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40 Comments
Mish V.
December 15, 2018
I am definitely someone who operates in both camps. I do clean what I can as I go but some things just cannot be cleaned before you sit down to eat, otherwise you'd be having a cold meal and that's never appealing.
Frances D.
February 26, 2018
I try my best to clean as I go. If it doesn’t happen, so what. Just hate to spend the extra time cleaning. Best of all - house rules: no dessert till all the other dishes, pots & pans are done!
Martin M.
February 26, 2018
definitely clean as I cook... makes everything much easier, at least for me, and according to other comments I am not the only one... love the challenge to cook for a bunch of friends and to find myself in a kitchen who looks tidy and as though I wouldn’t have prepared a tasty meal... same after my guests are gone: I HAVE to tidy up right away, it (I 😉) cannot wait until the next morning... bon appétit from the South of France... Martin
Rachel S.
February 2, 2018
Most likely the only people that don't clean as they go have a dishwasher whether it be the old fashion type of a teenager or young adult living rent free
or the modern kind that is installed under your countertop.
or the modern kind that is installed under your countertop.
Erik W.
February 2, 2018
I do nearly all of the cooking in our house, so I feel possessive of the kitchen ... it's my space, and I like to keep it tidy for ease of use and less stress. :-) I'm definitely a clean as I go type of person, and I think I've learned it from the pros. Last year my wife bought me an all-day cooking class at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris (we're lucky enough to be living here for a couple of years for work), and the chef wouldn't let us proceed to the next item until we had cleaned up after the previous one. And in every professional kitchen I've visited as a cameraman on TV cooking shows, they ALWAYS clean as they go ... it just makes things easier. Also, I find that everything is much easier to clean if you get to it right away ... otherwise things tend to dry on and harden, making cleaning later a real chore. And my pet peeve at home is when the kids dump their dirty dishes in the kitchen sink, making it completely unusable when it's time for me to start cooking dinner. And the dishwasher is two feet away! Haha!! :-)
Karen G.
February 2, 2018
38 years ago my husband and I struck a deal; whoever cooks the other cleans. When our 4 children were young, my dog was my best assistant in the kitchen. Hardly needed to sweep the floor ;o). Now as empty nesters, I can't cook without hot soapy water at the ready. Having just remodeled our kitchen, keeping stainless steal shiny is a pain -but a must to avoid stains. If you've invested in your cooking tools why would you not take care of them? Also, on a side note, I think I've avoided the flu this season due to frequent hand / Kitchen washing.
DAVID
February 1, 2018
50/50 Always start every meal with a empty dishwasher. Then add to it as you cook. Save the counter tops and stove for afterwards it will help burn a few calories also. #keepmoving
M.L.
February 1, 2018
Always, my Mom says to clean as you cook and when your meal is finished, your kitchen is clean. My choice is to clean as I cook but sometimes it depends on the dish.
M.L.
February 1, 2018
Always, my Mom says to clean as you cook and when your meal is finished, your kitchen is clean. My choice is to clean as I cook but sometimes it depends on the dish.
Brenda
February 1, 2018
Clean as I go, always have, spouse polar opposite, generally can't cook together. He will get creative, trash the kitchen and be too tired to clean up and I will do it for him, mostly because I like it to be clean in the morning. (37 years)
Roger C.
February 1, 2018
Interesting. My wife tends to trash the kitchen but my approach is different. If the kitchen is kept clean, I help cook, keep things clean, stack and unload the dishwasher, but once she makes a mess, it's all hers.
Irene B.
February 1, 2018
When you are cooking a Blue Apron meal which involves a lot of prep, you have to be fully focused on the cooking . So there’s no time for cleaning. Unfortunately there’s a lot of cleaning afterward.
tony
February 1, 2018
Absolutley. Clean as you cook. Just as most have expressed....drives me crazy when my wife cooks. a pile of bowels, pots, spoons....when a quick rinse can keep the use and mess to a minimum. Clean as you cook is just optimizing your time.
Blork
February 1, 2018
It seems weird to NOT clean as you cook. And possibly a bit rude, since it is often someone else who cleans (or at least helps clean) after the meal. Leaving a big mess for someone else is a terrible thing to do. Cooks should own their mess and clean it up themselves!
Personally, my motto is to never stand still when cooking. If you have a minute between steps (waiting for something to boil, etc.) then clean something! It's very nice to finish a great meal and then have only a small cleanup to deal with. And nothing ruins a great meal (if you ask me) like having an hour's worth of cleanup work to do afterwards.
Personally, my motto is to never stand still when cooking. If you have a minute between steps (waiting for something to boil, etc.) then clean something! It's very nice to finish a great meal and then have only a small cleanup to deal with. And nothing ruins a great meal (if you ask me) like having an hour's worth of cleanup work to do afterwards.
DocP
February 1, 2018
It all depends on what I am cooking and how complicated it is. Sometimes it is easy to clean as you go, and I do but other times it is not possible so it gets done after we eat..
Roger C.
February 1, 2018
My FIrst Law of the Kitchen is. Empty the dishwasher before you start. This lets you keep your sink clear and usable. As you use items, they get rinsed and go straight into the dishwasher. My Last Law of the Kitchen is when you finish, run the dishwasher even if it isn't full. That way it'll be ready for you to empty the next time you start using the kitchen.
Roger C.
February 1, 2018
There's another rule that states (with very few exceptions) If it can't go into the dishwasher, I don't need it.
Maureen
February 1, 2018
I read somewhere (in one of her cookbooks?) that Julia Child said to clean at the end. That's what I do unless I am having company. I have one of those nasty island/bars that has the kitchen sink on it so when having guests I must wash as I go or they will see the entire mess.
