7 LAZY Minimalism Hacks to Simplify Your Kitchen and Cooking Routine

[@AtoZenLife]

Please don't forget to subscribe and comment with a ❤or the word SIMPLIFY if you want to see more videos like this in the future! Also, don't be afraid to add your favorite tips/hacks for simplify your kitchen in the comments -- maybe you will help someone else out there!

[@ren8240]

I love your content like this, I find it really helpful. 😊

[@tonid84]

❤

[@michellestmarentette.antoi5904]

🩵👍🏻

[@PegBoh]

❤

[@rosasandoval8696]

❤

[@kamloopscruiser874]

Simplify. I just lost my husband of 45 + years and I am having to change my old routines based on cooking for 2. I always did cook once eat twice or more. Now I cook once a week and freeze a lot of future meals. So far it’s helping me get back to eating again. Tonight it’s ground beef stroganoff and broccoli on kasha.

[@holamissmusica]

Sorry for your loss x

[@HeronCoyote1234]

Virtual hug heading your way.

[@bessieoriotis5104]

My condolences. This is the pain that never really leaves. God bless you. 😮

[@amygregg1658]

I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s good you’re finding ways to start eating again. 💔

[@kaileegirl1785]

You are strong and resilient, keep up the good work!

[@MyFocusVaries]

I did management training yeeears ago that introduced the "one touch" rule, which I try to apply to EVERYTHING. Hang my jacket (don't put it on a chair); open the mail and shred or file everything right away; hang my clothes or put them in the laundry, etc. It's a great general life rule .

[@DavidDavisDH]

Yes, I have been doing this for at least 3 years now, I heard Joshua Becker talk about it in one of his videos.

[@momoffour2072]

Totally agree with the two birds concept. I cook a triple batch of rice at a time, then freeze it in Ziploc bags. When I need rice, it's ready to go. I also buy bulk ground beef, cook it with onions, and freeze it in 1-lb portions. It thaws so much faster than a block of raw meat, and saves the first step for lots of different recipes.

[@ElenaClassicFan]

Great ideas!

[@rupinderkohli2015]

Food should be consumed fresh on the same day . cooked food kept long produces toxins in the body that leads to various diseases Eat freshly cooked food and stay healthy

[@beverlyness7954]

❤SIMPLIFY. I naturally do many of the things you mentioned, but a few were new to me. Especially when it comes to meal planning. I've lived alone for years so planning didn't happen. I'd eat whatever I had. However I've recently married (at age 71) and will need to put more thought into ingredients and having a plan. I like your food hacks. I enjoy your ideas of making food healthier and nutrient packed. I like prepping and cooking in the morning and I seriously hate prepping food and chopping veggies at night. And if the recipe isn't easy to make, and easily memorized, I won't do it. I need a lot of simplicity in the kitchen - I believe others in my age group would agree. ❤

[@EmOrganizer]

Another idea is to eat your dinner (hot meal) around midday, depending on your actvities in the afternoon. And then have a lighter meal such as soup or a salad as your last meal of the day. Apparently that is also good for our metabolisms.

[@PulpParadise]

You don't have to be in your 70's to like simpler!

[@Marsolan]

The pure joy of 7 ingredients cooking was super adorable!!🍓🍓🍓

[@cassiepathak]

SIMPLIFY-minimalism is going to be my summer project

[@AtoZenLife]

Woohoo, let’s make it happen! 👏

[@sinkintostillness]

Sink of soapy water whilst cooking for easy clean as you go! I have been working on my kitchen today, it turned into more of a deep clean as there wasn't much to declutter. I've reached that point in my decluttering journey at last! (For the kitchen at least 😂) Today I discarded x3 mugs and x2 reusable fabric bags (which I'll use to take items to the charity shop in) that was it, we use everything else!

[@carolbarnes8871]

The air fryer is a must-have for me. I can quickly cook good-tasting food, & the air fryer I have is so easy to clean.

[@quoththeraven13]

SIMPLIFY - I need all the hacks I can get!

