Crocker - Betty Crocker Cookbook: Everything You Need to Know to Cook from Scratch

The Betty Crocker Kitchens seal guarantees success in your kitchen. Every recipe has been tested in Americas Most Trusted Kitchens to meet our high standards of reliability, easy preparation and great taste.

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• Store items where you use thempans by the stove, spices near where you mix, tableware near where you serve.
• Keep items you use frequently in easy-to-grab spaces and store things you rarely use in a different spot.
• Use cabinet organizers so everything can be located quickly.
• Install roll-out shelves if you dont already have themthey make it easier to see and grab items.
• Keep your counters clutter-free so they are open for cooking.

Are you tired of looking for an item you know you have but cant locate it? Keeping things in order lets you cook more easily and effortlessly:

• Use Prime Real Estate Well: Reserve the front and center parts of any space for the ingredients you reach for most often. Group items by how often your family uses items. Use the space around (higher and lower shelves) for those items you use occasionally.
• Label Liberally: Leave no question as to what things are and where they are stored. Mark foods with name and date.
• Tame Clutter: Use containers to keep foods together easily and neatly, such as sauce and seasoning packets or bags of pasta.
• Use Trays: Place raw meats on trays or in containers with sides to catch any meat juice drips in the refrigerator. Store these items separately from produce to prevent bacterial contamination.
• First In, First Out: Avoid food waste and missed expiration dates by placing newer, unopened packages behind older ones. What you buy first should be used first.

Here are some of our favorite unexpected household storage ideas:

• Store snacks or bulk spices in leftover food containers or baby food jars.
• Use canning jars to store for rice, grains, pasta and other dry goods.
• Use plastic shoe boxes to store sauce and seasoning packets, as well as herbs and spices.
• Use magazine holders with holes to store potatoes and onions.
• Use an over-the-door clear plastic shoe organizer to store individual snacks.

Set aside time for weekly meal planning to avoid last-minute dashes to the store or take-out splurges. Also, be strategic about grocery shopping, to save money and cut down on food waste. Shopping will be more efficient, helping you stick to your list and budget. It will also be easier, so youll have the energy and time to enjoy cooking and eating at home.