We all want an easy button while cooking, so read along to see if any of our tips make meal time simpler for you.

PUT THE PRESSURE ON

Pressure cookers can be incredibly helpful and incredibly intimidating. One of the fastest cooking hacks is to utilize your cooking equipment for more than one purpose. If you’re making a dish that needs pasta, rice, or vegetables on the side, you can cook them in your pressure cooker in the time it takes to shred your protein after it cooks. This also helps you cut down on dishes—a double bonus! Check your pressure cooker instruction guide for further clarification on cook times.

MAKE SWAPS WHEN NECESSARY

Many recipes use cream cheese or Greek yogurt to add creaminess. But what if you’re all out or you forgot to grab some at the store? There are a number of things you could substitute for cream cheese. Here are a few favorites:

• Sour cream
• Heavy cream
• Milk
• Ricotta cheese

So, the next time you think you can’t make a meal due to a cream cheese mishap, make a quick swap. To ensure your recipe turns out creamy and smooth, make sure your pressure cooker isn’t too hot. Try removing your pot from the heat before adding cream cheese and other alternatives to prevent curdling.

ADD EXTRA FLAVOR

Have you tasted a meal after cooking and wished it had a little something extra to jazz it up? You’re in luck! Our recipe cards have recommended spices and ingredients to add further depth of flavor. Simply scan the QR code on the meal bag label or look up the recipe on our website. You’ll find suggested ingredients you can add to the recipe for a dash of extra flavor.

GO SLOW

Whenever you work with a really large, lean piece of beef, your slow cooker will be your best friend. These large and lean cuts deserve to be cooked “low and slow,” meaning at a low temperature for a long period of time. If you ever find that you’ve followed the instructions and your roasts are still not tender enough, keep cooking it. Starting these meals early in the day will set you up for success by dinnertime.

If you don’t have time for the slow cooker, pressure cooking is possible for these types of meals too. When your timer goes off, instead of flipping your pressure valve, let it naturally release by keeping your valve on its pressure setting. After about 10 to 20 minutes, you’ll be able to open the lid and have a nice and tender piece of meat.

THICKEN SAUCES

A lot of our meals explain how to thicken sauces while cooking to create a gravy or thicker sauce. There are a couple of ways you can do this, and most require simmering liquids to help activate the thickening ingredients. Here are the most common ways you can thicken a sauce:

1. Make a cornstarch slurry. This is equal parts cold water and cornstarch mixed together and added with your simmering sauce.

a.Tip:Make sure the water is COLD to prevent clumping.

         2. Mix fat and flour. Combine any oil or butter with equal parts flour, mixed together. Then add the mixture to your simmering sauce.

Use potato flakes. This is a great (and easy) way to thicken soups!

Another quick tip: Use your instant pot for meals that need sauce thickening. Simply press sauté after cooking the meat and add in your thickener.

MORE COOKING TIPS AND TRICKS

Looking for more cooking tips? Head to our blog to read more helpful tips from our team of registered dietitians.

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