I
don’t know about you, but I’m the first to admit that I’m not a neat
cook (and my husband will be the quickest to concur). I use more pots
than I need, more utensils than thought possible, and sauces and food jump out of the pot onto nearby walls, floors, and counters.
I
have come to accept that I’m just not an organized cook, and have
learned some shortcuts for easier clean-up. Here’s a few that might help
you, too.
If
a recipe calls for a lot of spices. I will measure everything out and
put the ingredients in prep bowls, before I even start cooking. This
makes cooking easier, and definitely cuts down on messy chaos.
Line
the counter with paper towels or wax paper, and place the cutting board
on top. This lets you easily catch all the pieces that slide off the
board, and lets you all the chopped pieces I don’t want (onion skins,
tops of peppers, etc.) and keeps the counter clean when I’m cutting up
meat. (I do spray everything down when I’m done, too.)
Another
simple, but effective, trick is to place the trash can within easy reaching
distance. I move mine right next to the sink. It sounds strange, but I find
myself throwing out more as I go when the trash is right there at my
feet.
Another
tip is to line the refrigerator doors with paper towels or paper/cork
coasters. This way, when a drippy bottle makes its way back to the
fridge, you only have to swap out one coaster for another and not scrub
down shelving.
What’s your biggest kitchen-cleaning dilemma?
I try to wash dishes as I cook so that I am not left with a huge mess to clean up later.
Smarter You: What’s Your Beach Read?
- Jenn D.
on May. 14, 2012 at 9:00 AM