There’s a scene from The Bear where Jeremy Allen White (AKA chef Carmy Berzato) cleans the kitchen. I mean counters splashed, everything scrubbed from top to bottom – and I have yet to see anything hotter. The second hottest thing? Cleaning as you cook.
You don’t have to be a neat freak, but cleaning as you cook could be the difference between having a cute kitchen and it looking like a hoarder’s home (perhaps an exaggeration, but still true). I know because I used to save the dishes until the end, and let me tell you, nothing will kill your mood faster than doing dishes after a long day of work.
My ways changed when I moved into a studio with a smaller kitchen – the type where you wouldn’t have to yell “Behind!” – you could whisper it. Without a wall to hide behind, nothing could separate me from the dishes. Besides that, I grew up in a household where going to bed with a dirty kitchen wasn’t an option – IFYKY! So, whether you have a tiny apartment or are the messy cook in your family, here’s why you should clean as you cook.
You’ll be a better cook
Cleaning as you cook not only means you’ll have a tidier kitchen but it also means you’ll be a better cook. Breaking down the process of cooking, from the different elements needed to figuring out the order of cooking and cleaning in between, streamlines the process. If you want to take it a step further, try doing mise en place before you start cooking.
Saving time and energy
I love food but cooking can be a full-time job, especially when it comes to wash-up duties. Cleaning as you cook is more than just packing ingredients away once you’re done using them; it also means cleaning dishes that have served their purpose.
Think about used pots with sauce, charred pans and wall splatters. Over time, food hardens and stains become more stubborn to remove. If using a pot, the residual heat might help remove burnt surfaces, instead of leaving it in the sink to harden, making it more difficult to clean later.
One thing I will never tolerate? Soaking pots overnight.
Kills cross-contamination
If working with meat like pork or chicken, cleaning your surfaces as you cook is the easiest way to avoid cross-contaminating surfaces and guarantee a clean space. Wash your hands, and disinfect cutting boards, knives and any surfaces in between.
Makes it easier
My partner and I have a rule that if one cooks, the other cleans, but that doesn’t mean leaving the kitchen looking like a disaster zone. If you can, have the foresight to rinse dishes once you are done cooking, that way, you can just clean the crockery you have used. To be water-conscious, only fill the sink slightly and rinse away residual food. Clear the gunk, make the water all soapy and then clean the dishes properly. Loading the dishwasher is obviously ideal, but if you don’t have one, this approach makes doing dishes less daunting.
You’ll enjoy cooking more
After spending money on ingredients, do you really want to spend time and energy cleaning?
Sometimes, the thought alone can be enough to talk yourself into getting takeout. But when you clean as you cook, cooking becomes less stressful and more enjoyable. A decluttered space allows you to relax while you cook, possibly resulting in better-tasting food. Throw on your favourite playlist to make it an experience.
Hosting becomes less daunting
Once you master the art of cleaning as you cook (because it is an art), it becomes second nature, which is pretty handy if hosting a dinner party for a big crowd. Instead of dealing with stacked plates, jars on the counter and vegetable peels on the floor, you can relax and mingle with guests. Do yourself a favour and get ahead of the load.
Want more? Become a better cook with these 12 easy tips.
