get as close to the heat as possible
The further away the food is from your heat source the longer it’s going to take to cook. Pan frying or BBQing are my go-to cooking methods when I’m short of time. Boiling can also be fast but there’s the time needed to get the water hot in the first place.
use the most direct heat
Apologies for getting a bit physics class on you but the other factor is that solids (especially metals) conduct heat better than liquids and gasses. Which is why a hot pan cooks so much faster than the same food sitting in a hot oven.
cook with gas or induction
I do love the instant heat of gas. Although after being wowed by Australian chef, Tetsuya’s new masterclass kitchen last year, I do have a hankering for a clean induction cook top which has instant heat with the added benefit of being super easy to clean.
use a fan forced oven
My country kitchen is blessed with a fan forced oven and cooks things significantly more rapidly than my sad old gas number in Sydney.
make technology your friend
Food processors can grate, slice or puree things in a fraction of the time it would take using an old grater or a mortar and pestle. And I’ve already sung the praises of electric kitchen scales where you can just weigh and go without fiddling around with messy measuring cups.
rinse and reuse equipment as you go
I used to hate the concept of cleaning as you go because I preferred to concentrate on the cooking task at hand. But over the years I’ve realised that it can actually be quicker to rinse that bowl or spoon in front of you rather than reaching to the cupboard for a clean one and it definitely saves on cleaning up time – my least favourite part of playing in the kitchen.
focus
One of my biggest time wasters is when I try and do something else while I’m cooking. Not only do I end up not getting either task done particularly well, I often burn something and have to start again. Much better to be in the moment and get it done right the first time.
practice
Like pretty much all activities practice makes perfect – the more often you cook, the quicker you’ll become.
ask for help
If you have access to one, employ a kitchen slave. Not only do many hands make light work – it’s also an opportunity to relax and catch up with your loved ones.
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