Buy good-quality knives and other cutting tools for your kitchen. Sharp utensils are safer and will save you a lot of time. Dull, hard-to-control knives cause far more cuts and accidents than well-sharpened ones do.

There's almost always leftovers after serving turkey. Cut the leftover meat and put it away in airtight containers. Leftover turkey can be used for enchiladas, pot pie, sandwiches and salads.

If you want your time in the kitchen to be free from stress, create a list of all the ingredients you will need and make sure that you have everything on the list in close arm's reach. By getting ready in advance, you will never be left without an ingredient half way through. The process of gathering the ingredients may not be quicker if you do it prior or during, but it will save you time and headaches doing it beforehand since you won't lose your cooking focus when you are in the middle of a recipe.

Save spicy or unusual spices for after you cook the meal. Pepper, cayenne, salt, and garlic are yummy additional seasonings you can add. Where seasonings are concerned, people have drastically different preferences. You can please everyone by making a variety of choices available to add at the dinner table. This way you are sure that every person enjoys their dish.

When using nonstick cookware, be sure to also use nylon, rubber, or silicon spatulas and spoons. The harder metal or wooden utensils can gouge or scratch the coating, which both reduces its effectiveness, and allows its coating to flake off into the food. Not only will this ruin your meal, it could cost you your life!

If you are preparing a salad which will not be served until later, exercise good judgment as you layer the ingredients. Place juicy ingredients and the bottom and place the lettuce at the top.

In order to have plenty of fresh fall apples for cooking, store them properly to keep them from spoiling. Warm, dry air will make apples rot, so keep them in the fridge or cellar in plastic bags. Be warned, there is a reason for the old adage about the rotten apple! If you fail to quickly discard spoiled apples, the rest will quickly spoil as well.

Protect your spice and herb collection by storing your jars at room temperature in a dark place. Humidity, heat and light can all cause flavors to weaken thus making your foods not able to obtain their potential. Ground herbs and spices can retain full flavor for about a year. Spices that have not been ground have the potential to last upwards of five years. Storing spices in glass containers with a tight-fitting lid will keep them best.