8 Things to Do to Make Cooking Less Annoying

Cooking at home sounds great in theory, but some days it feels like more of a chore than it should. Between the mess, the prep, and digging through drawers for the right tool, it’s easy to burn out.

Over time, we’ve figured out a few things that make the process smoother and way less frustrating. Here are 8 things that have helped us enjoy the process (or at least not dread it).

Prep Ingredients Before You Start

Trying to chop onions while the oil’s already heating is a fast way to stress yourself out. Prepping everything ahead of time makes the whole process run smoother.

We’ve started setting out everything we need—chopped, measured, and ready—before the stove even gets turned on. It keeps things from feeling rushed and helps avoid mistakes like forgetting to salt the pasta water.

Keep a Trash Bowl Nearby

Running back and forth to the trash can while cooking adds more steps than necessary. We keep a big mixing bowl on the counter to collect scraps as we go.

Once we’re done, we dump it all at once. It keeps the workspace cleaner and helps avoid constant interruptions. It’s a small habit, but it makes a big difference in how fast cleanup goes.

Use the Right-Sized Cutting Board

If your cutting board is too small, you end up juggling ingredients or making a mess. We switched to a larger board that stays put and has a lip to catch juices.

It gives us more room to work and cuts down on spills. You don’t need anything fancy—just something stable and easy to clean that actually fits what you’re chopping.

Group Like Tools Together

When you’re cooking and reaching for a spoon, the last thing you want is to dig through a drawer full of everything else. We grouped our cooking utensils by purpose and gave them designated spots.

Tongs, spatulas, and whisks stay near the stove. Baking stuff stays near the mixer. Keeping tools where we actually use them helps things feel more organized and less chaotic.

Clean As You Go

Letting the dishes pile up until the very end makes the whole process feel heavier. We started washing things as we finished with them, and it keeps the kitchen from turning into a disaster zone.

Even just rinsing and stacking things out of the way clears space for whatever comes next. It makes cleanup feel less like an entirely separate project.

Keep a Sharp Knife Handy

Trying to chop vegetables with a dull knife is not only frustrating—it’s unsafe. We started keeping one or two knives sharp and storing them where they’re easy to grab.

You don’t need a huge set, just a couple of well-maintained basics. A sharp knife cuts faster, cleaner, and makes prep way less of a struggle.

Plan the Meal the Day Before

Trying to figure out dinner at 5 p.m. with no plan is half the battle. When we think ahead—even just the night before—it helps the whole day run better.

It doesn’t have to be a full meal plan. Just knowing what you’re making and that the ingredients are on hand saves a ton of frustration. It also helps avoid that “I guess we’ll order takeout” moment.

Use Sheet Pans and One-Pot Meals Often

Fewer dishes means less mess and less cleanup. We started rotating more sheet pan dinners and one-pot recipes into our routine, and it cut the workload down fast.

They’re not fancy, but they’re practical. Roasting everything on one tray or tossing it all into a Dutch oven makes dinner easier from start to finish. Plus, it gives you more time to actually enjoy the meal.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.