20 Time savers in the kitchen

I am always looking for information to make life easier. I spend a lot of time in my kitchen, and love when I find tips I can utilize there.

I have gathered the top tips ever for making the most out of your time spent in the kitchen.

1. Coffee filters. Use them to clean windows, as a cover when heating food in the microwave, and to line plant pots with; so the dirt doesn’t seep through the drainage holes.

2. Keep an old butter container or coffee can with a lid filled with a mild bleach solution and a dish rag. It’s a handy way to wipe counters and clean spills in a jiffy. You can use it for a good week before changing the bleach solution!

3. Keep the vase of flowers on your table fresher for longer by adding an aspirin to the water.

4. Store fancy (company) dishes and utensils in a Rubbermaid container under your bed. Your kitchen should only be housing the convenient items you use all of the time.

5. Limit one drawer only for writing utensils, note pads, scotch tape, paperclips, rubber bands, etc.

6. Keep coupons in a compartmentalized laminated scrap book page. This way you can see all of them in a hurry when grabbing them for the market.

7. Microwaves are dirty creatures on the inside. To clean quickly and easily, simply place a damp sponge or rag on the inside and heat it up for a minute or two. The steam will loosen grime and spills and you can gently wipe it clean.

8. Run white vinegar through your coffee maker once a month. Then repeat with plain water a few runs. This will keep it clean on the inside and keep clogs from slowing the brewing process. (I’m in a huge hurry when I wake up to have my coffee…Pronto!)

9. Keep a dry/erase board on the fridge. Jot down items you run out of right when you run out. Also write what you plan on making for dinner to keep the kids from all asking individually…”What’s for dinner?”

10.  When making meatballs, use a small ice cream scoop. That way they will all be the same size and will cook more evenly.

11. Use a dab of toothpaste to clean fine silver. It works just as good as expensive silver cleaners.

12. If you microwave garlic cloves for 10-15 seconds, the skins will slip right off!

13.  You can freeze leftover wine in ice cube trays for quick flavor cubes for stews, sauces, and casseroles.

14.  Drain deep fried foods on brown paper grocery bags. They will soak up the grease and the food will stay crispy.

15. Dental floss (unflavored) works great for slicing soft cheeses and cheese cakes.

16. Keep freshly baked cookies in a container with a piece of white bread. It will keep the cookies soft and chewy.

17. Keep a counter top compost collector. Makes it easy to collect kitchen scraps for you compost bin and keeps you from running outside constantly with your food waste in hand.

18. Cover the inside of your pantry door with chalk-board paint. You can make yourself reminders when you use the last of something.

19. Tired of waiting for butter to soften for your favorite recipe? Just grate it with a cheese grater onto a plate. The smaller pieces will soften in just a minute or two!

20. If your having trouble peeling your kiwi fruit, simply slice both ends off and slip a spoon between the flesh and the skin. Then just curve around the fruit until entire skin comes off in one piece!

Do you have any useful time savers for the kitchen? Any tips or tricks for cleaning or cooking in the kitchen?