Simple Cooking Tips for the Kitchen
This list of simple cooking tips for the kitchen will help you to set up a space for your homestead. Filled with classic tips and tools that bring peace and joy to a room where you cook and eat.
Create a kitchen using these simple living tips to eat better, improve your overall health, and save time preparing meals.
Over the years I have worked hard to simplify every aspect of our lives and our home. Yes I said years because when you live in a world crammed full of gadgets and technology, simplifying anything can be a challenge.
But challenges aside, my goal is the same: to remove some of the excess stuff, cut down on outside overwhelm, and create a home that is a haven for our family.
As I continue on this journey, I am noticing that the more things I remove, the more benefits I see all around me. This is the best part of living a simple life. As we remove the clutter and chaos we make room for joy and memories.
Benefits of Simple Living
People often ask me if it’s hard to live a more simple life, and yes, in some areas, there is more work, but the payoffs are worth it.
- Without all the stuff packed into our house, it is much easier to clean and take care of. If there is less on the shelves, there is less to dust.
- If we own less, we have fewer bills to pay, and that means more money in our bank account.
- The more clutter we remove from our house, the better it looks and feels meaning there are fewer stress-filled arguments.
- And if you have a pantry stocked with fewer food options that your family loves, you will find you have less food waste and a balanced grocery budget.
Get tips on how to organize a kitchen pantry to streamline your food setup.
What does simple living in the kitchen mean?
Simple living in the kitchen is is a way of keeping specific ingredients so you can cook meals without having to head to the store. The more you stay out of the stores the less money you will spend.
It also means you will be able to make more food from scratch, relying less on prepackaged options that are not only expensive but full of unhealthy preservatives.
Think about something pretty basic that you enjoy eating, like a sticky bun. Wouldn’t you rather enjoy a warm, just out of the oven, gooey bun than a store-bought prepackaged bun was probably made months ago by a machine?
Of course you would! Who wouldn’t? And the homemade sticky bun not only tastes better, it is better.
When you prepare your own meals, you can reduce any ingredients you don’t want and add in any that you do. This creative freedom is one of the best reasons to make it instead of buying it.
For most people, however, cooking mainly from scratch can be a bit intimidating. But I have good news for you: even if you’re not used to spending time in the kitchen, simple cooking means easy recipes, fewer ingredients, a limited number of steps involved, and almost no prior cooking experience needed.
Stock up on tools that will help you prepare meals more easily.
There are a variety of kitchen appliances that can make it easier for you to enjoy simple cooking. By investing in the ones you will use most often, you can set up a kitchen that is simplified with a specific purpose.
• Slow cooker – Great for stews, soups, and full meals.
• Pressure Cooker – Great for tough meats, one dish meals, and soups.
• Dutch oven – Great for meats, stews, and chilis.
• Baking sheets – Great for baked goods, potatoes, and sheet meals.
• Roaster – Great for larger dishes such as a ham, roast, or turkey.
• Air fryer – Great for everything and my go-to appliance. It is a healthier way to cook, doesn’t heat up the kitchen in the summer, and cuts cooking time in half.
• Indoor grill – Great for fish, beef, chicken, and veggies.
Remember, you do not need them all; there are just a few key pieces to help you cook things more efficiently.
Simple foods you can make instead of buying:
Let’s look at food options that are better when made at home than when purchasing them in a store. You can find many recipes online that fit your and your family’s dietary needs. I like to look for new recipes on Sunday when I am planning our meals for the week.
- Baked Goods – Homemade is so much better than purchased. You can make amazing bread, cookies, healthy snacks, and even homemade ice cream!
- Dairy Products – Fresh milk is something we prefer over purchase. If you have dairy livestock, you can rely on your own supply; if not, you can find great organic options at most stores. Use it to make your own cheese, butter, yogurt, and sour cream.
- Dehydrated Foods—You can dry herbs, fruits, vegetables, and meats, which are all great snacks.
- Grass-fed and Organic Meats – Stock up on meat you raise yourself, purchase locally from a farmer, or online from a reliable source.
