Unit 1.02 - Work Plan for Time Management

Time Management When planning a meal, you need to consider available resources (money and time), the people you are serving (special dietary needs), and a nutritious and appetizing menu. The most underrated part is preparing a Work Plan Schedule. The goal is for everything hits the table at the right time and the right temperature. Basically, this involves making a list of all the tasks required to complete the recipe and an estimate of how long each task will take.

 
Developing a Work plan  Recipes and package directions often provide help in estimating time. You will need to draw on your ability to think critically to help you identify other tasks and find or estimate the time each requires—for example, boiling water for pasta, chopping vegetables, and cleaning salad greens. A good rule for beginning cooks is to allow more time than you think you will need. As your skills improve, you will be able to work faster and make more accurate time estimates.

For Example: 

Pizza Snacks                                               Approximate time:   

Set table                                                              About 5 min.

Gather Ingredients                                              8 min.

Split English Muffins                                           2 min.

Chop green peppers, onions and mushrooms   7 min.

Shred cheese                                                     3 min.

Toast muffing in toaster oven or broiler             3 min.

Total Time:                                                        28 min.

  

A vital part is to consider whether tasks can be completed and foods can safely be prepared early. For instance, you could assemble a tossed salad (without dressing), or set the table in advance, or you might plan on asking a helper to do it for you. You might even include important tasks like washing your hands and setting the oven temperature. Including such steps ensures that a new cook won’t forget to do them. Estimate total preparation time by adding up all of your approximate times.

 

Tips for working efficiently

Organize the kitchen - Always store items in the same place so that you won’t waste time looking for them.

Learn to use equipment properly.
Look for ways to simplify - Could a different piece of equipment complete a task more quickly? Would a different cooking method be more efficient?
Gather all equipment and ingredients first - Assembling everything you will need before you start has several advantages. First, you won’t discover halfway through a recipe that you are out of an ingredient you need. Second, it will be easier to check whether you used every ingredient. Third, and perhaps most important, you will have every-thing you need right at your fingertips.
Dovetail tasks - Not every preparations step needs your undivided attention. You could, for example, make a tossed salad while chicken pieces are roasting. Dovetailing is especially important when you are preparing a whole meal. If you plan to dovetail tasks, be sure to adjust your time schedule.
Clean up as you work - Before you start work, fill the sink or a dishpan with hot, sudsy water. Whenever you have a few free moments, was the equipment you have finished using. Also keep a clean, wet dishcloth handy to wipe up spills as they happen. Put away ingredients as you finish with them. Your final clean-up will take much less time.