So much of life happens in the kitchen: meal prep, grocery planning, kitchen-table homework, not to mention the never ending dishes. Whether your kids are toddlers or teenagers, every minute counts when you’re trying to keep your household running smoothly. A few tips and tricks to whip your kitchen routine into shape can spare your sanity and give you a little extra time for yourself each day. Check out these for inspiration:
Stay Organized with a Rolling Cart Island
Prep space and storage are some of the most crucial elements of a functional kitchen. If your kitchen is tight or the layout isn’t working for you, it may be time to start planning a future remodel. Meanwhile, though, you don’t have to be stuck with kitchen challenges. Just add a rolling cart as a moveable mini-island. Not only does it add additional counter space and storage, it also allows you to move those features wherever they’re needed at the moment.
Create a Cleaning Command Center
The cabinet under the sink is a great storage space for cleaning products since they’re unlikely to be damaged if the plumbing springs a leak, and having everything in one place will cut down on clean up time. Add hanging racks to the inside of the cupboard doors for easy organization, and to make the inside of the cupboard a breeze to keep clean, cover the bottom in stick-on linoleum tiles. For households with young children, make sure you add a child-proof latch to this cabinet, since many cleaners are too dangerous for curious young kids to handle. Visit a company like Luxcucina if you need help with any remodels. They’ll definitely be worth it in the long run!
Add “Snack Zones” for the Kids
Keep your kids out from underfoot while you’re working in the kitchen by creating a snack zone in the fridge or pantry. Use a basket to corral healthy snacks like fresh fruit and vegetables where kids will have easy access. Stash sugary treats in less accessible spots, and watch as your kids automatically start developing better snacking habits!
Post a Weekly Menu
Knowing the plan for dinner every day can make a big difference in everything from making your grocery list to enlisting help from the rest of the family. Post the menu next to the fridge or pantry so you can reference it as you gather ingredients. On nights you know you’ll be busy, plan for a slow-cooker meal you can toss together in the morning or the night before and have ready at dinnertime with no extra fuss. If you have older kids, let them help by assigning specific jobs for different meals: on Pizza Night, it’s their job to assemble the toppings, for example.
Set up a Rotation System
Tired of forgetting about food and letting it go to waste? What about when food isn’t properly prepared when you need it? Try setting up rotation systems among your different ingredients. Buy bread in bulk and keep it in the fridge, then rotate out one loaf from the freezer when you’re done with the old one. You can even keep a bag full of different rolls and buns outside the freezer. That way, they won’t all go bad at once and you’ll have just the type of bread you need for any occasion. Use the same rotation for butter so that you don’t have to ever soften or thaw out a stick. Grate half of your brick of cheese and place it in a bag for easy sprinkling on foods. This way, you don’t have to constantly take out and wash the grater! With a mindset like this, your kitchen and cooking process will be like a well-oiled machine.
Every mom has a lot on her plate. Whether you’re juggling responsibilities for work and home, or a full-time mom keeping up with busy kids, the last thing you need is to get bogged down in kitchen duties. With these simple tricks, you’ll be able to spend less time on chores and more time doing what you love as a family.
