I’ve been thinking about grandma’s kitchen. About all of those ways in which previous generations made do, and did so efficiently and effectively.

Especially in the kitchen. Somehow, meals were prepared and families were fed.

With nary an excess of pots and pans and very little waste.

And in our own kitchens today, facing sky-high grocery bills and crazy schedules, those lessons from grandma’s kitchen are worth remembering. Especially now that those infamous questions begin: What’s for dinner?!?!?!?!, despite standing smack-dab in front of an open fridge.

Here are just a few grandma’s kitchen strategies that I try to follow:

1. Clean As You Cook

After mixing up that batch of banana bread, grandma washed out that bowl right away. Wiped down the counter.

Put away the flour, sugar, butter, vanilla. All while the bread was baking.

By the time the timer went off, there wasn’t much of a mess to clean up. And when I don’t follow this strategy, my kitchen starts to resemble the aftermath of a cooking competition.

You know…with someone screaming, CHOPPAHHH!!

2. Keep a Pot of Soup Going

In days gone by, there was always a pot of soup on the stove. Into this forgiving dish went leftover broth, potatoes, rice, legumes, vegetables, meat.

Whatever needed using up. It saved money and energy.

Answered the eternal what’s for lunch? And eliminated trips to the market.

And even though I am not always successful at keeping a pot of soup on the stove, it’s such a time and energy saver when it is simmering away. Especially when hubby and the teens think I spent hours preparing it.

Which, um…I didn’t. But they think it’s nice.

And that’s what counts.

3. Save Bacon Grease

You will always find a little glass jar in grandma’s fridge. Holding precious bacon grease.

Used to make eggs, cornbread, potatoes, vegetables…delicious. I do the same.

And try to remember to bring said jar out when cooking said delectable fare.

Bacon grease takes perfectly acceptable food and makes it delicious. My grandmas always kept some on hand for sprinkling into recipes, and now, you can even buy it at the grocery store in a jar.

4. Always Have Pantry Staples

Flour, rice, beans, pasta, canned tomatoes, broth, potatoes, eggs, oats, etc. When the basic necessities are in place, it’s easier to save money and not have to make mad-dash grocery store runs.

It’s easier to avoid impulse purchases when you’re not stressed out about missing items.

5. Use Leftovers Creatively

Have some extra chicken? Throw together a casserole or simmer a soup.

Mashed potatoes? Make some potato cakes.

Bread getting a little too crunchy? Croutons or bread pudding.

Getting creative with leftovers reduces waste in your kitchen. My family either eats what’s left or I’ll package some for a quick and easy lunch.

Nothing goes to waste – somebody’s midnight snack always benefits.

6. Keep the Counters Clear

Grandmas always kept their counters pretty clear. It’s much easier to make your way around a kitchen when the counters are cleared off, not to mention, you actually have space to prepare food when necessary.

And it just puts a damper on the whole hectic attitude in a kitchen. Give yourself permission to spend five minutes clearing off the counters of cups and snack wrappers and mail – trust me – your kitchen will seem less chaotic.

7. Bake Simple Things From Scratch

If you have the necessary ingredients on hand, it’s easy to whip up some simple muffins or biscuits or pancakes or cookies. Not only do they smell wonderful, they’ll save you money.

Nothing beats homemade treats, and you’ll never again be able to look at store-bought versions the same way.

8. Dry Dishes While You Cook

There’s something relaxing and productive about wiping down dishes as they accumulate in the sink. It’s such a simple thing to do, but it saves so much time later on.

Try it!

9. Use What You Have First

Older generations took inventory of what they had on hand before hitting the grocery store. Meals were planned around what was on hand rather than planning meals and buying everything needed for the week.

Food waste was frowned upon and avoided.

Save yourself some cash and take inventory of your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry. Check the freezer, especially, before heading to the store.

You might be surprised by what’s already stashed away and ready to pull out for dinner.

10. Keep a Kitchen Towel Nearby

Having a towel within arm’s reach comes in really handy while cooking. Use it for wiping spills, drying hands, grabbing a hot pan, etc.

My family goes through paper towels like there’s no tomorrow, so I’m trying to find ways to curb our use. Having a few kitchen towels on hand is one way we’re working on cutting back.

11. Prep Ingredients Before Cooking

Have you ever felt a surge of panic halfway through a recipe because you’re unsure if you’ve added an ingredient? Or perhaps you’re unsure if a recipe calls for cups of chopped onion or teaspoons?

Preparing all your ingredients before firing up the burners eliminates confusion and unnecessary trips to the pantry. It makes cooking simpler, easier, and less stressful.

12. Save Glass Jars

Before other fancy storage containers were made, leftover food was stashed in glass jars. Those same jars were also used to store cooking grease, dry goods, homemade salad dressings, and more.

Glass jars are sturdy, easy to see through, and can be used again and again.

13. Make Big Batches

Grandma’s generation was frugal, which extended to mealtime. Casseroles, soups, and chilis were made in abundance to last more than one day.

Making a batch of spaghetti sauce might have meant there was soup or chili in their near future, too.

