Cutting Corners in the Kitchen

 

“Cutting corners” doesn’t always have to be a negative phrase.  I think cutting corners is a good thing when it comes to cooking and cleaning.  Below are some of me and my co-workers favorite kitchen “cutting corners” techniques.  These ideas will save you time and energy.  Making you look impressive in the kitchen.

•  Line tin foil on the bottom of baking sheets or baking pans when cooking fish, chicken strips, garlic bread, etc. When you are done take the food off of the foil, throw the foil away and your pan is clean. If it is a food that may stick to the foil spray the foil with nonstick spray.
• Along those same lines use parchment paper on cookie sheets when baking cookies.
• Reynolds Slow Cooker Liners, the name says it all. These are easy to use and you don’t have to fight about who is going to scrub the slow cooker clean.
• Have your family fill their plates from the stove or counter top instead transferring food to serving dishes. This eliminates extra plates and utensil clean up.
• In the cupboard place messy liquids like oils and syrups on a small plate or tray in case they leak or leave rings. It will keep your cupboards clean and keep them from leaking onto other items.
• Give silicon bakeware a try. Food doesn’t stick to them, making cleaning a breeze.
• Coat measuring spoons and cups with a little bit of oil to keep sticky ingredients like honey and peanut butter from sticking.
• For quick microwave clean up place a bowl of water with a piece of lemon or lemon juice in the microwave until it comes to a boil. This will create steam in your microwave that will enable you to wipe the grime right off. Plus your kitchen will smell lemony fresh.
• “You cook, they clean.” Make a deal with your husband or children that if you cook they clean. This may not have worked in the 1960’s but it is 2008 and I’ll take the help.
• Discover the many uses for Ziploc bags. If a recipe calls for crushed crackers or cereal put them in a Ziploc bag and break them up with your hands. Use Ziploc bags as a funnel or as a pastry bag by cutting the bottom corner. Refrigerate marinating meats in a Ziploc.
• Sick of those hard-to-clean tomato sauce stains on your plastic containers? To prevent them, apply a light coating of nonstick cooking spray on the inside of the container before you pour in the tomato sauce.

Please share your kitchen short cuts by posting a comment below.

Next month my article will be channeling your inner Martha Stewart.  I will be sharing an easy, nutritious recipe that will leave your guests impressed.