It is nothing new for anyone that the habit of cooking at home has many health benefits. After all, the freedom to decide the menu itself and the ingredients, generally, encourages a healthier diet. In addition, for many people, preparing food is a therapeutic act. On the other hand, without planning and organization, homemade meals can take a long time to prepare and cost more than expected. The good news is that this can be resolved. With some adjustments, it is possible to save time and money in the kitchen.
Understand the benefits of learning how to save time and money in the kitchen
The New Coronavirus pandemic has affected many people's lives in many ways. In the job market, the crisis has forced businesses to lay off part of their employees. Of those who left unscathed, many began to work on a home office, to avoid the risk of contamination among employees.
Either way, the concern about finances grew - and it took people who ate in restaurants, or asked for food for delivered often to rethink those habits. But, after all, how to avoid unnecessary expenses and save time when preparing meals at home? We've put together tips that can help you optimize this task.
# 1 - Planning first
Before going shopping, put together the menu of the week, to make it clearer what needs to be purchased. After that, remember to check the pantry and make a list of items that are missing. This habit will reduce the time you spend in the market and help you acquire with just what you need. A good tip for this moment is to make sure you always have “key ingredients” available at home. Rice, beans, eggs, flour, pasta, butter, onions, tomatoes and other items that are part of your routine and yield good recipes are foods that can not be missing, right?
# 2 - Find the ideal shopping frequency
Sporadic shopping can increase your accounts at the end of the month - and dramatically. Therefore, the ideal is to give a space of at least one week between one trip to the market and another. Ah! No going hungry, huh? This way, it will be easier to resist the temptation to take more food than you need home.
# 3 - Keeping an eye on prices
If you want to save money when shopping, the ideal is to pay attention to the food harvest. At each time of the year, different fruits and vegetables are found in greater quantity and quality. This means that they will be available at a lower price. So, the secret is to research before making any choice.
# 4 - “Halfway there”
Pre-made food is synonymous with practicality. And, no, we are not talking about industrialized. It is possible to advance the preparation of “real food” and make everything easier when it comes to cooking. When you arrive from the market, sanitize and cut the raw foods that will be used during the week before storing. The tip allows fruits, vegetables, and meats to be kept in the freezer for days - as long as they are well packaged. To avoid contamination and prolong the useful life of these items, simply store them in Zip Lock bags.
# 5 - The technique of cooking “in batches”
“Cooking in batch” is a popular expression that means preparing, in one go, an amount of food sufficient for several days. To do this, set aside a few hours - from the weekend or from a quieter day - to make weekly meals. Avoid varying the menu too much to save time. The secret to not getting sick of the little variety is to plan different recipes with the same ingredients and always invest in spices. Once ready, just portion the food and take it to the freezer. For this, use pots with lids or sealed with PVC film. In order to better preserve the textures and flavors, it is also possible to leave the meals half-ready and finish the preparation at the time of serving.
Image credit: Ingredient of the Time
# 6 - No mess in the kitchen
Having a good organization is essential to save time in any day-to-day activity - and in the kitchen it couldn't be different. So, first of all, separate everything you will need to prepare meals. Thus, all ingredients and utensils will always be at hand when necessary.
Also, how about taking advantage of the time when food is on the fire to wash and store what will no longer be useful? This way, the pile of dirty dishes after lunch or dinner is much smaller. And, of course, your satisfaction increases considerably when cooking in a clutter-free place.
# 7 - The secret is to enjoy
Taking full advantage of food is one of the secrets to save time and money in the kitchen. Do you know that stale roll that would be thrown away? Just place it in the oven or electric fryer for a few minutes to make it look like new. Old bread can still be turned into pies, toast, puddings and various other recipes. In addition, the water used to cook vegetables and the meat broth can be reused to prepare rice, soups or sauces, for example. In the same way, leftovers of food can become protagonists of delicious dishes. Just a little creativity and courage to experiment!
# 8 - Tricks for good storage
Last but not least: some storage precautions are important to prolong the shelf life of food and help you save money. Using plastic film to wrap fruits and vegetables, for example, allows them to remain preserved for much longer. Vegetables can be cleaned and refrigerated in Zip Lock bags, in order to preserve their nutrients. The same can be done to keep the herbs fresh - just remember to leave some air inside the packages. See how easy it is?
Preparing food at home is a great alternative for those who want to eat healthier. However, some practices can make meal preparation time-consuming and more expensive than expected. But, following the tips in our article, it will be easy to learn how to save time and money in the kitchen. Did you like the suggestions? Follow us also on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.