CRITICAL PATH METHOD & COOKING
November 15, 2023
Someone once suggested the application of the Critical Path Method to the field of cooking, specifically in the planning of multi-dish meals with varying preparation & cooking times. However, I don't know any cooks who sit down and draw up a flow chart before making a multi-course meal, as most of them have acquired an almost innate sense of scheduling.. (But then again, maybe I'm hanging out with the wrong kind of cooks!)
Nonetheless, project management is a crucial part of effectively managing works tasks, and certain aspects of this can also be incorporated into meal planning to some extent. The graphic below shows one way a project management-minded cook might begin to plan a holiday meal, for example.
So if you have a multi-course meal that can potentially be de-railed if one key part isn't completed, then you'll do your best to defrost, prep, and finish that important element with more than enough time to spare.
And there's something I've coined as economy of motion when it comes to kitchen prep…
I'd really like to add more to this article, but I seriously need to start prepping some recipes for Thanksgiving right now!…
If you'd like to learn more about the Critical Path Method, the websites everhour.com and monday.com both provide insightful definitions & explanations. The articles are fairly brief and well-written, so it shouldn't take too much time out of your schedule. 🙂 And whatever you're planning on cooking in the coming weeks, be sure to take time to remember the less fortunate during the holidays.