How to Get Meals on the Table Faster: 6 Tried-and-True Tips for Hectic Evenings

Preparing meals on a weeknight can feel like a task worth dreading. However, with the right strategies, you can get delicious and satisfying dinners on the table faster than ever! Here are a few tried-and-tested tips that will change your mealtimes.

This is a collaborative post.

Start with Planning Your Menu for the Week

When it comes to getting meals on the table faster, nothing beats planning. By dedicating some time at the start of each week to plan your family’s meals, you’ll save multiple trips to the supermarket and avoid last-minute takeaways.

You won’t have that dreaded moment of opening a fridge full of ingredients but having no idea what to cook! Having a meal plan also enables you to prep some ingredients in advance if needed.

Use a Meal Prep Delivery Service

In our fast-paced world, a simple meal prep service can be your saving grace for getting meals on the table quicker during hectic evenings.

These services provide pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes delivered right to your door. So, instead of racking your brain over what to cook or rushing to the store after work, you’ll have everything you need to make a delicious meal in no time. It’s like having a personal sous-chef all week long! Trust us, it’s worth exploring.

Optimise Your Kitchen Setup for Efficiency

Having an efficient kitchen setup is a game changer for quick meal preparation. First and foremost, keep your most used items within arm’s reach – this will save you time rummaging through cupboards. Now, consider the following tips to streamline your cooking process further:

• Arrange well-chosen spices alphabetically or group them by cuisine for easy accessibility.
• Invest in a high-quality knife and cutting board; they are crucial in preparation speed.
• Store cookware near the stove and plates and glasses near the dishwasher, following the natural flow of tasks.

Additionally, regular decluttering also helps maintain efficiency. Too many unnecessary tools take up valuable space and can cause confusion during intense cooking moments! Keep it simple yet sufficient.

Utilise Time-Saving Cooking Techniques and Gadgets

Embracing time-saving cooking techniques is another effective way to ensure meals land on your table faster. Here are a few suggestions worth giving a try:

• Learn quick-cook methods like stir-frying or grilling, which save precious minutes and add various flavours to your dishes.
• Use kitchen gadgets smartly. For example, a good quality pressure cooker can significantly cut down cooking time for tougher cuts of meat or lentils.
• Become best friends with pre-cut veggies and canned products when short on time.

It may take some getting used to initially, especially if you’re more comfortable with traditional cooking methods. But once mastered, these options make meal preparation a breeze even during the most hectic evenings.

Create a ‘Backup Plan’ with Freezer Meals

Preparing meals in advance and freezing them is an ideal backup plan for those unexpectedly chaotic evenings.

Dishes like lasagna, casserole, or stew are great options that freeze well and reheat beautifully without losing their taste. You can also portion out servings of marinated meats ready to be put straight into the oven or grill.

One cooking session could result in multiple emergency dinners! This hack ensures you always have home-cooked meals when time doesn’t allow for fresh preparation.

Involve Family in the Kitchen Routines

Sharing kitchen duties is not just a time-saver. It also creates an opportunity for more family interactions.

Depending on their age, kids can help with simple tasks like washing vegetables or setting up the table, while older children could learn to make a basic dish. Every bit contributes to reducing stress and multiplying happiness around the dinner table.

Final Thoughts

In a nutshell, faster meal preparation isn’t about quickly putting any food on the table. That delicate balance between deliciousness, variety and valuable time management is striking.

Hopefully, with these tips in hand, you’ll easily navigate even the busiest evenings. So declutter, plan, involve everyone, and treat yourself to smart kitchen hacks!