Kitchen Time Management Tips Some of these aren't necessarily to make life faster, but maybe better and the kitchen safer. 1. Sterilize countertops regularly. More unsafe bacteria collects here than anywhere else in the house, yes even the bathroom. Merely washing the countertops with a dish rag will spread germs. Use a solution made to kill germs. 2. Establish a routine with fridge rotation. When you put leftovers in the fridge on Monday, use them Tuesday (I bet even Wednesday would be okay). If not, When Tuesday's clean up rolls around and your putting leftovers away, throw out Mondays leftovers. This way nothing gets too old and scary, and your teenager won't eat last month's left over chicken parmegiana and land in the ER. 3. The day you shop, wipe down the fridge, shelves, drawers before putting groceries away. This will keep the fridge clean regularly, without serious time spent on upkeep. 4. Keep the sink full of hot soapy water during food preparation. Dishes are out of the way soaking while you work. This frees up counter space and speeds clean up after dinner. 5. Pre-chopping vegetables is tempting in our efforts to save time, but causes loss in nutritional value of produce. Instead, consider serving fresh veggies and fruit as a first course or snacks throughout the day. Cooking veggies takes time and also reduces nutritional value. 6. Organize your cupboards to suit your needs. Put complimentary items together and near their preparation area. Some examples might include the following: spaghetti, pest and alfredo sauces with a variety of pastas; chili's, olives and enchilada sauce near the refried beans; and the baking supplies grouped near flour and sugars. Keep spices in a cool dark lace. 7. Freeze onions to keep from crying and staining skin with odor. 8. Keep certain staples on hand for last minute guests or hurried evenings. I like to keep the following on hand; artichoke hearts, olives, condiments, good stir fry sauce, chicken tenderloins, orange roughy, centercut pork chops, frozen vegetables, spinach, pie crusts, wild rice, garlic, onions, pesto sauce, red potatoes, frozen berries, canned fruit, frozen bread dough, canned pie filling, flavored bagels for interesting sandwiches, nuts chocolate chips, gourmet cocoas, frozen juices, interesting pastas.(Obviously everones ideas for food on hand is different) 9. To keep brown sugar moist, wet a paper towel and squeeze excess liquid out before packing in container. 10. Cut bagels in half before freezing. 11. Use frozen bagels to make sandwiches in the morning. By noon they will be thawed but will have kept the filling chilled. 12. Use ordinary scissors for many kitchen tasks. Cut chicken, tomatoes in the can, lettuces, herbs, and pastries, and a lot of other things. 13. Grease and flour pans in one step. Mix 1/2 cup with 1/4 cup flour and brush on desirous pan. 14. Use and egg slicer to cut mushrooms, strawberries, olives etc. 15. Spray the inside of the pan with cooking spray before preparing rice, oatmeal, or cream of wheat. 16. After making bread or pastries, sprinkle the counter with salt. This helps make cleanup easier. 17. To cut cooking time for baked potatoes in half, insert a clean nail through the center. 18. Add 4 tbs. flour to a bowl of cold water to clean mushrooms. The dirt comes off easily. 19. Add a cut potato to overly salty soup. When the potato is tender, discard and most of the salt will go too. 20. Heat a lemon in the microwave for 20 seconds to get more juice. 21. Make buttermilk, as you need it by adding a Tbsp. of lemon juice or vinegar to 1 cup of milk. Let stand for 5 minutes and use in any recipe calling for buttermilk. 22. Keep a permanent menu posted inside a cupboard door. Include snacks, meals and dining out dates. 24. Post a wipeable board to allow family members to list groceries as needed.