Silver Spring, Maryland, resident Brian Kezer balances his professional responsibilities with a number of hobbies. Brian Kezer particularly enjoys working out, playing sports, and cooking.

Developing the skills to cook at home takes time and patience. Many chefs implement the traditional French method of mise en place, which involves having all ingredients measured and in place before beginning. Not only does this make food preparation more efficient, it instills organizational skills that can streamline the cooking process. A chef who practices mise en place will also realize if they are missing or short on an ingredient before they begin cooking.

To practice mise en place, chefs should gather every item necessary for the dish, including spices, utensils, and equipment. After washing, cutting, chopping, and measuring ingredients according to the recipe, chefs should place them in dishes and containers within arm’s reach on the counter. With everything easily accessible, they can add each ingredient as they read through the recipe, eliminating the need to search the refrigerator and pantry multiple times.