[@AtoZenLife]

Can’t wait to share more 😁👍

[@reneeschwartz6555]

I completely agree about borrow before you buy. A friend lent me an InstantPot and even though she raved about how easy and intuitive it was to use, I really really didn't like it. I was thrilled to get it back out of my house. Also, I trimmed down my slow cooker collection from three (small, medium, large) to one (large) and when I needed a second one for a party, I just borrowed it.

[@golbatgirl]

Simplify. Another kitchen hack when it comes to recipes is probably an old one but when I find a recipe I like I either have a notebook/binder or index cards at the ready and I write it down. This way I don't need to have the physical copy of a cook book available all the time, I just pull out the recipe I need and put it back when I'm done with it.

[@savvyshopper1286]

Simplify. We live in a one bedroom flat in London, with a small fridge/freezer. Now that’s simple...lol. I would love to see a video on how to deal w small spaces in general. I might just be trying to do something about it too. Lol. Thanks so much for inspiring us all!

[@tbacon2784]

I went to afast food joint when I had to travel several miles for a doctor appointment. I ordered a 'burrito', but when I bit into it, the sauce was a divine garlic sauce! My husband and I loved it. Your husband might also like a taco or burrito made with garlic sauce!

[@TRUTHisTRUTH70]

I just couldn't live without my Instant Pots! We don't eat rice that often, but when we do I make it on the stove or buy microwave rice. I DO make a lot of soups, and my Instant Pot is the absolute perfect way to get scrumptious soup in so much less time.

[@YT-GuestAccount]

Curious why you won't just make the rice in the IP, too?

[@stingraytingvideo]

​@@YT-GuestAccountI have an IP and while it's great for stews etc, it does not cook rice very well..the texture is not consistent. I have a simple rice cooker (an old 80s/90s one, nothing fancy) which I use, but even if I did not have a rice cooker I'd rather cook rice on the stovetop instead of the IP.

[@TRUTHisTRUTH70]

@@YT-GuestAccount usually because I have something else cooking in there so the times don't work out... 😘

[@YT-GuestAccount]

@@stingraytingvideo Never had an issue with the rice outcome but TBF most of the time I'm cooking some sort of veggie+rice one-pot meal where the texture doesn't matter that much. Guess I'm just TOO lazy to care. 😬

[@mysterycupcakex]

SIMPLIFY! Something that has worked well for me and my fiancé is only cooking meals on the weekends. On Fridays we usually cook a 3 day meal (like soup) and Saturdays and Sundays are 2 day meals. This makes it so we don’t have to clean up after cooking every night throughout the week and can spend more quality time together 😊

[@AtoZenLife]

Sounds like a great system for you 👏👏👏

[@ChristysChannelYall]

I do not enjoy cooking so I need that cook book. 7 ingredients or less sounds right up my alley. The easier the better. My home is already very simplified. Almost too much. My son’s girlfriend likes to come over and cook and she keeps asking me for utensils I don’t have. The other day it was a whisk. I said I just use a fork 🥴🤷‍♀️

[@AtoZenLife]

😂

[@sweettthings]

SIMPLIFY - All the SkinnyTaste cookbooks that I've tried are excellent! I also agree about organizing your kitchen around how you cook. Which reminds me, it's been about 5 years since I've organized my kitchen and it is probably time to do it again.

[@herzzr2362]

Simplify. This was great. We add black beans and corn to our taco meat, same for when making fajitas. Lol.

[@colleenbrown3366]

Just looking at your clean, clutter free counter tops brings me peace. Goals!❤Simplify

[@darlenebergantzel1534]

I’m not really a minimalist, but love watching your videos. It has helped me simplify my life, making it easier to do housework and free up time to do the things I want to do rather than have to do. I keep things I use daily on my countertops (coffee maker, salt/pepper grinders, oil dispenser), but everything else is stored in drawers and cabinets. I’ve also reduced the amount of food in my pantry and refrigerator, so I no longer throw out spoiled or expired food. Double batching meals is a practice I learned from my Mom.

[@GiftSparks]

the borrow before you buy is a great idea. Only issue is that your friend may have the bright (kind) idea to buy you one as a gift !

