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With the kind of lifestyle that we are leading nowadays, time has actually become the most precious commodity. If you have to cook when you get back from work, then you must have wished a number of times how you could have used the same time soaking in a hot bath or relaxing on the couch in front of a TV instead of slaving over the stove. While no amount of tips and tricks can actually save you from going into the kitchen, these tips will definitely ensure that you spend lesser time there.

Keep stuff ready for cooking. We might not realize it but defrosting and washing food takes quite a lot of time. In order to save up on this, plan a little ahead and save yourself the hassle of defrosting. If you are planning to cook some meat from your freezer for dinner, take it out of the freezer and keep it into the fridge around the time that you have breakfast. Take care to keep it in a vessel that will take the leaks and save your fridge from getting dirty. This way, you will find that your meat is thawed and ready to cook in the evening. No microwaving and no running under the water. All you have to do is put it into the pan and you are done.

Defrost fast. You can defrost frozen vegetables in no time at all by putting them in a bowl full of warm, instead of cold water. By the time you pan is ready, your vegetables will be as soft as fresh.
 
Use the right equipment. Machinery and equipment have been created in order to increase human efficiency and to save on time. So if you want to spend lesser time in the kitchen, make sure that you have all the correct equipment ready. Keep a set of good knives and chopping block so that you can deal with all your cutting needs efficiently. A simple knife is simply not enough for all your needs, and every kitchen should have at least a peeler, a chef’s knife, a serrated knife, a paring knife and a bread knife. If you can afford it, go ahead and buy a food processor, and you will be able to chop your vegetables in seconds instead of hours. Invest in some non-stick pots and pans, since they also cut down cooking time considerably and you do not have to keep stirring food continuously when using one. This means you can easily go and catch snippets of your favorite soap instead of being glued to the stove.

Multitask. Many people first prepare all the stuff needed for cooking—chop vegetables, assemble spices and sauces, wash and chop meat and only then put on the pans and pots on the stoves. With a little thought and planning, you can start cooking the moment your first ingredient is ready for cooking and keep on preparing and adding the others as and when the time comes.