- Canned goods – Grow your own produce or purchase from a local farmer. Use these ingredients to preserve vegetables, soups, salsa, or fruit spreads that you can enjoy all year long.
- Extra Fun – Think outside of the box and use extra ingredients from your pantry, freezer, or garden to make condiments, sauces, and even dry mixes.
What can you do with leftovers?
In many kitchens, leftovers often go unused and end up in the trash a few days later. With a simplified kitchen, leftovers are always considered and used up quickly before they lose their flavor.
• Soup – Use leftover meats and veggies to make a delicious soup.
• Deep dish pizza – Put leftover meatloaf or burgers in a deep dish pan and make a fun meal your family will love.
• Casserole – Use leftover soups or rice dishes as a base for an amazing casserole.
• Buffet – Have a weekly buffet where you bring out all the leftovers for a fun spin on dinner.
• Dessert – Mash up leftover fruit and use it as a spread on leftover rolls from a previous dinner.
Not only are these easy solutions for leftovers, but you’ll also find these meals are healthier and tastier than stopping for fast food on the way home.
Almost Amish: One Woman’s Quest for a Slower, Simpler, More Sustainable Life
The Amish Cook’s Family Favorite Recipes by Lovina Eicher (2013-01-01)Amish Baking: Traditional Recipes for Bread, Cookies, Cakes, and PiesThe Encyclopedia of Country Living, 50th Anniversary Edition: The Original Manual for Living off the Land & Doing It Yourself
Let’s talk about baked goods
If you’ve never made homemade bread, you don’t know what you’re missing. A no-knead bread usually calls for 4-5 ingredients, it’s left to rise overnight while you sleep, and is then baked off in the morning for about 45 minutes.
What could be easier?
Not only does fresh from the oven bread taste better than store-bought, but it’s also fresher and much less expensive. And, bonus! You can have fresh bread anytime you want.
I think what I love most about simple cooking is that it fits right in with the homesteading lifestyle. If you enjoy homesteading, simple cooking allows you to prepare your meals based on the fruits and vegetables of your harvest, as well as fresh eggs and milk, and meat.
SLCG PRO TIP: Not all gardens grow all things, but that’s still okay. Most of our neighbor’s gardens have different items compared to our own. Make a call and see if you can do a swap for anything different. Preserve what you receive and stock your pantry and freezer with even more homegrown options.
Enjoy easy homestead cooking with fresh ingredients from your own garden; canning or freezing any leftover harvest for later use.
HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR REFRIGERATOR AND SAVE (BIG) MONEY ON FOOD
Simple living expert tips on being self-sufficient
The Amish are well known for their simple cooking techniques. Amish cooking benefits from the surrounding farms in preparing simple meals.
They prepare most of their food from scratch and often make large quantities to feed their community. Using these same principles, you can make food that freezes well for easy spur-of-the-moment meals.
Preparing your own foods instead of buying ready-made foods allows you to be more aware of what’s in your food. Wouldn’t you like to know what you’re putting into your body? Try reading the ingredient label of a ready-made product and see how many ingredients you recognize.
If you’re trying to make even healthier choices, you can choose options for organic cooking. You can grow your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs, or choose to purchase organic ones, allowing you to have more control of what you eat.
Simple cooking, organic cooking, and homestead cooking go hand-in-hand.
How to make simple cooking easier
Yes, living simply takes work, but only until you adjust to your new approach. Use these tips to help you streamline things even more in the kitchen.
Tip #1. Meal Plan – Planning your meals in advance allows you to not only shop easier but prepare some foods in larger quantities because you may need them later in the week.
Need chopped veggies for two dinners this week? Save time and chop them all at once. Use what you need now and store the rest in the fridge for later in the week.
Not sure how to create a weekly menu? Use this simple approach:
- Have a sheet of paper and your calendar.
- For each day look to see what your schedule is.
- Plan out meals that compliment your schedule so you are not stressed trying to get moeals ready on busy nights.
- Be sure to incorporate fresh produce you have on hand so you use it before it goes bad.
