Perfect Rice

Any chef knows that chopping can take a good deal of time. In fact, even noted television chef Rachael Ray has acknowledged this fact. Her “30-minute recipes” have received a lot of criticism for taking more than the allotted half an hour. When directly asked about this issue, she confessed that the time did not account for preparation, which includes…you guessed it…chopping vegetables.

Hand chopping vegetables, however, is not only time consuming. It can also be dangerous. Especially if you’re trying to do something quickly, using a knife to chop can result in nicked fingers or serious cuts. That’s why every fully stocked kitchen should be outfitted with a high quality vegetable chopper. It could just save your fingertips!

Cooking can be a real time sink. A sit-down, family meal can take upwards of two hours to prepare. With only a few precious hours after work, not a lot of people have that kind of time to spare night in and night out. But there is a somewhat unlikely solution in the slow cooker.

Don’t be fooled by the name, slow cookers can be a great way to save you time. Sometimes known as a crock pot, these devices are perfect for making large stews, soups, ribs, or any other number of hearty meals. Just throw the materials in the pot, and walk away for hours at a time. When you return, you’ll have a delicious meal, full of soft veggies and tender meat.

If you’re always short on time, chop the ingredients the night before. Throw them in the pot in the morning, and let them stew all day while you’re at work. (They are safe to leave on for many hours at a time. But if they are going to be unattended, make sure the pot isn’t pushed up against anything.) When you get home, you’ll have your meal ready to serve. Freeze the leftovers for additional time saving.