No matter what dish you’re cooking, consider making extra. You’ll be thankful later on for having something on hand.

Cooking a meal once so you can eat it twice is a lot like winning the lottery, and it is a dream come true. You’re saving money AND time.

14. Keep Fruit Visible

Grandmas understood the power of keeping fruit and other healthy foods easily accessible. Leave a bowl of fruit out on the counter, and you’ll be amazed how much more fruit and other healthy snacks your family will eat!

Despite being able to smell a bag of chips in the closet, three rooms away, my teens still somehow manage to miss the bowl of bananas on the counter. Adults, too.

15. Start Dinner Early

Did you need to pull out some meat to thaw in the fridge or chop some veggies for dinner? Do it earlier in the day, when you have more time and aren’t stressed.

You’ll be grateful you got it done when you’re making dinner at 5:30, before everyone gets hungry and cranky.

16. Keep Meals Simple

Grandmas didn’t worry about perfection, because they wanted to feed the family, not win any cooking awards. Meals were often a meat, a couple of veggies, potatoes, bread.

Soup. Casseroles.

Pasta. Life has gotten quite a bit more complicated in the realm of cooking, and we’re lucky to have so many options, but does it really need to be so?

Who needs twelve ingredients and garnishes you can’t eat?!

17. Label Leftovers

Previous generations were less likely to have leftovers because there were fewer options in their pantries, but when there were leftovers, they kept track. If you’ve got leftovers, label them with the date and toss them in the fridge.

That way you’ll know which one has to be eaten first. Ignoring your leftovers leads to refrigerator management issues like those crazy science experiments in the back.

18. Sweep the Kitchen Every Night

Did your grandma ever let the kitchen get dirty? Nope.

The floor was swept every night to avoid attracting any pesky bugs and keep the kitchen in tip-top shape. It’s amazing walking into a swept, organized kitchen every morning; your whole day starts out a lot less chaotic.

If you have little ones or a pet like Gigi who drops crumbs and sheds like crazy, sweeping every day is key.

19. Freeze Extra Food Before It Goes Bad

Older generations were much better at using their freezers effectively. Freezing fruit, meats, vegetables, leftovers, soups – anything – saved time and money.

Try stocking up on something, even bread, and putting it away – just be sure to label it, to avoid any “What on earth is this?” situations later.

20. Keep a Few “Emergency Meals” Ready

On those crazy, hectic, totally unexpected days that happen to me more than I’d like, it’s nice to be able to whip up a basic, simple meal that won’t take too much thought or effort. A basic pasta dish, a casserole or crock pot dish from ingredients already in the pantry, some canned soup, grilled cheese sandwiches or eggs and toast – some sort of simple food that’s easy to whip up will save a ton of money, since ordering takeout isn’t exactly budget-friendly.

21. Taste Food While Cooking

Soups, sauces, stews, casseroles, basically any dish that calls for a variety of seasoning can benefit from “taste tests” throughout the cooking process. Grandmothers never really worried about exact measurements of salt and pepper – they just made sure the food tasted the way it should.

22. Keep the Sink Empty When Possible

I’m not always successful at this, but emptying out the sink each night really helps the kitchen feel more orderly, and it eliminates one of those little stresses when getting up in the morning. It’s easier to tackle smaller piles of dishes, so if it’s at all feasible to get through them before bed, it’s a habit worth implementing.

23. Use Real Plates for Everyday Meals

Paper plates and plastic utensils can be fine for company or special circumstances, but everyday meals are far more enjoyable and less wasteful when eaten off actual dishes and with real utensils. It’s another way to make mealtime more special and give it a bit of importance.

24. Keep Homemade Food Ready for Snacking

Commercially prepared snacks are convenient and tasty, but it’s much more budget-friendly to whip up healthy snacks that will store well – muffins, hard-cooked eggs, fruit, veggie sticks, soups, cookies, casseroles, you name it. Pulling out a few veggies and chopping them up can keep them fresher and more readily available for snacking throughout the week.

Preparing food and snacks ahead of time can make hectic days much easier. How often have you stood in the middle of your own kitchen declaring there was “nothing to eat” when there’s plenty to eat all around you?!

25. Sit Down and Eat Together

Older generations were much more intentional about eating together. The food itself wasn’t nearly as important as eating together.

They understood that the kitchen is the heart of a home and the table is a place to come together, connect, and make memories. It doesn’t have to be perfect and it doesn’t always mean you’ll have plenty of uninterrupted time together, but take advantage of the times you can sit down and enjoy something together, phones, crumbs, pets, dirty dishes, and all.

It might be the best use of your time in your busy home.

In addition to being veteran cooks, previous generations were forward-thinkers. They saved time, avoided kitchen mishaps, and cooked delicious meals because they implemented these nifty tricks into their weekly and daily routines.

Which ones have been missing from your kitchen?

Not all of these habits need to become lifelong endeavors so pick and choose what appeals to you and try them out. Who knows because you may find a couple of them to be new and much-appreciated traditions.