- Each morning check your plan for dinner so you can prep any food now to streamline things even more.
Tip #2. Make the Most of Your Weekend – After you’ve planned your meals and made your grocery shopping trip, you can use some of your weekend time to meal prep for the week ahead.
Clean and cut veggies, roast them in advance, make marinades and sauces for the week, and pre-measure dry ingredients for baked goods.
I’ve found that this is an easy trick for large batch baking or to save time later on. Measure the dry ingredients for your baked goods recipe into a large baggie or container. When you’re ready to make the recipe, you’ll have less measuring and less mess.
Tip #3. Stock Up on Staples – Keeping your pantry stocked with staples will make it easier to throw a meal together in a hurry, save time shopping, and allow you to change your meal plan at a moments notice if you forget to purchase a needed ingredient or your meat didn’t thaw in time.
Think about the items you prepare regularly and the non-perishable ingredients that go into them. These are things you can keep on hand for a quick meal.
Tip #4. Make Large Batches – Making a large batch of sauce can provide enough for 3 or 4 meals. You can use a portion for a meal this week and freeze the rest for later use. Tomato sauce for pasta dishes freezes well and allows you to have dinner at the ready with homemade sauce in your freezer and dry pasta in your pantry.
Cookie dough also freezes well and allows you to have fresh, homemade cookies anytime you want. Pasta dishes do well in the freezer too. If you’re making lasagna or baked ziti, make enough for two casseroles and freeze one for a later meal.
Next, let’s talk about your pantry. Stocking up on staples can make simple cooking easier. You’ll save time grocery shopping, and you’ll be able to change your meal plan at a moment’s notice.
pantry staples in a simple kitchen
The first step to a more simple kitchen is to be sure your pantry is organized so you are always using up what you have before it goes bad.
Read my best tips, How to Organize your Pantry for even more kitchen tips.
Below are a few items that will do great in a kitchen pantry. You can use these as bases for casseroles, side dishes, or a quick go-to meal in a pinch.
Rice – Brown rice is healthy, and it works well as a side dish or mixed into soups and casseroles. It cooks quickly and can be used with a variety of meals. You can purchase brown rice in bulk and invest in a rice cooker.
I love my rice cooker and use it several times throughout the week.
Barley – This is a nice change to rice. It’s a tasty and filling grain that gives you some variety in your meals.
Barley soup is great any time throughout the year. A nice comfort food your entire family will enjoy.
Dry Pasta – Boxes of pasta are great to have on hand for both a meal and a side dish. Make a quick spaghetti or baked pasta dish, or serve buttered egg noodles as a side dish. Check out a few great pasta recipes here.
Beans – Both dry and canned beans keep really well in the pantry. Not a fan of soaking beans? Then canned beans are for you since canned beans don’t need to be soaked before using.
You can add any type of beans to meals to stretch your grocery budget and provide an excellent source of protein.
Beans are also great for a fun and out-of-the-box snack. You can use chickpeas for an easy homemade hummus spread or black beans for nachos.
Canned Vegetables and Sauces – Canned tomato sauce and canned diced tomatoes are a great addition to any pantry, but even more so to one based on simple cooking. You can use these to make a delicious homemade spaghetti sauce that is easy to throw together and tastes amazing.
Canned beans and corn are great additions to soups, chilis, and casseroles.
Broth – Chicken, beef, and vegetable broths are essential in a variety of sauces and soups. You can use them in stir-fry sauces, potato dishes, casseroles, and even dressings.
SLCG PRO TIP: Do you have a family member that is under the weather? A nice warm cup of chicken broth may be just what they need.
Spices and Rubs – Spices and rubs are the backbone of many simple cooking pantries. Keeping a variety of spices and rubs on hand will make it easy to grab a few other items from your pantry or fridge and have a tasty dinner ready in minutes.
Spices can turn one dish into a completely different one with just a few shakes. This can double up your recipe inventory giving you even more options.
Rubs are a great way to turn bland meats into something divine. You can make these from your spices and store them in glass jars to use as needed.
