Things You'll Need:
- ziploc bags
- plastic containers
- paper towels
- plastic wrap, foil
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Step 1
Plan your meal in advance, knowing what items need to start cooking first, and which can be completed while the main part cooks. Start with a spotless kitchen, empty dishwasher and an empty trash bag. Use a large bowl next to the sink for trash (thanks Rachael Ray).
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Step 2
Gather ingredients for all items on ONE side of the sink, the left. Keep the other side empty. Fill up your sink with hot water and dish soap. You are going to put dirty utensils and dishes in the sink after you are done with them. Start your main dish (longest cooking). Try and use ONE bowl or pot for cooking items when/if you can, and keep washing it, rather that just grabbing another one.
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Step 3
When you finish with an ingredient or have just washed a pot, move that to the right side of the sink for put away. The right side should only be for things to be put away.
Use the garbage bowl for peels,wrappers, etc so the counters remain clean. -
Step 4
Continue cooking, and whenever you have just a free moment, take things from the right side of the sink and put away. Dump the garbage bowl in the trash or compost.
This keeps ingredients and pans from stacking up all over the place. -
Step 5
When you are done cooking, put all ingredients away. Make a list of last minute items to remember, and keep those in one small spot. Reclean the kitchen and wipe down the counters with antibacterial cleaner.
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Step 6
While items cook, set the table as well. Lay out serving utensils on the table where the actual serving bowls will be (no last minute hunting). Make sure you have trivets for hot items on the table when you set the table. Get the lighter out for candles and set it next to the candles. Get out your wine glasses and opener, place on the table.
The goal is to avoid last minute searching! -
Step 7
Here's what makes clean up a breeze and super easy! Before you ever serve dinner, get out your food storage containers with lids, your Ziploc bags, and aluminum foil. Take a good look at what items usually are going to be leftover, and plan a container for them BEFORE you ever eat. Put these all in ONE place, to the left of the clean sink. Cover them with a clean towel to hide them.
If there's dessert (shouldn't there always be?), get dessert plates and forks (ice cream scoop?) and serving utensils out before the meal and place in a tray or unobtrusive place (top of the dryer or washer?). -
Step 8
have the storage containers ready!Before sitting down to eat, fill up sink halfway with hot soapy water.
At clean up time, take the serving bowls and dishes first, and immediately (DON'T WAIT!) place them into storage containers and place empty bowls and dishes in sink to start soaking. -
Step 9
Then begin to gather dishes and utensils, load into dishwasher.. If you have help, ask them just to gather trash items (napkins, etc) and dump those. Gather up cups and load. Again, anything that doesn't fit in dishwasher goes into sink to begin soaking.
If you don't have a dishwasher, stack dishes after rinsing to LEFT side of sink neatly. The sink will remain for serving bowls and dishes. -
Step 10
Wipe down the table immediately, or dust off the tablecloth with the side of a butter knife into a cup for crumbs.
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Step 11
In case of a party, have a designated trash place, recycling place, and dirty glass location. Keep using those locations to place items that you gather throughout the evening.
Gather in advance in ONE place where appetizers and drinks will be located, with all possible needed items, so that you don't have guests hunting for stuff in your kitchen. -
Step 12
Sit down and enjoy yourself!
Comments
supersqueegee said
on 11/30/2009 Thanks for the helpful tips!