Stop swiping on that food delivery app when you’re short on time. You can still eat healthy, homemade food without sacrificing precious hours from your busy schedule to cook. Optimize your time in the kitchen with these techniques, from making instant almond flour to using game-changing appliances and batch-making pantry ingredients.
Homemade cauliflower rice in a blender
Cauliflower is often used as a low-carb substitute for rice since it has a neutral taste. It may feel like it’s not worth the time and effort to transform a head of cauliflower into rice, but it’s possible to make it quickly in a blender.
First, cut the head into smaller florets and drop them into a blender. Blend the florets for a few seconds until they resemble rice grains — it’s that simple. You can store this cauliflower rice in seconds for future use in the fridge or freezer or cook it right away by steaming or sauteing. Use it as a stir fry, add it to your soup or even as a
Time-saving smart kitchen tools
With these appliances, you can get in and out of the kitchen faster and still end up with a delicious home-cooked meal. Invest in a high-speed blender for faster prep time to make smoothies, sauces and soups. It’ll leave you with the perfect texture, and all you have to do is put your ingredients in, press a button and wait for it to be done while you start on your other tasks. A food processor is another holy-grail item. It can chop vegetables for you, knead dough, grind meat and shred cheese — you no longer have to get your hands dirty.
Instant Pots will make the cooking process faster than ever before. An Instant Pot is a multicooker that functions as much more than a pressure cooker. It can slow cook, steam, sear and saute food like on a stovetop. The best part is that it speeds up traditional cooking times, even for meats and stews that usually take what feels like forever. You can set it and forget it while you catch up on work.
An air fryer is also a popular time-efficient appliance. It’s unique because it circulates hot air, giving you that same texture as deep frying but with little need for oil. It’s a healthier and more efficient cooking method if you’re craving a crispy dish — not to mention quick cleanup since you just have to wash the tray.
Cost-effective and quick-to-make almond flour
If you’re looking for a healthy gluten-free alternative to regular flour, almond flour is a must-have pantry staple. The recipe for almond flour is so simple that you can make it in minutes, even with limited time. Plus, purchasing it at the store is not financially sustainable, as it’s heavily marked up and will force you to spend double or even triple what you usually pay for wheat flour.
To make almond flour, blend whole, dehydrated almonds in a food processor until they become a fine powder. Store the flour in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three months. In just a few steps, you get a cost-effective substitute for wheat flour that you can use in baking, as a coating for your protein or to add nutrients to your smoothies.
Batch cook for later
By carving out some time on the weekend to prepare meals for the week ahead, you can put together diverse meals with little effort during your busy work days. Batch make different ingredients in large quantities that go well together. That way, you’re not stuck eating the same dish for the next five days.
Some ideas include grilling chicken breasts to add to salads or sandwiches, cooking ground meat for tacos or pasta sauces and roasting your favorite vegetables, like zucchini, broccoli or mushrooms. You’ll have these at your disposal to eat with pasta or rice, which you can also cook in a large batch. With all these ingredients ready, healthy meals are easier to assemble when you’re in a crunch.
Set up your station
“Mise en place” is a French term meaning to set out everything you need before cooking. It’s a basic concept that will save you time from scrambling to find things while cooking. The steps for mise en place include understanding the recipe, preparing your ingredients, arranging them logically in the order of the recipe, gathering your tools and turning on ovens. Having your workstation ready to go means that you won’t fumble around and will be able to churn out meals fast.
Home-grown produce in a pinch
Does gardening feel like too much effort, but you still want the rewards of fresh organic produce? Try planting quick-growing microgreens like broccoli sprouts. Broccoli sprouts are a great health booster to add to your diet. According to the National Library of Medicine, these vegetables can reduce inflammation, diabetes and the risk of cardiovascular illnesses.
Learning how to grow broccoli sprouts requires a few simple steps that’ll get you ready-to-eat microgreens in five to seven days. The process involves sprouting broccoli seeds in a mason jar — no crazy equipment or space is needed, which is good news for beginner gardeners. You can eat these sprouts raw in salads, rice bowls or sandwiches for a refreshing crunchy texture.
Don’t compromise on nutrition or flavor
Who says you can’t enjoy delicious homemade meals even on the busiest days? With these tips, you can maintain a healthy diet without spending countless hours in the kitchen. From making instant almond flour and cauliflower rice to growing your own microgreens and batch cooking with multi-functional kitchen tools, cooking has never been easier.
Zuzana Paar is the visionary behind four inspiring websites: Amazing Travel Life, Low Carb No Carb, Best Clean Eating and Sustainable Life Idea. As a content creator, recipe developer, blogger and photographer, Zuzana shares her diverse skills through breathtaking travel adventures, healthy recipes and eco friendly living tips. Her work inspires readers to live their best, healthiest and most sustainable lives.