[@SimplyKatieWalks]

Simplify! Im just starting my minimalist journey after doing a Swedish death cleaning. I ❤ these kind of videos. Thank you!❤

[@suzyqfaves4736]

Omg I never thought about frothing my milk in my mini blender! I don’t always comment but I just wanted to tell you that I really love your videos. Your tips are so great, I appreciate your openness and vulnerability, and i also love your videos about emotional healing and related book recommendations etc.

[@AtoZenLife]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@sarah-lee2822]

❤❤❤ I have been on a journey to simplify my life for years. I don't call myself a minimalist. I call myself a Simplist lol

[@cheryl5218]

Lmao 😂 that's awesome 👌

[@jejrstans]

SIMPLIFY! - We have an Ambiano dual/multi cooker that is a pressure cooker/slow cooker and air fryer with separate lids. We got it for the pressure cooker so we could make our own dry beans faster. We also use it to make rice faster, too. We mostly use our air fryer for fun things like hot dogs, French fries and breaded frozen fish. I actually made brownies in a 6 inch round pan that turned out well. For the first time LAST NIGHT I made 3# of dry rub baby back ribs in about an hour all in the same cooker. Started 35 minutes on low in the pressure cooker. Then drained the liquid and slathered BBQ sauce on all sides and air fried for 5 minutes. PERFECT! Now we have left overs for 2 more meals. YAY!

[@AnalisaVanDyne]

thank you !! I need more SIMPLIFY SIMPLIFY !!!

[@cathyscott5548]

Have an OXO medium smallish size whisk with black silicone handle. Put handle between 2 hands and rub back and forth....it spins the whisk and makes great froth. Easy rinse.

[@lyracian]

Simplify! ❤ We tried borrowing an air-fryer and decided it was not for us whereas we use our slow cooker every week.

[@AtoZenLife]

Love that you were able to figure that out!

[@GoldenDIY]

Getting rid of an Instant Pot is crazy. It replaces a pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, and hot plate. It does so many things and doesn't take up much space. You set it and forget it , unlike a pot you must monitor, which makes life harder. An Instant Pot is a rice cooker!

[@janetmcgee4525]

Thanks for the cookbook recommendations. I'll check my library.

[@satujuntunen8475]

I like the one touch rule! 👍 I live in Finland and I am your fan at the age on 62.😊

[@TGYtco]

Simplify! I need constant reminders.

[@robertakeogh8650]

I agree with your thought process about putting items where they are used, , but I try to up my steps so while I may try to follow that hack, I don’t worry about it. My step count is more important to me.❤

[@allein1001]

My kitchen is so tiny it wouldn't make much difference either way!

[@cheryl5218]

Lol 😂 me too

[@theenokimarauder]

I would definitely enjoy any videos you make to simplify your home. I recently got the last couple "small items" off my counter and into the cabinets for storage, and I love it so much! ✨🤩 It's so much easier to wipe the counters now! I can't remember who said that if an item is used regularly it deserves space in your cabinets (as opposed to storing random items you're not using) and it's really stuck with me!

[@nancyyoung9972]

Simplify…love ur Pink Floyd shirt.love ur videos have watched u for a couple of years now. I hope u find the house ur looking for. I have downsized from house to studio apartment.love it.House a lot of work. I’m 62 so it was time for a change.Left bad marriage after many years.Stayed too long.Thanks for all the information.been minimalist about 41/2 years. I started slowly.Still have room for improvement. Progress not perfection. I am in recovery and I love that u kept ur fathers AA coins. I never thought my daughter would want them until I saw u. I asked her and she most definitely wants them. I was amazed & glad.Alot of work staying sober.Well worth it.After living with excess so long I found living with less and a more simple lifestyle appealing.God bless u & ur family.

[@mtracy244]

Good for you Nancy.🙂👍

[@downtherabbithole9143]

❤ keen to simplify even more. As a wheelchair user, cooking takes lots of time so I like quick & simple! Thanks

[@AJCar71]

The air fryer is a must-have for me! I have almost replaced my microwave with it, I love using it to reheat leftovers!

