Secrets to help you navigate the galley
Issue 31 : Jul/Aug 2003
Keeping the galley as efficient as possible goes a long way toward maintaining morale and even invites crewmembers to take up cooking chores. Here are some secrets to make your galley more navigable and user-friendly.
Instead of looking up those favorite recipes every time you need one, write down recipes you use frequently on recipe cards. But don’t stop there; laminate them or cover them with clear contact paper (available in the storage/shelving section of discount stores) and mount them on the inside of your galley cabinet doors or another out-of-sight, but handy, location. Picture-mounting putty works well for this. A recipe card can be grabbed (with the putty still on the back) and placed anywhere on a bulkhead or counter visible to the cook.
Galleys can be crowded with crewmembers passing through. Reduce the amount of maneuvering required for cooking by storing items used together in the same space.
Storing your galley equipment intuitively saves time, energy, and frustration for the cooks, especially those who are not familiar with it. Here are some examples:
- Sharp knives near the cutting boards
- Measuring utensils near or even inside mixing bowls
- Mixing spoons and whisks near those mixing bowls
- Cups near the water pump
- Can opener near the pots and pans
Clear sink
While cooking, keep your sink clear of dirty dishes as much as possible so it can be used for storing ingredients. This reduces the number of items that will have to be grabbed or watched when the boat sways due to an unexpected swell or wake.
Create an easily reached snack zone away from the galley so anyone can grab a quick snack without getting in the way of the cook. Stock it with small amounts of a wide variety of snacks to keep interest high.
Have a small bin or hammock somewhere in the galley just for fruit and vegetables that need to be eaten quickly. I have gotten into the habit of going through all of our produce daily and sorting out the fruit and vegetables that are nearing the end of their lifespan. These go in a small hammock that hangs above our galley counter. Now everyone knows what produce needs to be used first for meals. We also line our produce hammocks with opened paper bags to reduce bruising from the hammock strings. It also helps to keep the hammock spread out, and the paper absorbs moisture.
Collect all the non-perishable items necessary for a favorite meal or entrée and store them together in a plastic bag. Have several of these “meals–in-a-bag” stored within easy reach near your stove. Some of our quickie meal favorites include:
- Cajun dirty rice mix with canned chicken and green beans
- Hash-brown mix with a small can of chopped ham and canned mushrooms
- Macaroni-and-cheese mix with canned tuna
- Canned navy beans with canned chicken, salsa verde, and canned green chilis
Having all the basics for a meal together in one bag within easy reach is a great help when a meal needs to be prepared quickly.
An efficient galley is a joy to work in. Now all those who wander into your galley will not be lost. They may even share in the cooking.
Thank you to Sailrite Enterprises, Inc., for providing free access to back issues of Good Old Boat through intellectual property rights. Sailrite.com