Oils – Always having a variety of oils on hand will make it easy to cook, bake, and prep.
Vinegars – white and apple cider vinegar are great additions to dressings and marinades and they’re a basic ingredient in pickling.
Soy Sauce – Add a warm, savory flavor to a variety of dishes.
Bread Crumbs and/or Panko – You can use these to bread meats and vegetables for frying or baking, or use them as a thickener for savory dishes.
Honey, Maple Syrup, and/or Molasses – These are great sweeteners that are an alternative to white sugar and provide more nutrients and flavor.
Freezer Staples in a Simple Kitchen
Frozen Vegetables – A package of frozen greens makes a quick side dish for any meal. And keeping chopped veggies in the freezer, like chopped onions and peppers, makes prepping meals quick.
Frozen Fruits – If you love a healthy smoothie in the morning to get your day going, frozen fruits make it easy to make your smoothie in a snap.
Garlic – Frozen cubes of fresh, minced garlic can make prepping and cooking so much easier. You won’t have to stop cooking to peel and mince or chop, then wash up again.
More Garlic Resources:
Meats – The perfect time to stock up is when your grocery store is having a sale. Fill your freezer with a variety of meats including ground beef, ground turkey, and chicken breasts for quick, healthy meals.
Baking Staples in a Simple Kitchen
Flour – Depending on what you bake, you may need a variety of flours on hand. Whole wheat flour is more nutritious than white and it’s great for breads. White flour is more commonly used in baking and many recipes call for self-rising flour or cake flour.
Cornmeal – This is often overlooked as a pantry staple, but cornmeal is an excellent ingredient in pizza dough, can be used for frying, and you can use it to coat a pan to keep pizza and bread from getting soggy on the bottom.
White Sugar – Used in almost every baked good recipe and in some sauces, this is always a good item to keep on hand.
Brown Sugar – This is used in a variety of desserts and sauces as well. You can make your own by combining white sugar with molasses. The difference between light and dark brown sugars is the amount of molasses.
Oats – While they’re great to keep on hand for a quick breakfast, they’re also used in a variety of dessert and bread recipes.
Baking Soda – This is a leavening agent for baked goods (it makes them rise).
Baking Powder – Also a leavening agent, but different from baking soda so you’ll need both.
Yeast – You’ll need this for any kind of bread or pizza dough. It can be stored for a long period of time in your fridge.
Cocoa Powder – If you’re making chocolate cake, brownies, or hot chocolate from scratch, this is a necessity.
Applesauce – In addition to being a yummy snack, it can replace oils and eggs in baking recipes for a healthier option.
Vanilla Extract – This is used in everything from cookies, to cakes, to puddings, to whipped cream. It’s pricey but necessary. You can also make your own by slicing vanilla beans open and placing them in a jar of vodka for about 3 months.
Chocolate Chips – In addition to those fabulous homemade chocolate chip cookies, they can be added to snack mixes and homemade granola bars.
Nuts – A great snack as well as a mix-in ingredient for a variety of recipes.
why do you need a simplified kitchen?
By simplifying our kitchen we are able to eat healthier and still save money. As an added bonus, the food taste so much better, dinner now is a show of mouth-filled moans followed by raves for the cook.
And, surprisingly, it doesn’t take a lot of time to cook this way. With a few pantry staples on hand, you can have a homemade family dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes.
Simple cooking tips for the kitchen allow you to eat healthier and reduce high quantities of sugar and processed foods. Another great perk of homemade meals is that they’re often less expensive than the ready-made versions.
With a few simple recipes in your lineup, kitchen tools that are effective for a self-sufficient lifestyle, and a meal plan to get you through the week, you can easily prepare fresh meals in a short amount of time.
These are such fantastic tips! I’m a huge believer in cooking from scratch too and love using my weekend to get ahead for the week. You’re right on the money about bartering and trading with neighbors. That’s something I’m trying to build up to here, too! Wish we were neighbors!
Yes, the weekends are a great time to get and cook ahead..love that! Too bad we are not neighbors, we could have some fun!
Tracy Lynn