I don’t watch Rachel Ray. I don’t watch television. But in noodling around the Internet, I did come across the concept of using a garbage bowl while cooking.\u00a0 No, it wasn\u2019t Rachel, but a chef.<\/p>\n
Even though when I saw the idea and lights came on, angels sang choirs of hosannas and I realized it Made My Kitchen Complete, it’s a stupidly simple concept. Have one or two large bowls[1]<\/a> on the counter beside you to throw scraps and garbage in while you’re cooking. When you’re done, dump everything from the bowl into the garbage. Clean the bowl. Simple, easy and so goofily obvious that I’m amazed that in nearly 30 years of cooking I never thought of it.<\/p>\n I was making spaghetti tonight and used one. Friends, this really does streamline not only cooking, but cleanup. My trash can really won’t “go” anywhere but across the kitchen, and yes, I’m a “clean as you go” cook[2]<\/a>.\u00a0 So, this method saves me a lot of steps, and interestingly enough, makes clutter containment while cooking much easier.\u00a0 Even though I\u2019m hardly a professionally-trained chef, I do ascribe to the mise en place philosophy of cooking.\u00a0 I do not like a mess while I\u2019m making a meal.<\/p>\n I think this would actually be a great technique to teach kids when cooking, as one of the big issues with kids in the kitchen is mess!\u00a0 Teach \u2018em this, and at least some is contained.<\/p>\n So, my faithful readers, do you use a garbage bowl?\u00a0 Where did you hear of the concept?\u00a0 How much do you like it?<\/p>\n
[1]<\/a> I think Rachel Ray markets some, but at $15 for a damn plastic bowl, I think that\u2019s useless.\u00a0 I have LOTS of large bowls, so just haul out a couple (or only one if you\u2019re not saving anything for stock) and use them.<\/p>\n