Dinner In A Hurry? Here Are Some Tips

Here are some tips for fast cooking from Beverly Mills and Alicia Ross, co-authors of “Desperation Dinners” (Workman, 1997):

For speedy soups, crank up the heat. Starting soups on high helps flavors blend quickly.

Bags of frozen chopped onions save chopping time.

Looking at the back of the shelf for items with the longest expiration dates doesn’t just work in the dairy aisle. In the produce section, the green bananas and the most crisp vegetables are often the ones at the back.

Organize your pantry, refrigerator and freezer for speed. Keep the condiments you use most at the front of the cabinet. Stack canned goods together by type. Always put things in the refrigerator in the same spot. And put bags in your freezer to gather stray leftover vegetables, meats and breads: Those will yield fast soups and bread crumbs.