DUH!~short cuts in the kitchen

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

I cook. I like to cook and experiment. I cook often.

WHY did it take me so long to figure out that an egg slicer works like a charm on fresh mushrooms? Lord only knows I slice mushrooms much more often than I slice eggs.

What are your favorite time savers and double duty items in the kitchen?

[MargeS Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close MargeS]

...surrounding myself with people that love to cook...

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

To Marge's point, I was going to say "take-out."

But there is something I've started doing recently. The only green vegetable DS will eat is broccoli - I buy the frozen "florets" so I don't have to chop, then I steam them in the bag in the microwave, a little less time than recommended. Then I saute them in olive oil and garlic for a few minutes - DS loves them. They don't taste like frozen veggies and it takes a lot less time than chopping/steaming from fresh.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Lawren....I have to two markets very close to my house that sell vegetables washed, sliced, chopped, etc, etc. When I can, I buy them, as it saves me so much time in the kitchen. I even buy onion & garlic that way too, when I'm in a hurry.

It's the washing, slicing & chopping that take up so much time, and is a pain in the butt.

PS....Thanks for the tip on slicing mushrooms. I never thought of using an egg slicer either.

[susieq Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close susieq]

My favorite thing to make for dinner?? RESERVATIONS!!!

[jackio Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close jackio]

I never use a whole bunch of celery, because I only use it in soups or recipes (salads, etc). So I chop the whole bunch, and separate it into ziploc baggies. Then I pop them in the freezer, and when I am making soup, I just pop one out and throw it in the pot. What a timesaver. I have done it with onions too, but I usually use all a whole one.

[akparsa Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close akparsa]

I do the same thing with onions...

Any time a recipe calls for chopped onion, I chop the whole onion or maybe even two. I keep the extra frozen in baggies in the freezer. Great time saver and I don't notice any difference in taste or consistency. I'm sure fresh is better, but I'm not a good enough cook that you'd notice the difference.

Anita

[billymach4 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close billymach4]

Trader Joes Sells prepackaged Mirepoix Mirepoix (cuisine) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

DW always has one in the fridge.

I am blessed to have an amateur gourmet as a wife!

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

I never use a whole bunch of celery, because I only use it in soups or recipes (salads, etc). So I chop the whole bunch, and separate it into ziploc baggies. Then I pop them in the freezer, and when I am making soup, I just pop one out and throw it in the pot. What a timesaver. I have done it with onions too, but I usually use all a whole one.

Any time a recipe calls for chopped onion, I chop the whole onion or maybe even two. I keep the extra frozen in baggies in the freezer. Great time saver and I don't notice any difference in taste or consistency. I'm sure fresh is better, but I'm not a good enough cook that you'd notice the difference.

Anita

Finally an answer to throwing out half bunches of celery! Good idea for onions too.

When chopping onions I learned a trick from a friend eons ago. I cut horizontaly and verticaly almost all the way thru the onion and then lay it on it's side and cut slices. Instant chop!

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Finally an answer to throwing out half bunches of celery! Good idea for onions too.

When chopping onions I learned a trick from a friend eons ago. I cut horizontaly and verticaly almost all the way thru the onion and then lay it on it's side and cut slices. Instant chop!

I had to pay for a cooking cla$$ to learn that one! Says the woman who now uses frozen broccoli

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I had to pay for a cooking cla$$ to learn that one! Says the woman who now uses frozen broccoli

Frozen Veggies are in most cases better for you, They are flash frozen hours after being picked and contain all there vitamins. When you buy fresh veggies they start losing there vitamins after a few days,
Here is another short cut that will save you money and time, When you see those shop and stop Veggies for on sale for $1 in the 16 oz Polly bags, Stock up on the mixed sliced peppers and the chopped peppers and onions. YOU can use the chopped peppers and onions for foods like omelets, stir Fry's, soups, Sauce.... BTW in the winter months you can not buy Peppers and onions for less than $1.50 a pound so there is a savings.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Frozen Veggies are in most cases better for you, They are flash frozen hours after being picked and contain all there vitamins. When you buy fresh veggies they start losing there vitamins after a few days,
Here is another short cut that will save you money and time, When you see those shop and stop Veggies for on sale for $1 in the 16 oz Polly bags, Stock up on the mixed sliced peppers and the chopped peppers and onions. YOU can use the chopped peppers and onions for foods like omelets, stir Fry's, soups, Sauce.... BTW in the winter months you can not buy Peppers and onions for less than $1.50 a pound so there is a savings.

Thanks, Frank, that makes me feel so much better!

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

I have one of those choppers that you turn the handle and that's how I do all my onions, green peppers, etc. I have made tuna salad in it and also salsa. Love that gadget. I also olve my crockpot and my pressure pot.

shaggy

[mdurette Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mdurette]

I cook. I like to cook and experiment. I cook often.

WHY did it take me so long to figure out that an egg slicer works like a charm on fresh mushrooms? Lord only knows I slice mushrooms much more often than I slice eggs.

What are your favorite time savers and double duty items in the kitchen?

Since you wrote this I have been trying to the "what do I use my cheese slicer for" that works great. Just dawned on me this morning...hard boiled eggs for salad. Didn't even know there was such a thing as an Egg Slicer!!!

[Dancingfish Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dancingfish]

If you are a costco member they sell these HUGE bags of shredded cheese. We bring them home and put them into qt size freezer bags. Freeze all but one and you are ready to go whenever shredded cheese is needed.

I also cook a tray of chicken at a time.. takes no more time to throw it all in the oven. Then freeze what is not needed.. then when you are running late its only a matter of reheating not recooking! Same with lasagna.. takes no more time to make 2 trays and then you have "prepared" food in the freezer!