After a long day full of work, watching the kids and cleaning house, it’s sometimes hard to find the time to eat, let alone cook. But just because you find yourself running around throughout the day doesn’t mean you can’t take a breather with a tasty home-cooked meal.
Not only can you transform cooking into an act made easy, but also creating a delicious dish can be quick, too. Don’t believe us? Check out our list below of four ways to save yourself valuable time in the kitchen.
Read the Recipe Entirely
While it may seem like a given to read your recipe thoroughly, you may also be tempted to skim through necessary steps in an attempt to cut back on your cooking time. Even though breaking your recipe down to the most basic directions may seem more appealing, remember to read each step — word for word.
Even the most experienced chefs need to brush up on the specifics of their favorite recipes sometimes. A quick glance at your favorite lasagna, for example, may just have you overlooking the correct measurement or ingredient — a potentially crucial detail that could make or break your dish.
Make (and Keep) It Hot
Since it takes so long for your pan to heat up, why not just slap your meat onto the dish and allow it to warm up with the pan?
Putting your ingredients on the pan too soon can actually do more harm than good. You can end up with overcooked — or worse — undercooked meat that undermines your entire cooking process. Be sure to heat up your pans or oven while you’re chopping and prepping for the best results.
Save the Scraps
Remember those onions you chopped up yesterday but didn’t end up needing? Now’s the perfect time to put them to use!
Leftovers cut back on cooking time drastically by offering ready-to-use ingredients for your next recipe or dish. Cook sauces, pasta and spices ahead of time and watch as your preparation time in the kitchen drops drastically with every meal. While you might not have any use for that leftover sauce or those chopped up bits of garlic at the moment, that doesn’t mean you can’t put them to use in a delicious recipe later.
Keep Your Ingredients Fresh
Nothing saves you time in the kitchen quite like cooking your meal the right way the first time around. Using stale or rotten ingredients can ruin your dishes, forcing you to prepare the same entrée twice in one night. Avoid ruining your meal by investing in top quality ingredients.
Check out our easy sausage recipes that your family can prepare and enjoy — all in under 30 minutes. From taco dips to potato salad, you’ll enjoy the endless possibilities while enjoying extra relaxation time, too. Be sure to download our online sausage coupons for even more savings.
Whether you’re looking to cut back on your cooking time in the kitchen or want an easy, delicious dish, be sure to include Premio’s Italian Sausage in your next meal. Use our store locator to find our sausages in your area.