The Cooking Mess to a Minimum

If you dread cleaning up the kitchen after preparing a meal, then these four little words, 'clean as you go' are the key to keeping that mess to a minimum.This is such a simple answer, but it works.

Whenever you have a spare moment or a lull in your cooking activities, use that time to load the dishwasher, wipe off the counter or the stove top, or put away the ingredients you just used to make a recipe. Whatever needs to be done, do it. It is just that much that you won't have to do later.

One thing I always do when I am getting ready to make a recipe is to get out all the ingredients I will be using and line them up on the counter. As I add each one to the recipe, I return it to the shelf where I got it. That way I have insured that I didn't leave anything out of the recipe, and I have everything put away when I am done mixing it up.

Another practice that makes cleanup easier is to use as few cooking utensils as possible. In other words, any time you can use something more than once without washing it in between, then use it. That goes for serving, too. The baking dish the food was cooked in can also be used as its serving dish.

When you are ready to start cooking, always make sure the kitchen is clean and the dishwasher unloaded. Run some dishwater in one side of the sink for cleanup, and clear the other side so it is available for rinsing, filling or draining. Set the trash can near where you will be working to throw away peelings, wrappers, and so forth. If you are going to use the oven, line the bottom with a piece of foil to catch any spills. Always use a spoon rest or a saucer to place stirring spoons or spatulas on. This eliminates a lot of wiping up later.

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