Use these tips to get your organising off to a flying start!
DAY TO DAY
If you have young children, get them involved - use a kitchen helper to get them safely to worksurface height (CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS), add a small table and chairs for them, even add a small area for playing in this room when you are cooking tea etc.. so you can keep an eye on them.
A radio or CD player is great to add company and for background music while you work
Add in seating if possible, a bar stool can be fitted into the smallest of kitchens and will give you a place to have a coffee, or for a friend / family member to sit and chat
Wipe all surfaces daily and do a thorough clean weekly, saving larger tasks for monthly routines (cleaning the oven etc...)
WORKSURFACES
Only have out what you really do use everyday, or items you want on display - but try to keep display items to a dresser or similar
Aim to keep surfaces as clear as possible as it makes for quicker and easier cleaning
Don't use worksurfaces as a catch all for day to day items such as paperwork - get a place for everything in the most suitable place in your home
Put things away as soon as you use them
CUPBOARDS
Organise your food storage, and ensure you have the essentials in stock at all times (CLICK HERE FOR LIST OF STORE CUPBOARD ESSENTIALS)
Try to keep items near to where they are used i.e. glasses by the sink, cups by the kettle, plates by the toaster, pots and pans by the cooker - this will make your life easier and save time
Keep items used less frequently in harder to reach cupboards - the rule of thumb is to keep more often used items close to hand and at waist / eye level as this is the best height usually (of course, different levels will apply if you are disabled or want things easily reached by children)
For food like pasts, rice, flour etc.. consider transferring to labelled glass jars as this will keep them fresher and can take up less room (just ensure you also label with the best before date as well
Have a clear out and check best before dates regularly
When you are running low on anything, add to your shopping list straight away so you can just pick it up and go - knowing that you will be buying exactly what you need at any given time
Have safety locks on at least the cupboard containing your cleaning products and the knife drawer if you have young children - its simple to do and will put your mind at rest
Try to use cupboards rather than open storage such as plate racks, as they are easier to keep items clean
If you can't easily reach high cupboards invest in a small step / ladder to make them more accessible
Group like with like i.e. sauces, herbs etc.. in one cupboard, tins in another, drinks in another, cereals in another, snacks in another etc... and again have them in the cupboard closest to where you will use them (i.e. herbs by the hob so that you can grab them when cooking)
FOOD SHOPPING
Go when you have already eaten and stick to your list - don't be seduced by freshly baked bread smells or delicious treats in the deli!
Don't buy in bulk if you haven't the room to store them at home
Don't buy sale items UNLESS YOU REALLY NEED IT! - for example, 2 for 1 offer on salad items that have a short shelf life will not be cost effective if you haven't planned a salad for a few nights in a row - but toilet rolls will always be needed and can be stored so are good to buy when on sale.
Consider getting your food delivered - most supermarkets offer this service now - it does cost from most but weigh up how much your time os worth getting there, shopping and getting back. If you prefer to see items for yourself, maybe just use the delivery service for the bulky items such as toilet roll, toiletries etc... and still go out weekly just for a fresh food shop.
Shop for items the you need - it will save you money and time if you start to create a menu for you weeks - then you can easily use leftovers from yesterday to help with todays meals etc.. thus making the food work harder for you. i.e. roast chicken one day can be used in a pasta sauce the next.
FRIDGE
Regularly sort and clean - keep like with like and store newer items behind those that will go out of date more quickly
Keep well stocked but ensure that you think about what meals you are having before you buy lots of fresh items. A lot of fresh meat can be frozen and this works well if you know you will not use it in time (check labels before doing so)
FREEZER
Make big meals and freeze the remainder so that you have an easy 'ready meal' thats homemade when you have a day you don't have time to cook - it will save you spending more on a takeaway and is far healthier.
Ensure that you know whats in your freezer and you use everything in there - don't leave things at the bottom - once in a while aim to use up everything you have - you will be surprised at how many meals you have stored away there - its perfect to do this prior to defrosting it.
Thaw regularly as you will waste energy and space otherwise
RECIPES
Writing recipes on index cards will make sorting out a weekly menu for the family really easy - and you can use them then to create your shopping list
Look for good recipes online rather than spending lots on cookbooks - most of us only end up using 3 or 4 recipes from each cook book they own anyway
Collect all cuttings from magazines, written notes and cookbooks together before you start to collate your recipe book - then you know what you are dealing with!
Get into the habit of keeping one recipe file, and only keep in it those recipes that you have tried and like. have a section for untried recipes only if you plan to use this often - at least once a week try and make something new - otherwise you will be collecting recipes for no reason
In cookery books, rank by the side of tried recipes - this will stop you making them again by accident. Also rank good recipes - great idea if you don't want to have to write it out in your recipe file again (just simply add a reference to what it is, which book and page it is - and then you will be able to get to it quickly and easily when needed)
Don't be afraid of altering recipes to suit your family more
Categorise your recipe file to make it easier to find things i.e. starter, snacks, fish, meat, veggie, puddings, baking etc...
Try and ensure that recipe staples are always in your cupboards
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