Learn What Foods Can Be Made Ahead

When you know what foods can be made hours or even days before serving them, you have more control over your time. For instance, say you’re planning a very nutritious and delicious steak, potato, and green bean dinner for tomorrow night for guests. But you want to spend all your time with the friends and family you’re cooking it for—not dutifully move through your prep list. If you know that you can cook and shock your green beans a day ahead and keep them in the fridge wrapped in paper towels, and that the baked potatoes can be made early in the day while you’re doing other things or as soon as you get home from work and then simply reheated, then the actual cooking of dinner requires only ten minutes of active time—sautéing the steak and, as you do, reheating the beans (either in the microwave with a little butter or in a pan with butter or olive oil, maybe adding some cumin and red pepper flakes).