Here’s a list of 20 things you can do to either save time, keep space functional, or utilize space better. What else would you add to the list?
- Save time peeling garlic with a rubber garlic peeler, and instead of chopping or mincing, grate it with a fine rasp zester right into the pan.
2. Stop peeling all vegetables. Many veggies have nutritious, fiber-rich peels; carrots and potatoes are good examples.
3. Save extra herbs by chopping and freezing in an silicon ice cube tray with olive oil. Just pop it out and use it the next time you need to add herbs or a herbaceous oil when sauteing.
4. Save the leftover tablespoon or two of vegetables from dinner by placing them in a quart freezer container. Keep adding until the container is full, then use it for a soup or stew.
5. Keep knives sharp. More accidents happen with dull knives. Wash knives by hand, never in the dishwasher, which can ruin the sharp edge. Get a limited-time deal here.
6. Make your own spice blends. Small bottles of pre-made spice mixes can be pricey and often contain common spices you probably already have in the cupboard. Save empty or buy extra spice bottles, and keep your own mix of pumpkin pie or apple pie spice on hand.
7. Plan a dinner menu for the week or month. It will help with shopping or on those nights when you can’t decide what to cook.
8. And to build off of #7, make a list of meals your family likes. A list is great for inspiration on what to rotate into a meal plan and to avoid having the same few things all the time. I keep my by category – beef, chicken, pasta, etc. Add on new items when a new meal is a hit.
9. Build up a larger pantry if space and finances allow. Add a couple of extra things whenever a shopping trip is made. You’ll have items on hand, so you won’t have to make an extra trip to the store. Remember that your refrigerator and freezer are part of your pantry too.
10. Buy in bulk when possible. Maybe it’s a 1/4 of beef, so there’s plenty of meat in the freezer. Maybe it’s a trip to a bulk store to stock up on cleaning supplies. Bulk rates are usually cheaper, and you are building up the pantry/supply cabinet.
11. Cook in bulk – make two casseroles instead of one. Freeze one for a quick meal or for when you’re just too tired to cook. Even leftovers can be frozen into one-person portions for the future.
12. Keep only the tools, dishes, or appliances you actually use on a regular basis. Don’t give up space for a once-a-year item (something else can probably stand in for it). Ditto for multiples of the same item. My exception to this is something like measuring spoons and cups, because on a big baking day, a second set of spoons can save me time washing and drying in between recipes. And they don’t take up much space. I prefer metal measuring devices to plastic ones.
13. Grow your own fresh herbs in pots on the windowsill or porch. Fresh herbs are easy to grow, taste better, and are far less expensive to grow than purchase. Just snip some when needed.
14. Use a clothespin to “hold on” to a string from a herb bouquet on the side of a pot. No more fishing around to find the stalks to pull out. I do this with teabags when making iced tea, too.
15. Shop less often, and make use of pick-up or delivery services. By not setting foot in the store, I have almost totally eliminated any impulse buys. I also only shop once or twice a month. I might buy slightly more than I would spend in a week, but I have more on hand in my pantry, and overall, I actually spend less.
16. When ordering online, I put stuff in my cart but don’t order immediately. Once a week, I check whether what I put in my cart is a need or just a want. Often, I find myself deleting or saving items I don’t really need for later. This also controls impulse purchases.
17. When leftover bread is starting to get stale, grate or whiz in a food processor to make bread crumbs. Pour into a freezer bag and freeze until you need crumbs.
18. Revive hard-as-a-rock brown sugar with a slice of bread in a sealed container. In a day, it will be soft enough to scoop again. Out of brown sugar? Make your own with white sugar and molasses….just whir together in a food processor.
19. Add extra flavor to chocolate desserts with a pinch of sea salt and a teaspoon of instant espresso powder or instant coffee. Coffee brings out the richness of the chocolate flavor, as does sea salt.
20. Keep a cutting board from sliding (and avoid an accident) by putting it on a damp towel or a silicone baking mat.
And, just for good measure, here’s an extra kitchen hack:
If you need a piece of parchment paper to fit inside a pan, dampen it with water, then crumple it into a ball and unfold it. It will take the shape of the pan much better and fit into the corners.
What is your favorite kitchen idea to save time, money or space?
