My Top Techniques to Get Organised in the Kitchen

When I graduated from university, I decided to become a better cook. I know that one day I will have a family of my own to feed, and I’d prefer my kids having something more nutritious for dinner than fish fingers every day. So I bought a whole host of cookery books and downloaded some top recipes to my iPad in an attempt to progress my cooking from beans on toast to a three-bean chilli. However when I got into the kitchen, I quickly noticed how flustered I became with the timings of certain meals. I couldn’t find my potato peeler, or I used the wrong spice by accident; all of these incidents annoyed me so I knew I needed to get more organised, fast! So I thought I’d let you all know how I did it, and how it actually improved my cooking.

Labels are awesome

When I was little, my mum also labelled her Tupperware pots in the cupboard; to be honest I thought it was a little bit over the top - but I was wrong! I now include labels or dates on items in my kitchen cupboard so I know how long it has been open or what’s inside. This goes the same for the freezer too when I freeze meat; if I put the date on it I’ll know how long it is good for before it needs to be eaten or thrown away.

Storage solutions are super

Talking of Tupperware, I don’t actually own this. I do however own a lot of pots, jars and other storage solutions from shops like Ikea, Wilkinsons and the usual set of supermarkets. This allows me to fit much more into my cupboards and helps to keep my food dry and fresh. Before, I was especially reckless with bags of rice, dropping a lot of the grains onto the counter and the floor when I took it out of the cupboard.

Easy-pour bottles are excellent

Another way I find working in the kitchen easier is by having easy-pour bottles next to my stove top. This accounts for the various oils and vinegars I have, such as chilli infused olive oil or sesame oil for Chinese stir fries. You’ll often find these in restaurants which prove just how friendly they are to use; it sure makes it faster than unscrewing or uncorking a bottle every time you need a sprinkling in the pan.

Spice racks are essential

I looked in many stores before I found some gorgeous spice racks from John Lewis so I snapped one up and brought it home. I then organised all of my spices and topped up the ones that were almost empty. Needless to say this has made cooking a curry a lot less stressful and it also encourages me to try new things as spices never get used when they’re sat in the cupboard. Speaking of which, it’s time to go and cook something delicious for dinner...