Kitchen Hacks to Save Time During the 9-to-5 Rush
Nobody has a perfect 365 days — the universe simply doesn’t allow it! Every now and then, we all battle the snooze button, wrestle with the Wi-Fi just minutes before a crucial meeting, or forget our car keys on the very day we’re racing the clock. And yes, many of us have devoured a burnt toast or two in the name of survival. Ah, the domestic dreams of cooking gourmet meals on a weekday — so delicious in theory, so elusive in practice.
The truth is, in today’s whirlwind world, time is a precious commodity — especially when you’re juggling work, studies, and family. But what if we told you that a few clever kitchen hacks (plus a bit of help from the right cookware) could shave valuable minutes off your daily routine?
This blog is for the multitasking Zoom warrior, the midnight snacker, and the breakfast-on-the-go expert.
Remember, the goal isn't to become a Michelin-starred chef on a Tuesday night; it's about creating nourishing and enjoyable meals without sacrificing precious time and sanity.
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Breakfast on Auto-Pilot
Mornings are hard. No one thinks before their cup of caffeine – tea or coffee. So set up your breakfast the night before.
Kitchen Hack: Overnight oats, chia puddings, or even savoury breakfast muffins can be prepped in advance. Keep a small triply kadhai or milk pan nearby for heating milk or making your signature masala chai before the caffeine withdrawal fully kicks in.
When it comes to speeding things up in the kitchen, the right cookware can truly be a game-changer. A quality non-stick pan is a lifesaver on rushed mornings — eggs cook fast, pancakes don’t stick, and cleanup is a breeze. Vinod Cookware’s non-stick cookware range heats quickly and wipes clean in seconds, giving you more time for that much-needed coffee.
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Go Pre-Chopped, Not Over-Chopped
Sure, there’s zen in chopping onions... unless you're chopping your third one before 8:00 am. Pre-chop commonly used veggies like onions, garlic, bell peppers, or carrots, and store them in clear containers.
Quick Cooking Tip: Pop them into your non-stick skillet in the morning for an instant omelette or sandwich filler. Bonus: a stainless-steel fry pan with an ergonomic handle will make you feel like you’ve got your life together (even if you're still in pyjamas).
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Extend Your Friendship to Leftover Food
Ever cooked extra pasta and thought, “I'll use this tomorrow,” only to discover it three weeks later, looking like a science experiment? Let’s change that.
Kitchen Hack: Portion your leftovers into silicone freezer trays or labelled zip bags. Use colour-coded labels for lunch and dinner items so you can literally grab, defrost, and go. If you’ve got a compact stainless-steel saucepan handy (like the sleek ones from Vinod’s SAS bottom range), you can reheat straight from frozen without worry.
Lunchtime can often be a grab-and-go affair. Instead of reaching for expensive and often less-than-exciting pre-made sandwiches, utilise your prepped components. Leftover roasted vegetables and quinoa can be transformed into a vibrant salad, or that batch-cooked chilli can be quickly reheated. Investing in some good quality, leak-proof containers will make transporting your culinary creations a breeze.
After that first sip of caffeine, simply take a couple of minutes to think, rather than panic on the get-go. All you need is right there in your kitchen or the freezer!
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Batch it like a boss!
Cut that down the time taken for meal prepping by batch cooking your staples. Prepare staples like grains, sauces, and vegetables in advance and keep them sealed in containers for easy access throughout the week.
Kitchen Hack: A Vinod Cookware pressure cooker is perfect for cooking beans, lentils, or even chicken in half the time. Pressure cooking retains flavour, slashes cooking time, and works wonders when you're prepping meals for the whole week on a Sunday night while binge-watching Bake Off reruns.
Time might not grow on trees, but with the right kitchen habits — and the right tools — you can certainly harvest more of it. A little prep, a splash of humour, and cookware that gets the job done can turn your weekday rush into a smooth (ish) ride.