How to stay organized in the kitchen

 

How to get organized in the kitchen with Mise en Place

Want to make your cooking experience more enjoyable and stress-free? The secret lies in proper kitchen organization, meal planning, and using the right kitchen tools. This is where the concept of Mise en place comes in.

What is Mise en Place?

Mise en place is a French term that literally means “put in place.” In the kitchen, it refers to preparing and organizing everything you need before you start cooking. This includes ingredients, utensils, cookware, and even the dishes and tableware you’ll use to serve the meal.

In short, mise en place is all about having everything ready to go—so you can cook with ease and focus.

Why kitchen organization matters

Cooking can easily become stressful if you’re not well-prepared. Maybe you’re missing ingredients, your kitchen tools are scattered, or you’re rushing to get everything done on time. That kind of chaos can leave you feeling frustrated and drained.

But with a bit of planning, you can completely change your experience in the kitchen. Instead of dreading it, you’ll actually enjoy cooking—and feel proud of the results.

The term “Mise en place” literally means “put in its place” in French.

 

Simple steps to improve your cooking experience

Let’s break it down into a few simple tips that will help you stay organized and enjoy your time in the kitchen:

1. Plan your meals ahead of time

Good cooking starts with good planning. Think about what recipe you want to make, how many servings you’ll need, and what ingredients you’ll need to buy. Write it all down—don’t rely on memory.

Make a shopping list and take it with you to the store. Buy only what you need to avoid waste and keep your kitchen tidy.

2. Prep before you start cooking

Once you’re ready to cook, take a few minutes to gather all your ingredients and tools. Wash, chop, and measure everything beforehand. This way, when it’s time to cook, you can move smoothly from one step to the next without stress.

3. Keep your kitchen tools within reach

Use the right utensils and make sure they’re clean and ready to use. Having a clutter-free space will save time and make your work more enjoyable. Don’t forget to prepare your serving dishes and tableware too—presentation is part of the experience!

4. Clean as you go

One of the most helpful habits you can develop in the kitchen is cleaning as you cook. It may seem like extra work at first, but it will save you time and frustration in the end. You’ll finish cooking with a clean kitchen and a clear mind.

Planning is essential when cooking.

Make cooking a positive experience:

Cooking should be enjoyable, not a chore. When you’re organized, it’s easier to focus, stay calm, and actually have fun in the process. You’ll feel more accomplished, your meals will turn out better, and you’ll be more likely to cook again.

Don’t let disorganization ruin the experience. Start with a little planning, apply the mise en place method, and transform your kitchen routine into something you truly enjoy.

 

 

How to prepare your ingredients before cooking:

One of the most important steps in the kitchen is preparing your ingredients before you start cooking. This simple habit, part of the mise en place method, helps you stay organized and avoid stress while cooking.

Let’s break down what proper ingredient preparation looks like and how it can make your time in the kitchen smoother and more enjoyable.

Why you should prep ingredients in advance:

Preparing ingredients before turning on the stove is essential. It ensures that everything is ready to go, so you can focus on cooking instead of scrambling to wash or chop something last minute.

Meal prep saves time, reduces stress, and helps you cooking properly.

 

Steps to prepare ingredients like a pro:

1. Clean, peel, and cut fresh produce

Start with fresh fruits and vegetables. Wash them thoroughly, peel if necessary, and cut them according to your recipe. Place each ingredient in a separate container—this makes it easier to grab exactly what you need when it’s time to cook.

2. Measure and weigh dry ingredients

For dry goods like flour, rice, grains, or spices, measure or weigh the required amounts before you begin. This will save you time and help avoid mistakes during the cooking process.

3. Handle meat and fish safely

Keep meat and fish refrigerated until the moment you need them. If you need to clean, cut, debone, or portion them in advance, do so quickly and return them to the fridge right away. This is crucial for both food safety and freshness.

4. Prepare your spices

Place your spices in small bowls or on a plate in separate piles, ready to use. If you’re grinding fresh pepper, you can leave that for the moment you need it, but having the other spices pre-measured will make the process easier and more efficient.

Cooking Tip: A little prep work goes a long way. When your ingredients are ready to go, you’ll feel more confident and in control, just like a professional chef.

 

Kitchenware: What you really need to stay organized

Invest in a good set of bowls and small plates. These containers are perfect for prepping and arranging your ingredients neatly on the counter before you start cooking.

You can find a wide variety of affordable options at most home stores or local markets. Having everything prepped and within reach makes the cooking process smoother and more enjoyable.

You’ll also need a set of sharp, high-quality knives and cutting boards. Ideally, use separate boards: one for fruits and vegetables, and others for meat and fish to avoid cross-contamination.

Personally, I prefer cutting boards made from synthetic materials—they’re easier to disinfect after use. That said, wooden boards are undeniably more attractive and many people love their aesthetic.

