A little preparation today can save a lot of time tomorrow.

It’s 5:30 p.m., everyone is hungry, and the question comes again: “What’s for dinner?”

Before reaching for the takeout menu, consider a few simple tricks that can make preparing meals faster, easier and less stressful. You don’t need to spend your entire Sunday cooking or fill the refrigerator with identical containers of chicken and rice. Smart meal preparation is about doing a little work ahead of time so your future self has less to do.

Here are 10 Everyday Genius tricks that can save time in the kitchen.

1. Prep ingredients, not entire meals

Instead of cooking five complete dinners, prepare ingredients you can use in different ways.

Wash and chop vegetables, cook a batch of rice and prepare chicken or another protein. Those ingredients can become tacos Monday, a rice bowl Tuesday and a stir-fry Wednesday.

Genius tip: Store ingredients separately so you can mix and match without eating the same meal every day.

2. Double up while you’re cooking

Making spaghetti sauce, chili or soup? Double the recipe and freeze half for another day.

It takes little additional effort to prepare a larger batch, and you’ll have a homemade meal waiting when your schedule gets hectic.

Genius tip: Freeze extra portions in meal-sized containers labeled with the contents and date.

3. Put your sheet pan to work

One-pan meals reduce preparation and cleanup. Arrange chicken, potatoes and vegetables on a sheet pan, season and roast until everything reaches a safe internal temperature.

Choose ingredients with similar cooking times, or add quick-cooking vegetables later.

Genius tip: Line the pan with parchment paper when appropriate for your recipe to make cleanup easier.

4. Use the freezer as your personal assistant

Frozen chopped onions, peppers, broccoli and other vegetables can go directly into many soups, casseroles and skillet meals.

Frozen vegetables are often just as nutritious as fresh ones, and they eliminate washing and chopping.

Genius tip: Freeze fresh herbs in small portions with a little water or oil for future cooked dishes.

5. Create a five-minute breakfast station

Busy mornings become easier when breakfast is practically ready.

Prepare overnight oats, portion yogurt and fruit, or make egg muffins that can be refrigerated and reheated.

Genius tip: Keep a designated refrigerator shelf or container for grab-and-go breakfasts.

6. Make one protein do triple duty

A batch of cooked chicken can become several different meals.

  • Monday: Chicken tacos with lettuce and salsa
  • Tuesday: Chicken and vegetable rice bowls
  • Wednesday: Chicken quesadillas with cheese and peppers

Cooked chicken should generally be refrigerated for no more than three to four days. Freeze portions you won’t use within that time.

7. Try the 10-minute kitchen reset

After putting away groceries, spend 10 minutes preparing what you’ll need later.

Wash produce, portion snacks, organize ingredients and move items needed first to the front of the refrigerator.

Genius tip: Place ingredients for one planned meal together in a labeled container or designated refrigerator area.

8. Keep a pantry emergency dinner

Every household needs a backup meal that requires little thought.

Keep pasta, canned beans, tuna, broth, rice and frozen vegetables available. With a few basics, you can assemble dinner without another trip to the grocery store.

Genius tip: Write down three quick meals your family enjoys and keep the necessary shelf-stable ingredients on hand.

9. Let kitchen appliances save time

Slow cookers, pressure cookers, rice cookers and air fryers can reduce hands-on cooking.

A slow cooker can handle dinner while you’re busy, while a pressure cooker can shorten cooking time for certain recipes.

Genius tip: Choose appliances based on the meals you actually prepare rather than adding gadgets that take up valuable counter space.

10. Make a plan before shopping

One of the biggest kitchen time-wasters is deciding what to cook after you’re already hungry.

Before grocery shopping, choose three or four dinners, check what you have and make a list of missing ingredients.

Leave room for leftovers and an easy meal night. You don’t need to plan every bite of the week.

Genius tip: Keep a running list of 10 favorite family meals on your phone. When you’re out of ideas, choose from the list instead of starting from scratch.

One important reminder: Keep prepared food safe

Refrigerate perishable foods within two hours of cooking, or within one hour when temperatures exceed 90 degrees. Keep your refrigerator at 40 degrees or below and your freezer at 0 degrees. Most cooked leftovers should be eaten within three to four days or frozen for later use.

For additional guidance, visit FoodSafety.gov.

The Everyday Genius takeaway

Meal preparation doesn’t have to mean spending hours in the kitchen. Even 15 minutes of chopping vegetables, planning meals or preparing tomorrow’s breakfast can make the next day run more smoothly.

The smartest kitchen shortcut isn’t necessarily cooking faster. It’s making fewer decisions when you’re tired and hungry.

And if preparing dinner becomes easier, that’s a little everyday genius worth celebrating.

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