PetraAlexandra
February 1, 2018
Totally clean as you go! There are some things I can't keep up with (especially on hectic nights), but I always find a way to half-clean while cooking. Makes the aftermath so much easier :)
dtremit
January 31, 2018
My partner would laugh at this, but my first goal is to minimize what I use -- and sometimes that means leaving something out on the counter to reuse later. The bowl that had chopped onions in it is clean enough for the tomato I chop while the onion cooks. Put it in the sink, and you've got two bowls to wash later; the tomato has to go in something.
Lazyretirementgirl
February 1, 2018
I tell myself I am creating unique flavor blends when I use the same bowl for multiple ingredients or sauté them back to back in the same skillet. 🤗
Jan K.
January 27, 2018
Same as Linda. I can't go to sleep with a dirty kitchen, because I hate waking up to a dirty kitchen. I am learning that if I clean as I go, I am less stressed with preparing a great meal. I can focus on each step and everything is where I need it, when I need it, and clean for me to use. Ever have to wash something you just used because you need to use it again? Anyway, learning to be wash as you go and definitely never to bed leaving a dirty kitchen. Learned that from my mom! LOL!
Linda
January 27, 2018
I clean as I cook and NEVER go to bed until the kitchen is cleaned up. Want to start the next day with a clean slate.
BerryBaby
January 28, 2018
I’m the same way. First thing in the morning I go to the kitchen and love seeing it clean, great start to the day. Sink is empty, counters are sparkly and the coffee is brewing. Same feeling as having my bed made after awakening. Everything in its place.
Lost_in_NYC
January 27, 2018
While growing up and learning to cook from my Indian mother, she taught me to always "clean-while-you-cook." Totally agree with everyone above & below as for the reasons 'why!'
Like Witloof below, I use the white or green plastic vegetable bags as my countertop garage bag for prep, throwing in scraps, anything that needs to skimmed from the top and thrown away, etc. Once done cooking or the bag is filled, just tie it up the bag and throw it in the trash. That way trash bin won't be smelly/wet/leaking from liquid stuff. I've actually convinced a few friends to adopt this method when cooking as well! When I go grocery shopping I always grab a handful of extra bags from the produce isle to have on hand for this very reason.
Like Witloof below, I use the white or green plastic vegetable bags as my countertop garage bag for prep, throwing in scraps, anything that needs to skimmed from the top and thrown away, etc. Once done cooking or the bag is filled, just tie it up the bag and throw it in the trash. That way trash bin won't be smelly/wet/leaking from liquid stuff. I've actually convinced a few friends to adopt this method when cooking as well! When I go grocery shopping I always grab a handful of extra bags from the produce isle to have on hand for this very reason.
judy
January 27, 2018
I do a littel of both. I have a chronic disability, so I have learned to adapt. I can cook in a meesy kitchen or a clean one. sometimes I clean as I go, and others, I am too tired and in too much pain to be able to do so--then the cleaning is left for another day, and hopefully, one of my housemates, as I am the primary cook. I think the best thing is attitude. Clean enough to be healthy and dirty enouogh to be happy....my Mom's favorite saying, and she was no cook.
MarieGlobetrotter
January 25, 2018
As you cook. All chefs learn to have a clean work surface. Messy cooks get thrown out of the kitchen
MarieGlobetrotter
January 26, 2018
Everybody is responsible for cleaning his or her own station. My brother went to Paul Bocuse's cooking school in Lyon and his professors were very adamant that cooking surfaces should be clean, not messy
Nancy
January 29, 2018
I can confirm that Chef Bocuse. whom we just lost, practiced what he and his professors preached! One average May day I was having lunch alone in Colombes d'Or, and the chef came to talk with me and later gave me a tour of the kitchen between courses. It was immaculate...and the team radiated both calm and confidence...great to have a clear surface to work on. :)
AntoniaJames
January 25, 2018
I clean to the extent I can - working as quickly as possible during moments of downtime - but don't delay forward progress with cleaning. I almost always fill pots to soak before sitting down to dinner. Rarely does it take more than 10 minutes, working as efficiently as possible, to clean up after the meal.
Also, may I respectfully suggest that the attitude one has toward cleaning up, which is altogether within one's control, ultimately determines whether it's a chore to be dreaded and disliked, or not. I for one don't mind cleaning up. I use it as an opportunity to reflect on how deeply grateful I am for having the means to create, share with others and eat great food. ;o)
Also, may I respectfully suggest that the attitude one has toward cleaning up, which is altogether within one's control, ultimately determines whether it's a chore to be dreaded and disliked, or not. I for one don't mind cleaning up. I use it as an opportunity to reflect on how deeply grateful I am for having the means to create, share with others and eat great food. ;o)
witloof
January 25, 2018
Clean as I go! It's so much more relaxing and fun to cook in an organized kitchen than to navigate my way around a counter full of dirty pots, opened bottles and boxes, and vegetable detritus. I keep a bag on the counter and chuck peels and stems into it, put stuff back into the pantry once I've used it, and wash dishes and pans as soon as I have a minute that doesn't require my attention at the stove. This is also the best way to keep the roach population at bay, so I'm motivated to stay vigilant.
dryer_fire
January 25, 2018
Tidy up as I cook, wash dishes after. So ingredients get put away, the cutting board gets scraped, and dishes get stacked in the sink as I go, but I don't bother washing them until everything is done - that way I can wash serving and eating utensils at the same time. If I actually had a dishwasher for plates, glasses, etc., I might be more inclined to clean pots, pans, and prep stuff as I cook, but since I don't, I'd rather just do all my dishes at once.
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