Kitchen Organization - Simplify With Four Work Centers
Getting in and out of the kitchen fast is a topic that comes up often in busy households. With all we have to squeeze into those few hours after work and school, sometimes the family meal is the first thing to go. We end up grabbing fast food on the way home, ordering another expensive pizza, or just chowing down on a bunch of unhealthy snacks out of the pantry.
Many of us are trying to figure out the best way to handle that tiny little window of opportunity we have to get everyone settled and fed before bedtime. When we take a good look at what happens during those hours, it usually boils down to one thing - organization.
It seems that every area in our home that suffers from chaos most likely needs a good organization overhaul. Cooking meals is no exception. If you want to restore the calm to your family's mealtime, look first to the way your kitchen is organized.
A well-organized kitchen is designed into work centers for each task that revolves around meal making. The following are examples of the four basic work centers that should be in every kitchen.
Food and Prep Center
This is the area where your food is actually stored (the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry), as well as where the food will be prepared (opened, rinsed, chopped, and measured). You'll want at least one, but preferably two, good work surfaces near the refrigerator, pantry, and sink. You'll also want cupboards or drawers for the food storage items you'll need as you prepare your food; for instance, plastic bags or containers to put remaining chopped veggies after taking what you need for the recipe.
Here is where you'll have your cutting board, colanders, knives, measuring spoons, measuring cups, and mixing bowls. This is the majority of the area you'll need because this is the majority of the work for any meal - the preparation.
When you grab food items out of the refrigerator, freezer, or pantry, you'll want to set everything down, then proceed to open, rinse, chop, measure, etc. Without an area designated for this essential work, your time will be scattered all over the kitchen, gathering the things you need. It saves time and energy to have all your food and preparation items in one area.
Cooking Center
Once your ingredients are prepped, you'll want one area to get the cooking done. Arrange your cooking utensils (pots, pans, skillets, spoons, spatulas, etc.) near the stove, oven, and microwave so you don't have to keep leaving the area to retrieve what you need.
You may also want small appliances you use often kept nearby. Think about how often you puree or blend ingredients after they've been prepped, then plan accordingly. Of course, you'll want any spices or seasonings close at hand as you taste and add.
Remember to also plan for when the dishes come out of the oven or off the stove. Have good potholders and heat-proof trivets to set the hot dishes on. Racks for cooling and draining should also be handy. Paper towels are used more than you might think in the cooking process, even if just for a quick grease wipe up. And, speaking of grease, be sure to keep the cooking oils where you need them - in the cooking area. It doesn't make much sense to be running back and forth to the food prep area for oil when you use it here more often.
Clean Up Center
Of course you expect this area to be set up around the sink. But, there are a few tips to consider when it comes to making mealtime a bit more organized. The clean up center will cross paths with the preparation center as this is where you will wash and prepare your veggies, etc., as well as clean up afterward.
That's where planning ahead really comes into play in a big way. After you have prepared your food (washing, chopping, peeling, etc.) you'll want to be sure to fill the sink with hot soapy water. Now the tools you used for the prep work can quickly get cleaned up and ready for the next assignment. Having the sink full of hot soapy water will also speed things along after the cooking process. Bowls, spoons, beaters, measuring cups, and all the cooking stuff can quickly be washed and ready when you need them again. Don't forget to designate an area for dish towels, sponges, and cleaning supplies in this area, too.
You may find it most convenient to store dishes and glasses near the clean up center. That way when you are finished washing the dishes or running the dishwasher, they can quickly be put away without traveling across the kitchen to another cupboard or buffet.
Planning Center
Even though it doesn't seem like a planning center has much to do with cooking, it has everything to do with organization. This is where you plan your meals, your shopping, and your family's schedule. With all your planning in one area, you may be able to avoid some of the evening chaos.
You'll need one surface area, a calendar, and lots of paper, pencils, and, if you use one, your computer. In this one area, you'll create your plan for each day, including your meals. If money and space is no object, you can go crazy with whiteboards, bulletin boards, and all sorts of planning strategy goodies. Or, if money and space is at a premium, you can use a calendar, markers, and paper and create a planning device that works just fine for you.
Getting your family to cooperate in your planning center may be a struggle. If you make this area easily accessible and simple to use, you have a better chance than if your family has to figure out a complicated method. You might give each family member a bin for all the papers they need you to see and handle.
Permission slips, lunch money, birthday party invitations, report cards; everything goes in the bin so it isn't overlooked. The idea is to set up a planning center that works best with the way your family works.
Making it Work
Ideally, every kitchen has enough room for each center and every family has enough interest in making this system work. The truth can fall far short of this ideal, but getting the kitchen organized into these four basic centers will be a good start. When your kitchen is organized, you can focus on the task at hand and get meals on the table in minutes instead of hours. Give this system a try and take some of the crazy out of your day!
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