The clean as you go method works well with most recipes though. There are dishes that come together really quickly and you can’t walk away from or others that must be monitored constantly but most dishes have some downtime built in.

Prepping all of your ingredients ahead of time makes a huge difference. I used to try and slice the veg for step 3 while step 2 was simmering and it became a stressful race to get it done in time. Now I prep all of my ingredients ahead of time in small bowls or on my cutting board. It’s ready before I need it and the extra “cleanup” involves adding a few more dishes to the dishwasher.