The Self-Cleaning Kitchen

Anyone who has spent much time cooking has wished they had a Self-Cleaning Kitchen! Everyone wants cooking to be quick and easy – even those who really love to cook. Everyone is busy today and cleaning up a dirty kitchen is not a favorite chore for anyone. Although it is impossible to prepare a home cooked meal without creating any mess at, there are many things you can do to reduce the amount of cleanup you will have later.

Whether you are new to the kitchen or an experienced cook, these tips will help you enjoy experimenting in the culinary arts without having to spend hours cleaning up the mess.

You may have heard your mom say “clean as you go” and there really is much wisdom in that. First, start with a clean kitchen before you begin cooking a meal. It is best to have an empty sink and/or dishwasher. Fill a dish pan with hot soapy water before you start and you will be able to wipe up any spills or messes on your stovetop while you are cooking. You can also transfer your food to clean serving dishes and throw in your pots, pans and other cooking utensils to soak while you enjoy your meal. This will save you from having to scrub baked on food later.

Another important tip is to watch your temperatures. Most foods don’t need to be cooked on the highest temperature setting and burned food is the most difficult to clean up later. Watch your pots of liquids on the stove too. If the temperature is too high, you will have boil-overs which can be very difficult to clean.

Always use a timer. Even if you think you will remember to check the food in a minute, it is too easy to become distracted and burn it at the last minute.

Another great tip is to collect recipes for one dish meals. If you can get a hearty meal of meats, pasta and vegetables in one dish cleanup will be a snap. Dutch ovens and cast iron pans are great for this because you can brown the foods on the stove and transfer the entire meal to the oven to finish. Another great way to make one dish meals is to take advantage of one of the greatest modern kitchen tools – the crockpot. Modern crockpots come with programmable timers to preset your cooking times and keep the meal warm until you get home. Great for working cooks and easy on the cleanup too!

Also choose recipes that are designed to be fast and easy. Buy precut vegetables and prewashed greens to make food prep quick and easy. Busy cooks today can take advantage of these options and assemble a home cooked meal in a fraction of the time in took in the past.

Use kitchen gadgets that actually save you time and don’t create more of a mess for you. A good option is a food processor that can do much of the chopping, slicing and prepping with only one bowl to clean.

This last tip is particularly for you moms. Don’t forget to elicit some help from the family. Even small children can be taught to scrape off a plate and load it into the dishwasher. Modern dishwashers are not only a great timesaver but have been shown to save on water too!

Hopefully these tips will help you eliminate some of the hassles of cooking and enjoy your meals without the dread of the cleanup later. With a little planning, you can prepare healthy, economic home meals without spending all of your time cleaning up later. Return from the Self-Cleaning Kitchen to Home Page