Buzz
Chop and slice your veggies as soon as you return from the store to save valuable time later in the week.
Thomas Northcut/Getty ImagesIf you're always on the move but still want to enjoy homemade dinners on busy weeknights, these preparation tips will be a game-changer.
Strategy
Like many aspects of life, preparation is key. Some people manage to plan their meals a month in advance, but if that feels overwhelming, try planning for just the week ahead. Use this plan to create and organize your grocery list. When brainstorming meal ideas, consider saving slow-cooker recipes for simple, tasty casseroles, roasts, stews, and soups on those busy nights.
Prepare
After your grocery trip, defrost any frozen meats if needed, then chop, marinate, and partially cook them for the week. Do the same for your vegetables and starches, seasoning, slicing, and dicing them as well. You might as well prepare your rice, pasta, and potatoes while you're at it.
Once you've completed the prep, arrange your ingredients for easy access when it's time to cook. Group pre-portioned meats, vegetables, and spices in containers or bags for each meal and store them in the fridge or freezer. For example, if you plan to make kabobs, skewer your steak, peppers, onions, and mushrooms, then marinate and store them in a shallow, covered container.
Purchase Pre-cooked
To save time while maintaining the homemade flavor of your meals, consider using precooked ingredients. Choose canned beans instead of dry ones. If you’re short on time to roast a whole chicken, pick up a rotisserie chicken from the deli. Simply slice off the amount you need for your recipe and incorporate it directly into your dish.
Get the Family Involved
With your ingredients ready, here are some ways to involve the whole family in dinner preparation. Get the kids and your partner to help, assigning tasks to each person. Even those with limited cooking skills can contribute by setting the table or taking items off the stove or out of the oven when they’re done.
Cleaning Up After Cooking
You might love cooking, but cleaning up afterward can feel like a chore. However, there are ways to make the cleanup process more manageable. As you’ve likely heard, clean as you go. Keep a bowl nearby for food scraps to reduce trips to the trash. Wipe countertops and wash dishes as soon as you’re finished with them. You might also want to consider using multipurpose cookware that can be used for prep, cooking, and storage. This way, you can simply store your leftovers in the same pot and reheat them without the need for additional dishes to clean.
Thanks to NASA technology, it's now possible to be in two places at once -- a real time-saver for busy weeknights. With a smart oven connected to the Internet, you can send instructions from your office computer and have dinner prepared and ready by the time you return home [source: NASA].
