Raise your hand if you like washing dishes. I said raise your hand. Your…hand.
Maybe you didn’t hear me. Oh, or maybe none of you really like to wash dishes, is that it? Yeah, that’s probably it.
I can’t say that I necessarily hate the job. I mean, it’s one of those jobs that has to be done, and it goes with the territory when you are cooking for yourself or for your family. But if there’s ever a way to avoid dirtying extra dishes, I am all over it. From your response when I asked for a show of hands, I’m guessing you’re with me on that one.
(You didn’t know I could see you from where you are, did you? Creepy, huh?)
One of my favorite ways to save steps and to keep from dirtying extra dishes is to make a casserole on the stovetop, then serve it directly from that pan. The only exception to that is if I’m making extra so that I can freeze a casserole for another time. In that case, I typically scoop out what I’m going to save for later, prepare it for the freezer, then use what is left in the pan to feed my family for the evening. They don’t require fancy serving dishes. They just require food. :)
Click here to read a little more about how to prepare a casserole on the stovetop. You’ll read more information in my Oh, For Real book as well.
Another way I save steps and dirty dishes: When making Easy Breakfast Casserole, crack the eggs directly into the baking dish. There’s no need to use a bowl to mix ingredients when you’re just going to pour everything into a dish for baking. Crack in the eggs, whisk the eggs, add remaining ingredients, top with cheese, and you’re done. All you have to wash is the whisk. And the empty casserole dish later. :)
Lovely, isn’t it?!
What else do I do to cut down on dirty dishes? I typically have a pan on the stove that I use several times a day to melt butter or coconut oil for baking or cooking. No need to wash it when I’m going to use it again later in the day for the same purpose, right?
After using our apple slicer or a sharp knife to cut fruit, usually I just rinse it in hot water and put it in the dish drain.
We’ve already talked about the “If You’re Making One, You Might As Well Make Two (or More)” trick. That way, you’re only dirtying up the cooking pots once, but you get two or three meals out of it!
And my all-time favorite idea is (drum roll please) – Make the kids rinse their dishes after every meal. That isn’t necessarily a way that cuts down on dirty dishes, but it sure does cut down on my dishwashing time and effort!
What tricks have you discovered for cutting down on dirty dishes?
