Time-saving
Cooking Tips for Healthy and Delicious Meals
(ARA) – Whether it’s working late at the office, running errands or
rushing to get the kids to practice, many of us cut corners to save
time. Preparing dinner is no exception. Because we hurry through our
days, we sometimes don’t have the time to make nutritious meals.
Our cooking habits have become rushed and as a result, our food and
diets suffer. Whether it’s quickly running to the nearest fast food
restaurant or casually throwing something in the oven, dinner is now
viewed as more of a chore than a time to catch up with family and enjoy
a delicious meal.
Here are some healthy and time-saving ideas to help you enjoy great
food in less time than you think:
* Don’t Cheat on the Preheat
According to a recent survey by Thermador, manufacturer of high end
appliances and the first built-in wall oven, a whopping 40 percent of
people sometimes skip preheating their oven altogether. Ironically,
cheating on preheating is not a reliable method of saving time, since
50 percent of respondents reported that they compensated by cooking
their food longer. Not properly heating your oven can have a negative
effect on the quality, taste and texture of food as well.
“This is especially true of baked items, which can suffer from uneven
browning or consistency, sticking and insufficient rising when prepared
in an oven that has not been adequately preheated,” comments Judy
Barber, senior consumer scientist for Thermador.
Consider taking the time to preheat to ensure your food is cooked
adequately. Barber recommends an oven with a faster preheat time, such
as Thermador’s wall ovens, which take less than seven minutes to reach
325 F.
* Plan Ahead to Save Time
Try planning meals a week in advance to save time. Preparing meals
ahead of time and refrigerating or freezing can be enjoyable for those
who like to cook, but have limited time in the evenings. Simply remove
the prepared meals from the refrigerator and pop in the oven. You’ll
get a home-cooked meal and have more time for other activities.
Another way to save time is to incorporate the use of leftovers. If you
made a full chicken meal on Sunday, use the leftover chicken for
homemade chicken noodle soup on Monday and the leftover gravy as the
base for beef stroganoff later in the week.
Finally, clean your kitchen as you go. Making this a habit will
actually save you time because when you’re done, there will be little
left to do and you can enjoy the rest of your day.
* Make Dinner Time Quality Time
Cooking shouldn’t be a one person job. Try involving your family in all
aspects of cooking. For example, take your children to the grocery
store and have them each pick out a dinner they would like in the
upcoming week. On that day, have them help you prepare the meal. Not
only will they learn to cook, but they will get a homemade meal and
some one-on-one time with their parent.
Perhaps you and your significant other have always wanted to try a new
recipe. On the way home from work, swing by the local store and
purchase fresh ingredients and try the dish at home. Trying new things
can be fun and result in fun conversation accompanied by delicious food.
If you’re extra busy, consider planning when you eat throughout the
day. Maybe the kids have to stay late at school. Instead of grabbing a
quick burger on the way home, why not have everyone eat an afternoon
snack and have dinner at 7 p.m. instead of at 5?
Eating at home is generally less expensive and healthier than eating
out. With a little planning and these helpful hints, dinner can be
quick, delicious and nutritious, saving you quality time for yourself
or your family. For more information visit www.thermador.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
