5 Things You Should Clean While You Wait for the Oven to Preheat
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I used to be one of those people who put food in the oven as soon as I’d hit the “preheat” button — which, I’m not so proud to say, wouldn’t always make for a smooth process. Half the time, my chicken breasts would end up taking *longer* and tasting *worse* than if I’d just waited for the oven to fully preheat. These days, I’m trying my hardest to wait until the oven reaches a full 375°F before I even think about putting food in. And I’ve since realized that rushing the process meant I missed a crucial opportunity to clean my kitchen. Turns out, those precious 15 minutes can be used to get other things done.
Feeling impatient? Take it from me: Everyone will be happier when dinner tastes good and your kitchen is tidy. Here are five things you can clean while you wait for your oven to preheat.
1. Wipe down your oven’s exterior: 4 minutes
You’re already in front of the oven, so why not use this time to clean it? Before things heat up too much, grab a damp microfiber towel and wipe down the greasy surface of the stovetop. Then, spray your favorite glass cleaner on the exterior glass and wipe it down with a clean towel. If you have a stainless steel oven, use stainless steel wipes to remove fingerprints from the front, too!
2. Clear off the kitchen table: 2 minutes
Our kitchen tables are working double and triple duty these days, as offices, class rooms, mail holders, and more. Take a few minutes to clear everything off and wipe down the surface so that you have a place to sit down and eat.
3. Wash a few dishes: 3 minutes
The key word here is “few.” You don’t have to wash everything — just as much as you can get through in three minutes. If you don’t have anything to hand-wash, use this time to load up or empty your dishwasher! And if your dishes are totally done (lucky you!), freshen up your garbage disposal with half a lemon and a few ice cubes.
4. Clean up any messes in the fridge: 3 minutes
We all have that spill in the fridge we’ve been putting off until the right time. Well, the right time is now. Take a couple of minutes and empty out the affected area, then scrub the spill with your soapy sponge until it’s gone. Dry the shelves with a clean towel and replace everything you took out! No fridge spills? Clean the front of your fridge instead!
5. Wipe down cabinet faces: 3 minutes
I don’t know about you, but when I stand around waiting for something I tend to notice things that I wouldn’t otherwise see. Usually, that’s spills and drips on my cabinet doors. Just use a damp cloth to wipe those up — add a bit of dish soap if need be.
What do you do while you wait for your oven to heat up?
Ashley Abramson
Contributor
Ashley Abramson is a writer-mom hybrid in Minneapolis, MN. Her work, mostly focused on health, psychology, and parenting, has been featured in the Washington Post, New York Times, Allure, and more. She lives in the Minneapolis suburbs with her husband and two young sons.
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Source : food
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