Tips and tricks to get ahead in the kitchen

The 3 keys to making the most of your time in the kitchen and saving money on groceries

• Planning
• Good food management
• Effective use of kitchen tools

These tools save us time

• The microwave oven: this tool is extremely useful for cooking vegetables. There are also silicone steamers designed for microwave cooking. A simple glass dish with a little water at the bottom can also do the trick and allows you to cook vegetables in record time. Broccoli will only take 4 minutes to cook, as will green beans and asparagus. You can also make "baked" style potatoes by piercing them and placing them on a plate for about 10-15 minutes. Finally, did you know that you can toast nuts in the microwave? The risk of burning them is much lower than on the stove.
• The Instant Pot: increasingly well-known, the pressure cooker is a multifunctional electric appliance that essentially replaces the traditional pressure cooker. It can cook a meal very quickly because it works under pressure. It proves very practical as it allows you to prepare a meal that would require a long cooking time in less than 30 minutes. It will turn a frozen chicken into boiled chicken in less than an hour.
• The "freezer meal": the "freezer meal" is a method that consists of preparing several meals at the same time and freezing them in bags. The bag contains all the ingredients of the recipe, but nothing is cooked. You can then place the still-frozen contents of the bag into the appliance, start it for 35-40 minutes, and leave to pick up the children from daycare or school. At the end of cooking, the appliance switches to warming mode and patiently waits for your return.
• The slow cooker: this one is well-known and probably already in your kitchen. I use it for meat stews or vegetarian recipes. It certainly requires more cooking time but gives excellent results. I love using it on weekends, quietly preparing my meal after breakfast. It allows me to leave for a family day and have a hot meal upon my return.
• The food processor: it not only allows you to chop vegetables, slice them, and grate cheese, but is also very useful for preparing energy balls, spreads, or hummus. Leave it on the counter at all times! That way, it can be put to good use every day. Don't hesitate to use it for just one onion; you'll only have to rinse it afterward!
• The ice cream scoop: available in several sizes, it allows you to "portion" muffins and cookies before baking. It's essential if you like to make your snacks at home!

Food and Meal Management

Once a season

Prepare meals to freeze. These can be spaghetti sauce, lasagna, or meatballs. Try "freezer meals," these ready-to-cook meals that are assembled in bags and placed in the freezer, or discover our many batch cooking options available exclusively in our Chef.fe de famille monthly subscription.

Once a month

Cook a double, or even triple, batch of muffins, cookies, or biscuits and another of energy balls or granola bars. Once frozen, these snacks should last for the coming month. Take the opportunity to involve the children; they are good at making energy balls and love to "portion" muffins into molds with an ice cream scoop.

Inventory your fridge, freezer (discover our magnetic freezer inventory!), and pantry, then grocery shop to replace missing items. If you buy meat in bulk, portion it into meal-sized bags with a marinade and place everything in the freezer: the perfect solution for a quick meal when unexpected guests arrive.

Once a week

Plan your weekly menu; think of five meals to be on the menu and do your grocery shopping according to this list. Upon returning from the grocery store, cut vegetables according to their use: wash salad, cut raw vegetables, cut vegetables for grilling and stir-frying, cut melon, etc.

Every day

Think about tomorrow's menu. Do you need to thaw meat, marinate chicken, or cut raw vegetables again? Clearly display foods to be consumed immediately to avoid waste.

A few miscellaneous tips

• Take shortcuts at the grocery store: frozen onions and spinach, jarred garlic and ginger, pre-washed salad, pre-cut soup vegetables or coleslaw – these foods are not very economical but are excellent helpers. Don't hesitate to use these shortcuts when the week is very busy.
• Prepare some ingredients yourself in season. For example, onions and peppers can be cut and frozen without blanching, and tomatoes can be frozen whole without preparation.
• Prepare smoothie bags. Bag ingredients (bananas, mangoes, strawberries, blueberries, kale, etc.) so they are ready to put in the blender. Then you just need to add milk or a plant-based drink.

With that, bon appétit!