How To Reduce Stress During Meal Preparation - 4 Easy Tips

December 13, 2017

These basic kitchen fundamentals are used successfully in restaurants and commercial kitchens to create efficiency and can easily be applied to home cooking. The principle of Mise en place (pronounced [MEEZ ahn plahs]) is a French term basically meaning "everything in place." This simple concept can turn a harried, chaotic cooking experience into meal preparation nirvana. Well, maybe that's stretching it a little, but you get the gist.

1. Clean organized kitchen counters and work spaces. Having to search frantically for the right cooking spoon on your cluttered work surface is like watching a dog chase its own tail; very inefficient and extremely frustrating. Take the time before you start preparing a meal to clean off your counter. Put away any extraneous stuff that has landed on your work station. If it's not needed for this meal, get rid of it.

2. Read your recipe all the way through at least one time before you begin. This seems like a no-brainer but it is tempting when you are short on time to just plunge right into cooking. Make sure you have enough time to complete all the steps before meal time. Do you need to prepare a topping or sauce ahead of time before the main part of the dish is done? You can't know any of this until you actually read the recipe. Do it now!

3. Check the list of ingredients in the recipe and make sure you have everything. What? You are ready to add the cinnamon to your Cinnamon Pecan Rolls, but lo and behold you are out of that key spice. Believe me when I say that finding out you don't have a key ingredient after you already completed half the preparation really takes the wind out of your sails to say the least. Organize all the recipe ingredients on your work surface.

4. Sharp knives. Nothing is more infuriating and messy than trying to cut a ripe tomato with a dull knife. Chopping onions with a dull knife can be hazardous to your health. A sharp knife is much more efficient and contrary to popular belief, a much safer tool than one with a dull cutting edge.

These tips can reduce stress and make meal preparation a much more fun and peaceful experience. You will enjoy the process and your family will be able to enjoy your food more when you are not a flustered, angry mess from the whole experience. Bon Appetit!

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