All of us could stand to save some time in the kitchen, whether you’re mostly interested in cutting down on overall effort or you’re eager to free up time for other responsibilities.
Multitasking has a bad reputation, since in many applications, it’s practically impossible to execute efficiently; but in the kitchen, it just might work.
Article Contents
Why Kitchen Multitasking Is Different
Generally, multitasking is ineffective. That’s because human concentration can’t readily divide itself.
If you feel like you’re focusing on two things at once, chances are, you’re buying into an illusion produced by your own brain.
Across myriad studies, it’s been shown that people can generally only concentrate on one thing at a time.
So why are we even bothering trying to master the art of multitasking in the kitchen? Simply put, it’s because kitchen multitasking is different.
Multitasking in a kitchen doesn’t necessarily require you to concentrate on two things at once; many activities are completely passive, and even more activities require only minimal amounts of focus.
It’s not hard to boil a pot of water and chop onions at the same time, since only one of these tasks requires your dedicated focus.
This is going to be our starting point.
How To Multitask In The Kitchen: Initial Investments
Multitasking in the kitchen is much easier if you’re willing to make the following investments:
Side Burners
A side burner on a grill or outdoor stove is an easy way to give yourself more cooking space to work with.
With enough burners and total cooking space, you can conceivably cook every main dish and side dish for your meal simultaneously.
Additional Cooking Appliances
In some cases, you may also want to purchase additional cooking appliances.
Instant cookers, slow cookers, toaster ovens, and even specialized equipment like bread machines can all give you more effective cooking space to work with and allow more multitasking in total.
Counter Space And Workstations
Similarly, you can invest in more counter space and additional workstations. Depending on the current setup of your kitchen and your budget, it may not be feasible to expand your counters directly.
But even in this case, you may be able to afford a movable kitchen island or something similar.
Bowls, Dishes, And Other Tools
If you have more bowls, dishes, and tools to work with, your kitchen multitasking capabilities can also increase.
How To Multitask In The Kitchen: Pro Tips
These tips can help you multitask in the kitchen effectively:
Organize Tasks Based On Time Require
First, before you start engaging in any kitchen activities, it’s a good idea to organize the tasks that you need to do based on the time required.
For example, if you need an hour to cook one dish, and only 10 minutes to cook another, it’s a good idea to start the dish that takes an hour first, so you can fit in the other dish much more conveniently.
Organize Tasks Based On Focus Necessary
Similarly, you should organize tasks based on the amount of focus necessary for them. Some tasks occur completely passively, such as preheating the oven.
Others require your full concentration, such as anything involving the manual use of a knife or sharp object.
Create A Gantt Chart
It may be overkill for some recipes, but dedicated chefs often benefit from creating Gantt charts (and similar organizational charts).
These charts allow you to quickly and easily visualize the tasks you need to do – as well as the timing required to execute them.
Set Timers And Alerts
When multitasking, it’s easy to lose track of things, especially if you’re juggling several different dishes at once.
Accordingly, it’s wise to make use of automatic timers and alerts, so you don’t run the risk of burning anything or leaving materials unattended.
Make Use Of Your Idle Time
Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald’s, is credited with originating the phrase “if you’ve got time to lean, you’ve got time to clean,” which anyone who’s worked in fast food has heard at least once in their lives.
It’s a bit annoying to hear as an employee, but in your own kitchen, it’s an adage that can help you maximize time efficiency.
When you have a moment between tasks, consider washing dishes, wiping down surfaces, putting things away, and tackling other minor tasks.
Create Repeatable Patterns
Finally, consider creating repeatable patterns that you can use every time you’re in the kitchen, cooking these dishes.
For example, you can create a pattern of “stir pot A, stir pot B, chop a few veggies, repeat.”
Multitasking in the kitchen allows you to save time, save space, and ultimately complete cooking your meals more rapidly.
It’s not always easy or straightforward, but with practice, and the right materials, anyone can do it.