[@AtoZenLife]

Got to admit, I’m super tempted - what brand do you have? 🧐

[@larissabess7617]

I just discovered how to make boiled eggs in it! So much quicker and easier than the pot.

[@AJCar71]

@@AtoZenLife Drew Barrymore’s Beautiful line one from Walmart! In the dried thyme color. I couldn’t pass up a lovely dark green! 🖤

[@grushdeva]

I love your videos. What I like most is that you're not trying to show perfection in every thing you do, you're like real person. It is really enjoyable. I appreciate it.

[@kenyonbissett3512]

For years a family favorite was, “Chili Week.” It would look something like this. Monday - Chili with fixings and cornbread Wednesday - Chili Mac (leftover chili with macaroni) Friday - Hot dogs 🌭 with chili and cheese served with French fries. Alternatively - Chili over rice, Chili over baked potatoes, Chili over French fries topped with cheese, etc.

[@AtoZenLife]

Love me some chili cheese dogs!

[@Notable2Nikki]

Love Gina from Skinnytaste! Have several of her books.

[@GabrielleWakeham]

Ooh simplify! I’d love some more simplifying content! Thanks so much. Xoxo ❤

[@dena-mo118]

Great suggestion about cooking more to use in future dishes. Thankfully, we're good about eating leftovers, so cooking more all at once works well. Really enjoy my instant pot and air fryer. We live in a very hot climate so these items help to avoid heating up the kitchen. Mine are used frequently, so not willing to get rid of them. Best thing about minimalism is it may not look the same for everyone. 😀

[@madeleinevonwielligh5931]

Air Fryer ... a must have ... love mine!!! Used it almost every day 😁👏👏👏

[@AtoZenLife]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Herizall]

Simplify, I just lost my mom and a couple of years ago, my MIL. I have stuff from both of their kitchens that I use and remember them every time I pull something of theirs out. We are Midwestern families and the kitchen is where most family gatherings start and end as well ad food preservation. It is hard to unstuff with so many memories attached.

[@FreciaB.]

Thank you for your videos! They are fantastic! You are amazing!

[@melissab8322]

I love learning new ways to simplify my life.

[@CherbearAnn]

💜 love all your videos! Very real and thoughtful. Thank you for the encouragement.

[@michelauderzo3955]

I love your videos Marissa! ❤ keep going

[@awesomelife3710]

I LOVE your videos! Have been watching them for years 🌟 I noticed you avoided using the word “kill” because you’re obviously a kind person. So how about instead of “two birds with one stone”: “feed two birds with one scone.” 😁 Out: “Be the guinea pig.” In: “Be the test tube” lol Out: "Open a can of worms" In: "Open Pandora's box" 🧠 Out: "Flog a dead horse" In: "Feed a fed horse" ❤ Kindness is awesome! 🎉

[@pip5858]

Hey lovely. Could you consider a video on what podcasts/YT channels you follow or recommend. I enjoy yours and I'm looking to not only be more mindful and minimal but to improve my financial literacy. You are much more financially aware than me it seems so I figured you may have some insightful people/books/podcasts etc to look into. Thank you and love from the 🇬🇧 ❤

[@ZenNatureHub]

Yes, please! More videos like this! Oh, and Simplify ❤

[@carollane7938]

Simplify. Every now then one of your tips, makes say that's a good idea! I liked choose simple ingredient recipes. I think its great that you accommodate you husband's tastes preferences too!

[@Mrs_Guac_and_Glock]

I tell everyone about my favorite kitchen appliance! We have the Emeril Lagasse countertop toaster oven thingy, I'm not sure the actual name. But it does everything!!!! Toast, slow cook, bake, air fry, etc. It even fits a frozen pizza. We use it way more than our real oven. And I no longer own a toaster, slow cooker, or air fryer (which I used a lot but don't need anymore). Also, in my opinion, it is the best for reheating leftovers. Love it, love it, love it.

