Do you ever wish you could save time in the kitchen? I know – that sounds like a dumb question, doesn’t it?

When we take a closer look at our schedules, many mums identify cooking as one of the biggest time drains in our day. Even those of us who enjoy cooking wouldn’t mind shaving a few minutes off here and there to leave ourselves with more free time for other things on our schedule – or just some time to sit down and catch our breath!

Here is a look at some tips to help you save time in the kitchen and get dinner on the table before everyone starts complaining about how hungry they are!

1. Start with a clear space

One of the most frustrating things about cooking is how quickly everything piles up. You might start out carefully, but once you get in the groove, before you know it, you’re surrounded by empty mixing bowls, dirty measuring spoons and empty cartons and there’s no space left to set your chopping boards.

It doesn’t have to be like this, mama! Start with a clear kitchen and an empty sink and dish drainer, even if this means taking a few minutes before you start cooking to clear everything. Ideally, though, you’ll want to get in the habit of switching on your dishwasher every night so there’s always space in there when you’re cooking. Likewise, you can try to find moments to empty the dish drainer earlier in in the day, like while you’re talking on the phone or when you’re brewing your coffee in the morning.

2. Prep your ingredients

Being efficient can really help you save time in the kitchen, and that’s why mise en place is so popular. If you’re not familiar with it, this French concept entails having all your ingredients measured, peeled, cut, grated and sliced before you start cooking where it makes sense.

If you’re making a salad dressing, of course, it makes more sense to just measure the ingredients right into the bowl rather than filling up a bunch of tiny cups with pre-measured herbs and oils. But for dishes with a lot of steps or meals that cook quickly once you get going, like stir-fries, this will reduce stress and make you more efficient. Set out your mixing bowls and tools, prepare your pans and get everything organised before you turn on the hob or oven.

Not only does the make everything go smoother, but it also means that you can spot any missing ingredients before it’s too late to ask a neighbour or head to the store. It also means you’ll have more time to clean your mixing area as you cook instead of leaving a kitchen full of dirty equipment that you’ll have to contend with when you’re done eating.

I also suggest leaving something on the counter to use as a bin while you cook to cut down on all those steps to your proper kitchen bin – you’d be surprised how quickly they add up! I use recycled boxes or bags for this, like that empty bag that I just used up the frozen peas from.

3. Set the table early

How many times have you finally got all the food ready and called everyone to the table, only to realise you still need to set it?

If your kids are old enough, have them start setting the table at some point while you’re cooking, advising them on which utensils you’ll be needing. You might want to stack all the plates and bowls you’ll need on the table for them, especially if they can’t reach the shelf where you keep them. If your kids can’t help with this, set the table yourself earlier to reduce stress during dinner prep and ensure everyone eats their dinner while it’s still warm!

Combine these organisation tips with some handy kitchen tools and a good meal planning approach, and you’ll be surprised by how much you can save time (and stress!) in the kitchen!

Happy Friday supermama!

PS: have you registered for the free 5 day challenge? If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to meal prep, meal plan, batch cook, or cook quicker meals (or want to know how to do any of these better), then you just have to! It’s virtual, and will only require a few minutes of your time per day. We start on June 14th, and spaces are filling up fast! We have prizes, top tips ad hacks, and more surprises! Go here to sign up.