Make my kitchen work for me:
Mise en place at Home (Part 3)
Everything in its place.
Mise en place means “everything in its place”—and it’s the quiet secret behind stress-free cooking. At home, it’s less about perfection and more about knowing where things live, pulling them out before you start, and letting your kitchen zones do their job. When zones give you structure, mise en place brings it to life. Cooking feels smoother, calmer, and a lot less overwhelming.
Chef’s Quick Mise en Place Check:
Before you turn on the stove:
Ingredients washed or measured
Knife and cutting board ready
Bowls and utensils within reach
Pan, pot, or tray pulled out
Trash and compost accessible
Five minutes of setup. A much better cooking experience.
First up: Clearing Your Countertops.
Clearing your Countertops
This will all become second nature.
Mise en Place at Home (The No-Stress Version)
1. Read the Recipe First
Scan it start to finish. Know what’s happening before you start chopping.
Chef truth: I never cook blind—it saves time and panic.
2. Pull Tools Before Food
Cutting board, knife, bowls, pans, measuring tools—out and ready.
Less digging, more cooking.
3. Prep Ingredients by When You’ll Use Them
Wash, chop, measure, and group by step, not by food type.
Cook flow > ingredient categories.
4. Set Ingredients Near Where They’ll Be Used
Prep stays at prep. Cooking stays by the stove. Containers ready for leftovers.
This is how kitchens start to feel intuitive.
5. Clean as You Go
Rinse bowls, clear counters, stack tools before cooking starts.
Clear space = clear mind.
"We've all been there - running around trying to find that missing ingredient - worse, running to the store for it. Prep and mise en place will save you this headache."
You will discover.
When mise en place is in place:
You stop rereading the recipe
You move with purpose instead of rushing
You catch mistakes before they happen
Cooking feels calm—even on busy nights
This isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating a rhythm that supports you.
What's next?
You have the tools to master Mise en Place now check out Part 4: The Kitchen Reset in the Make My Kitchen Work for Me series.
Be sure to check out my Pro Tips: All About Spices
Let's summarize.
Mise en place means setting up your tools and ingredients before you start cooking
It works best when paired with clear kitchen zones
- Reduces clutter and unnecessary movement
Prevents scrambling mid-recipe
Makes cooking feel calmer, smoother, and more enjoyable
Requires no extra space, tools, or equipment
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Hi, I'm Kat.
Welcome to my Kitchen Counter. I’m excited to share with you a new series called “Make my kitchen work for you” along with a collection of blog posts about a variety of topics – building a gluten free pantry, staples to always have on hand and gift guides for the Chef in your life. Take a look around. I’d love to hear from you – do you like these posts?