[@nanchesca3950]

I almost always make meals large enough to have leftovers or lunches for the next day. I have a tiny kitchen and never imagined I could fit everything into the cabinets and have my counters free but I decided to try and after purging a lot of unnecessary stuff I was able to clear my counters. Well, mostly. I keep my kettle out and my air fryer oven, which folds up against the wall

[@allein1001]

My hand mixer has a little blending attachment that would probably work for frothing milk. Works well for mixing things like powdered instant breakfast or milkshakes if they're not too thick. ❤

[@melissanorrbom4734]

Skinnytaste is the best! All the new recipes I try are from her. Delicious ❤

[@AtoZenLife]

I’m so happy to have discovered her!

[@ChristianeMeyer-Young]

❤️ I use some of these tricks already, they definitely work 👍😊

[@simplysavingswithheather6381]

I would love to see more simplifying videos! I enjoyed this one a lot.

[@pamwetzler864]

I'd love to hear more about simplifying my morning & nighttime routines. Thanks so much for your terrific content & great ideas! ❤

[@bethmakitatitan5445]

❤ this, your tips and tricks are very helpful.. please do more like this

[@Pfasma5]

Simplify!! ‘Nuff said!

[@goodenoughgirl8102]

Simplify❤️ Regarding the container rule. You could also adapt rules designers have. You just section off “zones.” For me it’s like coffee area and utensil cutting area (small also with a tiny cutting board). And then my tiny multi toaster/convection/air fryer (I use those 3 all the time as I’m single here-lol-and I want easy access to them) has it’s own little planet.

[@juliawessel5258]

❤ just love your channel and adapted lot of your ideas and hacks from past videos already 😊 greeting from Germany.

[@AtoZenLife]

Thanks so much and waving from Chicago! 👋

[@cynthiaakacyndsmith6539]

I will watch a few more, but to subscribe is on the list. Thank you for the wisdom you use in your posts.

[@LeonidSvizzera]

you helped me.

[@Cheery1015]

More simplifying hacks? YES, PLEASE!

[@teochick]

SIMPLIFY - I often cut extra vegetables when I'm making dinner and freeze them. In helps on days when I don't have much time to make dinner. Then I can just throw the vegetables in a pot with some pastasauce and make dinner in no time.

[@connie6410]

❤ Love thse hacks, esp. the idea of getting cookbooks from the library to see if you'll actually use them. Thank you!

[@ElenaClassicFan]

Same thing about cookbooks. i just like to sit and read them and watch beautiful photos. I mostly collect baking and desserts books though.

[@toryevanss4512]

I have a love-hate relationship with my air fryer. I bought one when my kitchen was being renovated, and really want to donate it now, but in a pinch it heats up so much faster than my regular oven and I can get chicken nuggets or roasted broccoli on the table quickly when I'm having a bad night. I do store it in my basement (along with a ton of other kitchen stuff, ours is tiny) but it still takes up space and is one more thing in my house I have to manage.

[@kims914]

❤️simplify!! Love these videos

[@maryseflore7028]

Another nice trick: use empty glass jars as drinking glasses. We put so many glass containers in recycling, when really, they can be reused. Also, if you break one, it's no biggie, there's always another one coming.

[@earthmother4507]

We do this too!

[@maypasifiki9360]

Same. I do this with jars of jam. I wash and remove all the labels. My cousin once asked where I bought them 😅

[@yenquest]

SIMPLIFY! "Cook once. Eat twice" is life saving for me (or in this case, meal prepping for the week). It have evolved into a bit of a habit stacking for me so it's much less thinking/decision-making involved for the week and weekend. Also, sometimes the kitchen is pre-occupied during the week so I can't cook for myself (I strive for healthier meals). I usually focus on cooking a large batch of protein, veggies, and carb of choice. Putting them all together shouldn't be hard at all. For example: Start cooking my protein of choice first thing (add seasoning/spice then and there) and clear out the dinner table to set up a sandwich station. Pull out a large baking food/tray and add pre-portioned baking paper (or saran wrap) on it. Lay out tortilla wraps on those baking paper. Repeat with cheese/veggies/sauce/etc on all of them and then add the protein when it finish cooking. Roll them up into a burrito (one by one). Wrap each one in those baking paper pre-layed out on the food tray. Place them in food storage bag and then store in freezer for the work week. Should I feel there's not enough protein (or the meal isn't satiating enough), I will boil some eggs in the air fryer to go with the wraps.

