Your kitchen is fully stocked with pots and pans, herbs and spices, plenty of proteins in the fridge—and yet you still end up going out! Here’s 9 important cooking tips from the pro’s.

You’re not the only one. In fact, American households spend $3,008 a year to eat out instead of cooking in. While it seems more convenient to eat out, it’s also eating at your wallet!

Instead of eating out, consider giving these cooking tips a try instead. Using advice from professional chefs, you can turn your next home-cooked meal into a delicious success.

Spice up your life (and cooking) with these nine chef-inspired tips and tricks!

Cooking Tip 1: Sharpen Your Skills

Before you start cutting, let’s talk about your kitchen equipment.

After a while, your knives will start to dull. Unfortunately, this can slow down your cooking time and make it more difficult to chop through meat and vegetables.

A sharp knife, on the other hand, won’t require as much force.

In fact, working with a sharper knife can make your entire cooking experience safer, too.

Before you start using the rest of these cooking tips, check your knives. If you don’t have your own knife sharpening kit, head to a specialty store. A trained employee can sharpen your knives for you.

That way, you have the tools you need to chop, dice, and cook safely.

Cooking Tip 2: Get Prepping

Once you have your knives sharp and glistening, it’s time to get prepping!

Prepping your ingredients in advance is a great way to save time and stress in the kitchen.

Top chefs around the world are always organized and prepared. Prepping your kitchen can help you use the rest of these chef tips effectively and efficiently.

To prep, grab your ingredients. Wash, chop, and measure as needed before cooking. Then, line everything up in the order you’ll need them.

This prep can help shave time off your cooking and prevent potential mistakes. For example, you won’t have to worry about mistaking salt and sugar if you already have the ingredients you need portioned ahead of time.

Professional kitchens have to work quickly and efficiently. Otherwise, there’s the potential they’ll fall behind. By prepping your kitchen like a professional chef’s, you can run with the same level or organization.

Cooking Tip 3: Crank It Up a Notch (or Not)

When you’re in a rush, you might feel tempted to crank up the heat. Increasing the temperature can sometimes ruin the dish and flavors, though.

For example, you need to slowly saute onions and garlic in oil at a medium to low heat. Otherwise, the ingredients will fail to retain their flavors. You could end up burning your onions and garlic as well.

Meat and vegetables need time to cook. Otherwise, you’ll end up with raw meat or a crunchy texture to your cooking. With soups, you’ll need to leave them at a simmer to get the right blend of flavors as well.

Cooking Tip 4: Cool Before Cutting

Some people grab meat straight from the fridge before sliding it into the oven. One of our helpful cooking tips is to let the meat warm up to room temperature before you start cooking.

When you pull a steak out of the fridge, the inside is going to be cold. This can make it more difficult for you to get the cook you’re looking for. If you want a medium-rare cook, let the meat warm to room temp first.

You should let the meat cook after you cook it, too. Let it rest for five to 10 minutes. Then, cut up and serve!

This will let you retain the flavor at the center of the meat before the natural juices sink.

Cooking Tip 5: Vegetate

Some people chop vegetables up and throw them into a dish without thought. How you cut your vegetables, however, can change the dish’s overall texture.

How you cut your vegetables will change how they cook, too.

For example, cutting your vegetables into smaller pieces will help them cook faster.

After you’re done chopping, don’t throw your veggie scraps away. Instead, hold onto celery ends or carrot buts to create your own vegetable stock.

Cooking Tip 6: The Overall Order

90% of Americans don’t like cooking, but that’s often because people don’t know how to. With these cooking tips, you can turn your next home-cooked meal into a fun way to bond for the entire family.

Start by giving everyone a responsibility. For example, you can have one family member prep the meat while another chops vegetables.

Then, keep everyone mindful of the order you cook in. If you’re using a blender, make sure to add liquids such as lemon juice first. Then your solid ingredients, like vegetables.

Adding the liquid first will ensure the blend is smooth and consistent.

Cooking Tip 7: Proper Proteins

It’s important to know how much cook time each ingredient needs. This can change the order you throw ingredients onto a pan. It can also help you determine how to serve entrees and side dishes at the same time.

If you’re adding rice as a side, make sure you give it ample time before starting your protein.

While these cooking tips can take time to master, once you do, it can make a big difference to your cooking.

Cooking Tip 8: Clean As You Cook

Sometimes there’s a lull between one step and the next. Use this time wisely by cleaning as you cook. That way, you have a clean workspace in front of you at all times.

This will also help you keep the cutlery you need ready to go for the next ingredient.

Cooking Tip 9: A Dash of Success

The last of our chef tricks is a big one: seasoning.

As you cook, taste your food. Does it need a little salt? Add some!

Does it have too much? You can always ease a salty dish by adding a little lemon juice.

Check you’re spices, too. Keep as many fresh spices in your kitchen as possible to add a dash of flavor as needed.

Let’s Stir Things Up: 9 Cooking Tips from Professional Chefs

Spice up your life! With these nine cooking tips, you can turn your next culinary adventure into a delicious success.

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