How to have a clean kitchen after cooking!

Dread having a dinner party because you hate the mess in the kitchen? Learn how to "work clean" -- when the food is finished, the kitchen is also clean.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Empty dishwasher to begin with
• Pan for "scraps"
• Dish brush
• Dish cloth
• Spray bottle of 409 or other kitchen cleaner spray
• Empty sink

1. Essential to have an empty dishwasher and empty sink to begin with. Keep the following things in mind as you prepare your dishes:
2. 1) Never put a used utensil on the counter - use a previously used pan, dish, etc. or even an empty can to hold the utensil.
   2) Deal with the used pan/dish immediately - if you're not using it again, rinse immediately and put in dishwasher.
   3)Rinse cutting boards, knives or other items that will not go in the dishwasher immediately and drain in sink on drainer.
   4) Keep in mind how to reuse "used" pan or dish -- if ingredients are compatible in the food being prepared. For example, if you use a pan to brown bacon and later you need to saute onions (even for another dish), it won't hurt to use the bacon pan.
   5) Use two measuring cups: one for dry ingredients; the other for wet ingredients. Rinse the wet cup immediately so it is ready for it's next use of a wet ingredient.
   6) If pans need to be soaked, put water in them immediately; don't let them "set and get hard" - if you have another place to store the soaking pan (pantry, back porch, etc.) hide it away; it doesn't have to stay on the counter.
   7) Put all "scraps" in one big bowl (here's the place to use one that is already dirty - no need to get a clean one for scraps). Easy to dispose of in garbage when finished; put the scrap bowl in the dishwasher.
3. Clean up messes immediately. Use the dish brush to clean moderately "dirty" pans, dishes, or utensels and drain in sink -- these can be used for another purpose without getting a totally new dish. Use the dish cloth to immediately wipe up spills, using the spray cleaner if grease, raw chicken, etc. has touched counter. Keep dish detergent within easy reach when cooking (you don't want to bend over & get it from under the sink every time you need it).

Tips & Warnings

• It takes practice! But well worth it; there is nothing more discouraging than preparing great meals but then having a completely filled messy counter -- especially if the company is at the door.
• Wear an apron! Cooking is messy, but when you take the apron off, you are set to receive guests.
• Use common sense when reusing "used/dirty" dishes -- you wouldn't measure fruit juice in a cup that has been used to measure cooking oil