Jean MeriamSave time with Kitchen Cleanup
July 12th 2008 02:05
Clean as you cook
It's 6:00. Dinner is finished. Between wiping your little one's face and beginning the evening bedtime routine you look towards kitchen with dread at the pile of greasy grimy pots and pans, not to mention the crusting slops and spills on the counter and stovetop. The after dinner cleanup can often feel like more work than preparing the meal and getting it onto the table. Over the years I've learned a few methods, mostly from other parents, to make it less of a chore and find more time to relax in the evening.
Fill the sink with warm soapy water before you even begin to cook. Wash those pots, pans and mixing bowls as you go along and when dinner is done you can look with relief at the pile of clean dishes rather than dread facing that greasy crusted on mess.
Wipe spills as they happen. Lucky you! You remembered to fill your kitchen sink before you began cooking. Now when your famous spaghetti sauce slops onto the stovetop you can wipe it up quickly before it starts to crust.
Have a small plate beside the stove to place dirty spoons and other cooking utensils on as you cook. This keeps the mess off your counter-top and stove, leaving you with less to clean up afterwards.
Spray casserole dishes with cooking spray. It keeps food from crusting to the sides of the dish and makes it much easier to wash up afterwards.
Line baking dishes. I use parchment paper or wax paper for cookie sheets and cake pans. For more greasy types of foods like porkchops or sausages baked in the oven, line the pan with tinfoil. When you are finished cooking strip the paper or tinfoil off your baking dish, discard it and give your practically clean dish a very quick wash.
Small bags and large bowls for scraps. One of the best methods I have found for keeping the kitchen cleaner as I cook is to place a small open grocery bag on the counter to peel vegetables and drop scraps directly into. When finished cooking simply grab the bag and throw the whole mess into the garbage. If you run out of grocery bags a large bowl work just as well.
It's 6:00. Dinner is finished. Between wiping your little one's face and beginning the evening bedtime routine you look towards kitchen with dread at the pile of greasy grimy pots and pans, not to mention the crusting slops and spills on the counter and stovetop. The after dinner cleanup can often feel like more work than preparing the meal and getting it onto the table. Over the years I've learned a few methods, mostly from other parents, to make it less of a chore and find more time to relax in the evening.
Fill the sink with warm soapy water before you even begin to cook. Wash those pots, pans and mixing bowls as you go along and when dinner is done you can look with relief at the pile of clean dishes rather than dread facing that greasy crusted on mess.
Wipe spills as they happen. Lucky you! You remembered to fill your kitchen sink before you began cooking. Now when your famous spaghetti sauce slops onto the stovetop you can wipe it up quickly before it starts to crust.
Have a small plate beside the stove to place dirty spoons and other cooking utensils on as you cook. This keeps the mess off your counter-top and stove, leaving you with less to clean up afterwards.
Spray casserole dishes with cooking spray. It keeps food from crusting to the sides of the dish and makes it much easier to wash up afterwards.
Line baking dishes. I use parchment paper or wax paper for cookie sheets and cake pans. For more greasy types of foods like porkchops or sausages baked in the oven, line the pan with tinfoil. When you are finished cooking strip the paper or tinfoil off your baking dish, discard it and give your practically clean dish a very quick wash.
Small bags and large bowls for scraps. One of the best methods I have found for keeping the kitchen cleaner as I cook is to place a small open grocery bag on the counter to peel vegetables and drop scraps directly into. When finished cooking simply grab the bag and throw the whole mess into the garbage. If you run out of grocery bags a large bowl work just as well.
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