Good morning…last week, we discussed how to streamline cooking by nesting tasks in the kitchen. This week we’re going over 4 prep ideas to help save you even more time.

TECHNIQUE BREAKDOWN🤯

4 ideas for saving time in the kitchen

Looking for ways to cut down on cooking time in the kitchen? Here are some ideas that could save you time but still help you to have delicious meals at home.

1. Pre-chop your veggies

Wash and slice vegetables ahead of time so they’re ready to toss into stir-fries, salads, and bowls. A little prep up front means faster meals later—no chopping necessary at dinnertime.

2. Cook grains in bulk

Make a big batch of rice, quinoa, or farro and store it in the fridge or freezer. Mix with veggies, proteins, or sauces for quick, throw-together meals all week.

3. Embrace the Instant pot or slow cooker

Set it and forget it. Add your ingredients in the morning and come home to a hot, ready-to-eat dinner—no stove-watching required.

• Perfect for our commonly cited braise once, eat all week protocols.

4. Make extra sauce, and freeze for later

Batch-cook sauces like tomato, pesto, or stir-fry sauces and freeze them in individual portions. They’re flavor powerhouses that can quickly transform simple ingredients into a full meal—toss with pasta, drizzle over grain bowls, or stir into sautéed veggies and protein.

• Remember, sometimes having a starting point for a meal is all you need to decide on a meal, reduce cooking friction, and get going.

RECIPE RECOMMENDATIONS ✅

Component prep friendly

In other words, think of the above strategies as “component prep” instead of traditional “meal prep.” Try out these recipes for saving time in the kitchen by prepping individual components ahead:

FOOD TRENDS 🚀

Hwachae

What is this colorful fruit drink all over my feed?

Hwachae is a Korean fruit punch made with sweet chilled milk or juice mixed with fresh fruit. In modern South Korea, these refreshing bowls are often served with carbonated beverages or fruit juices. The name "hwachae" translates to "flower water" in English (sometimes traditional hwachae is served with flower petals.)

Hwachae is trending for two main reasons:

1 — Temperature & texture contrast

• Thanks to the ice and bubbly additions, drink is naturally refreshing and hydrating.

2 — Visual appeal

• Its vibrant color from the strawberry milk and colorful fruits add to its curb appeal, especially when served in a hollowed-out watermelon.

3 — Easy to replicate

• The ingredients are accessible to home cooks in most cities or can be customized to local fruit selection.

READER Q&A 🧠

Baking soda shelf life

Answer: It’s hard to tell if baking soda is still active just from looking at it. It doesn’t have much of a smell, and the printed “use by” dates on the packaging are often arbitrary.

Instead, do this test:

• Spoon some baking soda into a bowl and add acid to it (lemon juice, vinegar, etc.) if it fizzes immediately, it’s still good to use.

• If it struggles to come to life, use more than the recipe calls for, and then consider buying a fresh box for next time.

What about baking powder?

Baking powder is different from baking soda in that it reacts to liquid and heat. You can do a similar test, but use hot water instead of an acid.

• If baking powder is still active, it will fizzle when hot water is poured over it.

WINNING READER SUBMISSION 🏆

Pasta winner

This week’s dinner winner is Sven H., who made pasta with a beef chuck ragu.

Reply with your best home-cooked food photos for a chance to win & be featured!

EXTRA HELPINGS 🍽️

A read: The last days of American orange juice

In a minute or less: Potato chip taste test

What we’re watching: Egg & rice bowls

Food science: Carbohydrate

The Cook Well app is happening: Get in on early subscriptions

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