Cooking Guide
How to cook 5 meals in under 2 hours — by doing multiple things at once
⭐ COOK SMART RECOMMENDS
Triple-Channel Kitchen Timer — Cook 3 Things at Once
The secret weapon for cooking multiple meals simultaneously. Set 3 independent timers so your rice, chicken, and veggies all finish perfectly — exactly what the Cooking Guide teaches.
Recommended by our chefs
Shop Now⏱ The 2-Hour Method
The trick is simple: while the oven is on, you cook on the stovetop. While the stovetop is going, you prep the next meal. Never stand and wait — always be doing something.
5 Meals
Prepared at once
~2 Hours
Total cooking time
1 Cleanup
Kitchen tidy
Step-by-Step Schedule
📋
Set Up & Plan
0:00 mark
Read through all 5 recipes before starting
Get all ingredients out of the fridge and pantry
Set out all pots, pans and chopping boards
Identify which meals take longest — start those first
🔥
Start the Longest Cook First
0:05 mark
Put rice or pasta on to boil (hands-free time)
Put any oven dish in to roast (hands-free time)
If making soup, get it simmering on the stove
Set timers so you don't forget
🔪
Prep While Things Cook
0:15 mark
While oven/rice is going: chop vegetables for other meals
Marinate any meat for tomorrow's meals
Pre-measure spices into small bowls
This is where you save the most time — multitask!
🍳
Cook Your Second Dish
0:30 mark
Start your second recipe — stir fry, omelette or pan dish
Check on oven dish / rice — stir if needed
Cook second dish quickly (stir fries take only 10–15 min)
Set aside to cool before storing
📦
Finish & Pack
0:45 mark
Remove oven dish — let rest for 5 minutes
Prepare any no-cook items (smoothie bowls, salads)
Portion meals into containers for the week
Label containers with day/meal name
🧹
Clean as You Go
1:00 mark
Wash pots as soon as they're empty — much easier
Wipe down bench between tasks
Final clean takes 10 minutes when you clean as you go
Store all meals in fridge/freezer — done for the week!
Pro Cooking Tips
Batch cook grains
Cook a full pot of rice or pasta — use across multiple meals all week.
Double your sauces
Making bolognese or curry sauce? Double it and freeze half — future you will be grateful.
Marinate the night before
Quick 5-minute prep the night before means maximum flavour with zero morning effort.
Use your oven wisely
The oven is hands-free time. While one dish roasts, cook another on the stovetop.
Freeze in portions
Freeze individual meal portions — perfect for busy nights when you don't want to cook.
One chopping session
Chop all your vegetables in one session. Store in containers — prep done for the week.