[@AtoZenLife]

Nice ideas - do you love your Air Fryer?

[@yenquest]

@@AtoZenLife The air fryer is nice if I'm looking to make 3 portions of a "baking" type of dishes. I seem to lean more toward stovetop cooking when it comes to things like noodles/pastas or stir-fries. Less dishes that way (one pot/pan versus the two-piece air fry basket).

[@anabeliagarza1805]

Definitely... SIMPLIFY

[@KarmicSalt]

ninja foodi can be used for anything. I love mine. Never use the stove or oven anymore. Easy clean up too. It is a broiler, dehydrator, crock pot, instapot, can sauté, sous vide, bake, and air fry...it does it all.

[@Ramona-fu2kp]

❤ - Das Video ist sehr gelungen, mach bitte weiter so.

[@stjabnful]

Great video! ❤ can’t wait to view more!

[@teri8964]

Great hacks! Thanks for sharing!❤

[@imanihollins664]

This was right on time SIMPLIFY. thanks bunches

[@tracy8836]

SIMPLIFY!!! Love these ideas. I just wish I could stand to declutter that giant stand mixer or find a spot large enough to hide it.

[@cul-de-sac7914]

❤Simplify❤thank you for the videos

[@cheryl5218]

That was really good. My kitchen is simplified or so I thought. I found that the information was really Interesting. Thank you. I laughed at the few items you had on the counter. I really enjoy simplify videos. 😊 Basically anything on minimalism too. Though last week's video was hysterical.

[@kathleenhill5838]

I also have that Skinny Taste cookbook and love it. Thanks for another thought provoking video. I moved my air fryer off the counter after this.😂😂

[@jenniemurphy1242]

Marissa, can you touch on the topic of how minimalist entertain?

[@daniellemoody8608]

Simplify ❤

[@ztipsamme]

Nice video ⭐️, already knew about these hacks and tricks but I definitely need to get better at using the Ohio rule. 😅 A safety tip from me to you would be to sharpen the knife that you used to chop the bell peppers. ❤️

[@HeronCoyote1234]

Gina Homolka has several SkinnyTaste cookbooks. I’m getting three from my local library now.

[@AtoZenLife]

I am going to look for her other books next time 👏

[@SunnySummer-r3g]

❤ more of this

[@kayleighwittenborn9221]

❤️ Please share more!! Thank you!

[@munagalalakshmipranati]

Simplify 🧡.........love you Mama 🌷(wise woman)

[@timkreutzer4089]

SIMPLIFY ❤

[@FrolleinN]

❤ simplify ❤ thank you for your videos!

[@gloriayouchisonbrown7734]

Excellent video, I cook for just me, which is super hard❤

[@bernadetteswanson3304]

I borrowed an air fryer in my local Buy Nothing FB group before I bought mine. I love it for brussel sprouts (which I used to hate) and tofu. I'll try fries next.

[@tinamaciad2209]

I like hack #3, and by the way I loved the coasters too! A random question, do you flat iron your hair...I recently cut my hair and it is super wavy (w/a lot of fly away hairs), so am looking for tips on that?! Thank you (p.s. your hair looks amazing)!

[@AtoZenLife]

Thank you, no, I don’t straighten my hair - it’s depressingly flat and straight. I always wanted curly hair 😂

[@brendasparks6234]

❤simplify, great video

[@cathylombard964]

Simplify!

[@stingraytingvideo]

A cafetière (aka French Press) is also a great tool for frothing milk!

[@Jessica_Jones]

❤️ -- it's so funny because I'm so used to you introducing Chinese concepts or similar that when you said OHIO my brain automatically heard it in Japanese, "Ohayo!" 😅 Love that tip as well as considering the where a kitchen item should go for best functionality. Both make things run so much smoother!

[@AtoZenLife]

I know, right? I almost put a joke about it in this video, but I figured most people don’t know much Japanese 😂

[@Jessica_Jones]

@@AtoZenLife 😂