University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension in Lancaster County
COOK IT
QUICK

Helping you prepare healthy foods in a hurry

Alice Henneman, MS, Registered Dietitian and Extension Educator
University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension in Lancaster County

 
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Make Meals Easy with
"Mise en Place"

mis en place

Mise en place (MEEZ ahn plahs) is a French term for having all your ingredients measured, cut, peeled, sliced, grated, etc. before you start cooking. Pans are prepared. Mixing bowls, tools and equipment set out. It is a technique chefs use to assemble meals so quickly and effortlessly.

Practicing mis en place has several benefits:

  • Any missing ingredients can be spotted before it's too late for a quick trip to the store or your neighbor next door.

  • Special preparation for ingredients -- such as toasting nuts, letting certain ingredients come to room temperature, etc. -- can be handled BEFORE cooking rather than in the midst of another preparation step when time delays may affect food quality.

  • There is time to clean the mixing area as you go along rather than face a counter full of mixing equipment when you're done.

  • You can group ingredients or place them in the order used to assure all recipe steps are included.

  • It makes complicated recipes more fun to prepare when you're no longer doing a juggling act, trying to complete several tasks simultaneously.

You may find it helpful and that it brings out your "inner chef" to buy a set of 4 or more "pinch" or "mini" bowls. They come in different sizes and may hold from about 1 to 3 ounces. You often will see TV chefs using these to hold smaller amounts of such ingredients as spices, a single egg, a couple tablespoons of cornstarch, etc. As another option, a set of smaller-sized custard cups may work as well for you.

 

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Developed By:

Alice C. Henneman, MS, RD
Extension Educator
University of Nebraska
Cooperative Extension in Lancaster County

Fax: (402) 441-7148
Phone: (402) 441-7180
E-Mail: ahenneman1@unl.edu
Web site: lancaster.unl.edu/food

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You may reproduce these materials for educational purposes but not for sales purposes. You're also welcome to link to "Cook It Quick" from your website. Please credit: COOK IT QUICK!, University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension (lancaster.unl.edu/food/ciq.htm)

Use of commercial and trade names does not imply approval or constitute endorsement by the University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension. Nor is criticism implied of products not mentioned.

For more information about preparing healthy meals, contact your local University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension Office; for the location of the office nearest you, click here. For a listing of Cooperative Extension Offices throughout the United States, click here.

Address: 444 Cherrycreek Road, Lincoln, NE 68528-1507, Phone: 402-441-7180

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