Time Saving Tips - Cooking Shortcutsbut Goodeats

Time Saving Tips - Cooking

sparow64 16 years ago

What are some of your time saving tips while cooking?

One of mine is that I rarely use a cutting board. My Mom taught me to hold the item I'm cutting in one hand, and score it with a sharp paring knife, like a tic tac toe board, with the other hand, then, slice it right into the pot, and it will be "chopped". Larger score makes a larger chop. To mince, just score very cloes together each way. This saves time as everything is cooking right away, and saves clean up as well. The only thing I use the cutting board for is chopping small items, like olives, fresh herbs, or hard boiled eggs.

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linebb956 16 years ago said:

OK.. I am a klutz.. U have no idea of how bad..I do that .. I get cut.. no joke.. sore thumbs.. I almost cut my middle finger off one night.. and that was with a chopping block and a carrot... Major klutz...
My daughter got me one of those box things that U see in the Sunday paper.. to chop onions... well let me tell ya.. it does onions.. tomatoes.. peppers.. celery.. all the same size.. pretty.. and quick.. a quick rinse.. and a few pokes with the special fork that comes with it... done. ... and no cuts. No blood in the food!

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sparow64 16 years ago said:

cool! I picked up one, and it looked like it would only cut onions into a dice (because of the layers)...Do you remember what brand it is that you have?

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rml 16 years ago said:

line, I guarantee that I'm a bigger Kluz than you. I was carving one of those pre-carved hams...don't ask, and filleted my pointer finger from the middle of the finger nail to my knuckle. Bled ALL over that pretty ham. I should have had stitches, but instead, gathered the sides together and taped it up. I know...gross
Yesterday, I was getting a pan out of the lower cabinet, stood up and almost knocked myself out...I had forgotten to close the upper cabinet. I saw stars.

I bought the Nicer Dicer (as seen on TV) from Bed, Batth & Beyond $39.99. It came with 2 blades (dif. sizes), 2 containers, lids and the base. I like it because I can chop all kinds of things with it....from cheese, veggies, and it all automatically goes into the container. It dices, juliennes and chops. Ok, my sales pitch is done.

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zanna 16 years ago said:

Sounds like something to check into,B.B.and Beyond here I come.

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simplyanna 16 years ago said:

I always make enough for next day lunches.And packed it before putting the food away. I also cook my sweetpotatoes in the mircowave (halfway if I want the skin to bake in stove oven). White potatoes do well in mirco too.

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zena824 16 years ago said:

Sparow.. thats the same way I was taught to chop.... then along came foodnetwork... and their fancy little chopping way... I still havent mastered that....but like to try it if im not in a big hurry... but i mostly hold it in my hand and do it too......I figure I was the only one that did that anymore.....

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simplyanna 16 years ago said:

If you have a dishwasher,besure to have it empty before cooking.That way you can put the dirty dishes and cutting board in while cooking and everyone can rinse their plate after eating and put it in.If you are unlucky as me since I moved here to a very small kitchen,make hot dishwater before cooking.Wash everything as you cook,not as hard as waiting later.Make fresh very hot dishwater before eating,have everyone do their own dish after meals.

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wynnebaer 16 years ago said:

One thing I do is instead of chopping my garlic, I use my small handheld grater and grate the clove right into whatever I'm cooking.....No more garlic smelling cutting board and fingers....Besides, it grates so much smaller than I could ever chop.

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coffeebean53 16 years ago said:

Whenever I make an Italian style meatloaf, I make two. I crumble the second one and freeze it to use in spaghetti sauce. Just freeze in portions you would use for your sauce.

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