21 Cooking Habits to Ditch This Year

In 2021, we’re working on ditching the kitchen habits that are no longer serving us. Join us? It’s time to say goodbye to the things that waste your time, cost you money, and sacrifice the overall quality of your meals — whether that’s overfilling your fridge, or failing to read a recipe before you start cooking. Here are some of the most common culprits we hear about — plus a few bad habits that our own Kitchn editors are trying to break this year.

1. Not reading the recipe all the way through.

One of the biggest lessons I learned in culinary school is also one of the most basic: read a recipe all the way through before you start cooking. I don’t know how many times I would race through reading a recipe, and then discover halfway through cooking that the recipe required a tool I didn’t have, or that something was supposed to freeze for two hours before you started making the dish. Reading a recipe takes 30 seconds and will save you a huge headache later on. Make it a habit in 2021!

2. Using too many dishes when you’re cooking.

Lifestyle Director, Lisa Freedman, wants to stop using so many dishes when she’s cooking in 2021. “I feel like I use way too many dishes every time I make something and then I’m always running the dishwasher,” she explains. In order to combat the dish pile-up, try to reuse pots and pans while you’re cooking, and don’t grab a new utensil every time you have a new task.

3. Not tasting and seasoning while you cook.

There’s nothing worse than making an elaborate meal and then sitting down to discover that it tastes rather … bland. In 2021, you should commit to tasting as you cook, and adjusting the recipe based on your taste. In that same vein, only adding salt at the end of a recipe is also a mistake. You need to season while you cook!

4. Not cleaning as you go.

SEO Director, Brenda Schmerl, wants to stop letting things get grimy before she cleans her kitchen. “Rather than just giving surfaces like my stovetop or drawer handles a quick wipe-down regularly, I wait until they’re very gunky and then it takes longer to scrub everything off,” she says. In 2021, get into the habit of cleaning while you cook. Got 2 minutes before something needs to come out of the oven? Wash down your cabinets, or clean one shelf of your fridge. Those short minutes really add up and save you time in the long run.

According to Food Editor, Kelli Foster, overcrowding your pan leads to uneven cooking. “When you squeeze too much into a pan, not only does the temperature lower, but there’s too much moisture, which results in the food getting steamed instead of seared,” she explains. To avoid this, make sure you’re using the right sized pan for the amount of ingredients you have, or cook in batches.

Read more: How to Sear Meat

6. Letting your chef’s knife get dull.

I’ve been terrible about sharpening my chef’s knife in the last couple years, but 2021 is the year that changes! Not only does having a dull knife make cooking harder because you have to use more force to cut through things, it also isn’t as safe. Kelli says that “when your knife lacks a sharp blade, it doesn’t grip food as well, making it more likely to slip. You’re more likely to get injured using a dull knife than a sharp one.”

7. Giving up on your meal plan.

Lifestyle Editor, Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm, is determined to stop ditching her meal plan in 2021. “I feel like I always make like half of the things I plan for, and then just go off script for the rest of the week.” Making a meal plan you’re excited about and sticking to it can help reduce food waste, and stop you from wondering what you’re making for dinner at 7 p.m. when you’re already hungry.

8. Not prepping ingredients ahead of time (mise en place).

“Mise en place” is a French phrase that means “everything in its place,” and it refers to having all your ingredients prepped and organized before you start cooking. “Taking the time to set yourself up for success results in better, more delicious food,” explains Studio Food Editor Jesse Szewczyk. I think it also takes some of the stress out of cooking in general. There’s nothing worse than realizing you’re at a point in the recipe when you need to add grated Parmesan and you haven’t prepped it yet.

9. Following the “best by” date on ingredients.

According to the USDA, the “best by” label just means that “a product will be of best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.” Contributing writer Ashley Abramson says that “as a general rule of thumb, a food item’s appearance and smell are better indicators of its safety than the ‘best by’ date (with the exception of infant formula).” So before you go and throw something out because it’s past its “best by” date, give it a sniff. It might save you money, and help reduce food waste in the kitchen.

10. Waiting too long to clean your kitchen floor.

Lifestyle Editor, Lauren Masur, wants her floors to be sparkling clean in 2021. “I normally wait too long in between washings. HOW do crumbs accumulate so fast?” She explains. Sweeping your floors every day, and mopping once or twice a week is a great goal to put in place.

11. Not using enough acid.

Jesse Szewczyk says that adding enough acid to your dish is just as important as salt! “Acid helps brighten flavors, adds freshness, and can help make a heavy dish feel lighter. If you find yourself stuck with a dish that tastes flat despite being properly salted, chances are it needs a touch of acid,” he explains. You can use lemon, vinegar, and white wine — and you really don’t need that much to transform a dish.

12. Not patting down your meat before cooking.

13. Not cooking from your cookbook collection.

One of Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm‘s goals for 2021 is to cook from her cookbooks. “I have so many and I feel like they don’t get enough love,” she explains. Cookbooks aren’t on your bookshelves to collect dust! Put them to use! And join Kitchn’s Cookbook Club while you’re at it.

14. Tossing your leftover bones and vegetable scraps.

15. Not delegating meal planning and cooking.

Food Editor, Meghan Splawn, wants to be better about delegating in the kitchen this year. “I’m still the one planning, ordering groceries, and cooking most of the time even though there are other adults in the house. Late last year I asked my brother to plan and cook a whole week and it was awesome.” If you need help in the kitchen, ask for it!

Read more: A Week of Easy 20-Minute Meals

16. Not labeling your frozen foods.

Whenever I have the foresight to freeze a meal, I feel like I finally have my life together. That is, until I reach into the freezer months later and ask … wait, how long has this been in there? Things can last in the freezer for a long time, but not forever. This year, make it a habit to start writing the date on whatever you freeze, so you no longer have to guess if something is still good to eat.

17. Holding on to too many storage containers.

18. Overfilling your fridge.

I understand the desire to stock your fridge so you don’t have to go to the grocery store so often — especially now. But! If you overstock your fridge, it could cost you more money in the long run. “Excess items can block vents in your fridge, and having too much stuff crammed in also makes the appliance work harder to stay cold when you open the door,” Ashley Abramson explains.

19. Not preheating your pan.

20. Not shopping your pantry before grocery shopping.

Raise your hand if you’ve accidentally bought a spice, grain, or bag of sugar, only to realize you already have what you needed in your pantry? Yeah, same. In 2021, take the time to shop your pantry before you buy groceries — it’ll save you money and storage space. And hot tip: An organized pantry will make this process faster and easier.

21. Storing your fresh herbs incorrectly.

I’ve been there: You get home from grocery shopping, and all you want to do is cram your groceries into the fridge and plop down on the couch. But taking the extra couple minutes to properly store your fresh herbs correctly can save you money and time. Take the herbs out of the plastic bags from the grocery store, wash them, roll them up in a damp paper towel, and put it in a zip-top bag. Your herbs will stay fresh much longer.

What other kitchen habits are you telling to hit the road this year? Let us know in the comments!

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