There’s nothing as frustrating as prepping for a delicious home-cooked meal only to find yourself running back and forth from cupboard to countertop picking up ingredients you overlooked. It can break your concentration, slow down your momentum, and throw off your timing, making the whole meal preparation process that much more difficult. This is why it’s so important to get into the habit of mise en place before you start to cook.

Mise en place is a French cooking term that literally translates as “putting in place.” In other words, it’s preparing all of your cooking ingredients in advance. This means measuring out any necessary liquids, chopping, slicing, and dicing vegetables, and preparing any extras – like setting the table or boiling water for rice – before starting to cook.

Doing this mise en place process before you begin taking the food out of the fridge or off the shelves helps to make a more efficient and less stressful cooking experience. Because the ingredients are already in place before you need them, you don’t have to stop and think about what you should do next.

Here are some tips for successful mise en place:

• • Read the recipe thoroughly ahead of time so you understand the ingredients, timelines, and process.

• • Gather all the necessary ingredients, tools, and equipment before getting started.

• • Think ahead and have all the tools, cookware, and dishes that you’ll need ready. This makes it easy to transfer ingredients from bowl to pot quickly and efficiently.

• • Wash, chop, and organize all the ingredients before you begin so you have them ready when you need them.

• • If you’re prepping more than one item at a time, transfer cooked ingredients to the plates so you don’t have to waste time rushing to do it later.

With a bit of time and practice, the mise en place method can become second nature. It’s the key to successful, effortless, and stress-free cooking. So take the time to organize your ingredients and utensils before starting up the stove – you’ll be amazed at how much easier it makes your life!