal prep like a pro.
• Be on leftover alert: When cooking through the week, think about what you can repurpose into lunches. Cook extra rice, pasta or roast vegetables to portion into containers and keep in the fridge.
• Prep your smoothies: Cut your fresh ingredients and portion into freezer bags, then in the morning all you’ll have to do is toss it into the blender with any liquids and protein powder, and you’re ready to go.