Less Mess Cooking

You are not alone!

A frequently cited barrier to cooking at home is not wanting to spend time and energy cleaning up afterwards.

And you don’t have to have a big or fancy kitchen (or even a dishwasher) to make less of a mess while cooking.

Before you cook

• Adopt a “clean-as-you-go” mentality. Treat cleanup as part of cooking, not a separate process.
• Start with clear surfaces. Remove non-cooking items from countertops and put away clean dishes.
• Plan your cooking flow. Read through the recipe and plan ways to prevent messes and reduce items that will need cleaning later.

Mise en place

French for “putting in place.”

• Always start with this.
• The better prepared you are, the less messy things will be.

Tips to prep ingredients

• Open messy items and measure ingredients over the sink.
• For ingredients added at the same time, place them in the same prep bowl.
• Reuse measuring tools by measuring dry ingredients first, then wet ingredients.
• Keep a designated trash container on the counter.
• Use larger bowls than you think you need, especially for mixing.
• Use a large cutting board with grooves to catch juices.
• Prep raw meat last if using the same cutting board.
• Wipe bottle necks immediately after use.
• Use room-temperature ingredients when possible to reduce splattering.

Tips for cooking

• Keep a utensil rest nearby.
• Make sure your pot or pan is the right size for the job.
• Line trays with parchment paper, foil, or silicone mats.
• Use disposable liners for slow cookers.
• Use freezer bags to marinate or coat meats.
• Lower food gently into hot oil to avoid splattering.
• Cover pans with a lid or splatter guard.
• Check pots and pans for drips before moving them.

Prevent boil-overs

• Use a pot with extra space at the top.
• Lower the heat as soon as boiling begins.
• Add a drop of oil when cooking starchy foods.
• Stir often.
• Don’t get distracted.

Tips to clean-as-you-go

• Designate a place for dirty items.
• Prepare warm, soapy water to soak dishes.
• Use a soap-dispensing dish wand.
• Keep a damp cloth or sponge nearby.
• Wipe spills as quickly as possible.
• Use natural pauses in cooking to:
  • Put ingredients away
  • Wipe down counters
  • Load the dishwasher or wash items by hand
  • Start soaking difficult items

More pro tips

• Use Dawn Powerwash or similar products.
• Keep a pan scraper on hand.
• Store cleaning supplies close to stovetops and counters.
• When following recipes, consider whether ingredients really need to be transferred between bowls.
• Coat measuring cups with non-stick spray when measuring sticky ingredients like nut butter or honey.
• Use nonstick or ceramic-coated pans that are free of PFOA, PFAS, and PTFE.
• Choose dishwasher-safe tools when buying new kitchen items.