Juggling meal preparation with a busy schedule and budget constraints can be challenging, even for cooking enthusiasts. Cami Wells Sometimes, we need to take shortcuts to prepare meals quickly or opt for cost-effective ingredients. Here are helpful tips: 1.

Fruits and vegetables don’t always have to be fresh. Frozen and canned produce can be budget-friendly and time-saving alternatives when you need out-of-season items or want foods that stay fresher longer. 2.

Use an air fryer or toaster oven. Small, convenient, and quick-to-heat appliances can save both time and money. They’re perfect for roasting vegetables and reheating leftovers like pizza.

A great way to save time in the kitchen is to use an air fryer or toaster oven. Small, convenient, and quick-to-heat appliances can save both time and money. They’re perfect for roasting vegetables and reheating leftovers like pizza.

3. Feel free to make ingredient substitutions in recipes. If you’re missing a specific item, consider basic ingredient swaps using items already in your pantry before rushing to the store.

While the final dish may vary slightly from the original, you might discover a new favorite: https://go.unl.edu/substitutions 4.

Lean toward using dried instead of fresh herbs. Yes, fresh herbs can add wonderful flavor to dishes, but they are also often expensive and highly perishable. A general rule of thumb is to use 1 teaspoon of dried herbs for 1 tablespoon of fresh.

5. Don’t have time to chop onions? Use .