Over the years, I have (almost) perfected my cooking workflow when it comes to cooking. Whether I’m working on a new recipe or something I’ve made hundreds of times, my steps for cooking are the same.
If you are a beginner cook, then this is a great place to start. For those who have been cooking for years, this may help you if you are struggling with a recipe. If you are a pro cooker, well then maybe you can leave me a comment if I’ve missed something here.
Originally Published On: November 14, 2017
Last Updated On: April 8, 2020
Read Through the Recipe
This is probably my biggest piece of advice for someone who is just starting to cook more often. Always read the recipe. Read it through the entire way, all the ingredients, all the steps, all the tips. And if it’s on a blog or online, read the comments. See if anyone has made some suggested changes or figured out any hidden tricks to make the recipe easier. By reading the recipe, you will have an idea of what you are doing. You’ll know when there is a step that requires you to be quick or constantly stirring so you can plan accordingly.
Get Ingredients Ready
Prep all your ingredients. A lot of recipes will have things in the ingredients list such as 1 onion, chopped. Before you even start cooking, chop up that onion so it’s ready when the time comes. Or maybe it’s butter, softened. I even made a few things that call for heavy cream or cream cheese to be at room temperature. That takes some time so it can’t be rushed. Not only will this help you get everything ready, but you will also be double-checking that you have all the ingredients you need before you are in the middle of cooking and have to figure out a substitute (been there, done that!).
Prep Your Utensils/Cookware
Same with the ingredients, I find it helps to prep your utensils and cookware as well. Are you going to need a large skillet and a medium saucepan? Then go ahead and get those out and set them on the oven. If you need a pasta spoon and a whisk, set them on the counter so they are close at hand. I hate when I am working on dinner and realize the pizza cutter is in the dishwasher. Now I have to either stop what I’m doing and wash it or ask Justin to come to help me and wash for me.
Determine The Cooking Order
If you are making only one recipe, then just follow the instructions. But if you are making a meal with a main dish and a few side items, then you want to decide what order you need to cook it in so that everything is warm and ready at about the same time. Also, look for any downtime you may have in a recipe, such as while something is baking, and use that to get something else cooking.
Plate Food As Needed
Sometimes, while you are cooking, there’s nothing to do except to plate some of your foods. For example, if you need your saute pan to cook the main dish, but need the same one to get the vegetables sauteed, then you are going to have to move the food somewhere. At this point, go ahead and start to plate your food and just cover it with a paper towel or similar to keep it warm.
Keep Foods Warm
Think about what will get cold too quickly, and make that last. If you are making a vegetable with dinner, more than likely that will get cold quickly, so you want that to be one of the last things you make. On the other hand, if you have something in the slow cooker then it can sit on warm while you finish up your other foods.
Set the Table
Last, but not least, set the table. Whether you are just having some grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup for dinner or having a full holiday meal, some things will need to be brought to the table. Set out the plates, utensils, and cups at the least. Most nights, that’s all that’s really set at our table. When we have a larger meal or have people over, we usually set the table a little nicer. No matter what meal you are working on, there will be some table setting that needs to be done before you can sit down to enjoy the yummy food you’ve made.
I’ve never thought to read through the comments, that’s a brilliant idea. I also gather all my ingredients and I tend to measure everything out before I even mix. Great tips!
Reading the comments has definitely helped me out a few times before!
Prepping is such an important step! And it’s what the pro chefs swear by. One time we were in the middle of cooking and realized we ran out of a key ingredient lol.
I’ve done that a few times! It either ends with me googling a substitute, calling a neighbor, or begging my husband to go to the store.
This list makes cooking so much less overwhelming- thank you! As someone whose go-to recipes include frozen meals and a microwave, this post is totally what I need to find some order in the kitchen chaos!
I’m so glad that this can help! It took me time to learn how to cook more than the boxed meals too.
These are EXCELLENT tips!! I like the one of doing and inventory of what you need and then preparing what you need ahead of time.
Thanks! These are all learned from the experience of doing a lot of it the wrong way and figuring out what does work!
These are great tips. Get Ingredients Ready is the key here. When I miss one or two ingredients, I just stop cooking or buy the missing ingredients. Missing one or two ingredients will ruin everything.
I had to start getting ingredients together early after one too many times of not having what I need halfway through preparing a meal!
This is solid advice! Determining the work flow has got to be the hardest part especially for a dated small kitchen.
Yes, it was definitely more of a dance when we were living in small apartments. It takes a little more maneuvering but still can be done.
Preparing a meal is our thing, we take care of it so much that every meal we do a good looking table. Awesome tips, gonna help to share this with family!
That’s awesome! I’m great at preparing the main dish but still lack in the sides and extras sometimes.
ah yes – SO important that one completely reads thru a recipe (or even the instructions on a box) 🙂
Definitely makes a difference! It’s easy to miss something when you are rushing through.
I cook so often! These are really great tips, some of which I forget about that are so important.
I’m guilty of the same thing! These are all written from experience.
I cook all the time but still forget a ton of this! I am so guilty of not reading through the full recipe lol
I’m the worst at remembering to check for all the ingredients. I always just assume I have certain staples and scramble when I realize I am out of it.
Sounds good to me! You need to read the recipe before you get the ingredients in order. Nothing worse then starting a dish and not have all the ingredients.
That’s my biggest problem: when I think I have ingredients, start cooking, and realize I don’t!
This sounds so great! And i think you should give love on every food you are cooking. It will make more delicious.
Yes, definitely!
What a great list. I tend to get overwhelmed cooking. Going to have to try your list.
It’s so easy to get overwhelmed. Start with easy recipes and work your way up!
I love how you go through this routine. I don’t cook a ton but I would absolutely follow this plan!
After so many years of cooking, I’ve found this works great for us.
It is a complete disaster in the kitchen every time I am cooking lmao…Yep, I need to get organized…
It helps when you have a plan before you get started!
I am sharing this post with my older daughter since she is not working, she’s been cooking and this will help her.
I know a lot of people have been spending more time in the kitchen lately. I hope this helps her as she navigates everything right now!
I’am starting to do cooking since quarantine days and this perfect cooking workflow would help me a lot I will save this post Thanks to this 🙂
So many people are getting in the kitchen that haven’t before. It’s so helpful to have a routine when you’re cooking, especially if it’s something new.
Great post, Stephanie! (I usually try to get the last step knocked off as early in the process as possible, sometimes in the AM while emptying the dishwasher, because that job is one the girls take turns on – sooner they get it done, less I have to worry about reminding them!). You hint at my biggest suggestions some in your 4th step, but the most challenging things I’ve observed in less experienced cooks (and even some who are more experienced) are realistically thinking about TIME on two different levels: one, planning a menu that will work with the time you have, and two, syncing all the parts of the cooking process so that the dishes are done at roughly the same time whenever possible. For example, if you’ve got a casserole that takes an hour of baking time AFTER a half-hour of prep, you can’t make that on a night when you only have 45 min between your last meeting/getting home and supper time, and you’d better get that casserole in the oven before you even THINK about starting the salad!
Yes! The order and amount of time makes such a difference in cooking a meal properly. It’s also why I try really hard to make sure my times are accurate. I sometimes overestimate since I know others may not cook as fast as I do.
This is very helpful! I know I have a certain flow when I am cooking and it is similar to this!!
Having your routine definitely helps when making a meal!
I have failed to fully read the recipe prior to starting more than once. It was disastrous! Lesson learned. I’m still working on timing so this post was so helpful!
I’ve done that too many times, too!