When it comes to pots, pans, and saucepans, make sure you choose quality materials that are in good condition. There’s a lot to consider when selecting the right cookware, but here’s a quick overview with basic recommendations to get you started.

 

 

The materials to avoid in our kitchen utensils are Teflon, aluminum and copper, they are toxic and harmful to our health.

 

Materials to avoid in your kitchen tools:

When choosing kitchen utensils and cookware, it’s important to avoid certain materials that can be harmful to your health.

Teflon, aluminum, and copper are commonly used, but they may release toxic substances, especially at high temperatures or with frequent use.

For a safer kitchen, opt for non-toxic alternatives like stainless steel, cast iron, or ceramic.

Best materials for pots, pans and cookware:

When choosing pots, pans, or casseroles, the material matters—not just for cooking performance, but also for your health. Here are some of the safest and most recommended options:

• Titanium: This is one of the safest materials you can use. It doesn’t react with food or release metals, making it ideal for healthy cooking. However, it’s also the most expensive option.

• Stainless Steel: A popular and durable choice. If it’s high quality, the risk of metal leaching is minimal. Still, stainless steel contains nickel and chromium, and if scratched or worn—especially when used at high temperatures or with acidic foods—these metals could transfer to your food.

• Cast Iron: This material may release small amounts of iron into food, which can be beneficial in moderation. It’s slightly porous, meaning it can retain flavors and residues from previous use. Still, it’s generally considered safe, especially if it doesn’t have a synthetic non-stick coating.

Materials for cooking, eating and storing food must always be safe.

 

For tableware:

• Glass
• Ceramics. When a piece of ceramics is chipped or cracked, discard it immediately. If we talk about ceramics we must distinguish between porcelain and earthenware
• Wood. It is a more natural way of eating,

Best materials for food storage:

• Glass. It is a harmless material, perfect for storing hot or cold food.

For cutlery:

• Stainless steel.
• Wood. I love wooden spoons and chopsticks, when it comes to cooking cutlery, if they wear out, they should be thrown away.

 

Other necessary kitchen utensils are graters, knives, peelers, colanders, bowls, etc., this type of element should always be made of stainless steel.

As for the materials that can be toxic and should be avoided, the following stand out: Teflon, aluminum and copper.

 

 

Cooking:

If, as I explained before, you have prepared the mise en place correctly, cooking will become something pleasant and relaxed.

But if you don’t have the ingredients prepared and you take them out as you need them, chaos is guaranteed.

You will probably have no choice but to remove the pot from the heat several times so that what you are doing doesn’t burn while you peel the onion, the garlic, or while you look for the spices in the pantry.

 

If you have all the ingredients prepared, it will be easier for you to cook and you will maintain order all the time time.

 

If you have everything prepared and organized, you will be able to follow the steps of the recipe in the correct order, respecting the times and your kitchen will stay organized throughout the process.

As you use ingredients, you can remove the containers and leave them neatly in the sink or somewhere where they won’t get in the way, so you can clean them later.

It is very important to keep the kitchen counterina clear, as far as possible, of course, obviously while cooking you have ingredients and utensils in sight, but limit yourself to having on hand only what you need for that recipe, nothing more, the rest always stored in the appropriate place.

If the recipe requires a final cooking time, for example in the case of rice or stews, pastries, etc., you can take advantage of that time to tidy the kitchen and leave everything as it was before you started.

You will see how by following these simple steps cooking will become something very pleasant and you will better understand all those who usually claim that “cooking relaxes them”, they surely follow a methodology when doing it and that helps to pleasantly improve the experience.

 

Plate and serve:

So that our recipe ends up being a success we must plate correctly, for this have a simple set of dishes prepared, the best material is ceramic, (porcelain or earthenware), of good quality.

I recommend a basic set of dishes for everyday use, so that you can handle it comfortably, that it can be washed in the dishwasher and that it is not too heavy.

 

Take care of the presentation of your dishes, if you don’t want to complicate things, simple always triumphs.

 

Personally, I like round plates more than square ones for a matter of convenience and the best color is white, I think that food looks very good on white and it combines with any style of tablecloth.

When it comes to setting the table, it doesn’t matter what style you give it, more modern or more rustic, Provençal or boho-chic, more baroque or in a minimalist way, a white dinnerware set fits perfectly with all of them.

 

 

From there, you can have decorated or colored dinnerware, I find it interesting to mix basic white dinnerware with plates of other colors or decorations, to achieve a richer effect on the table, this is a matter of taste.

The important thing is to have a minimum amount of adequate tableware to be able to correctly serve our menu.

It is also important to have trays of different sizes, for appetizers, for desserts and appropriate salad bowls with their corresponding cutlery for serving.

 

 

Details matter, and for very little money you can have your kitchen stocked with everything you need. What did you think of this post? Do you usually worry about planning and organizing when cooking? Do you usually maintain order in the kitchen?

Tell me about your experience in the comments. Cheers!