Make It Faster with Michael Symon

Think five-ingredient meals under five minutes is impossible? Think again. Chef Michael Symon wants you to rethink your approach to the dinner table.

In his new book 5 in 5: 5 Fresh Ingredients + 5 Minutes = 120 Fantastic Dinners, Michael reveals the secret to making simple and satisfying meals from scratch under a time crunch.

"I do a segment on The Chew called 5 in 5 that has been a tremendous success, but my inspiration for doing it on The Chew and now the book is that in modern day America, most people have or can find the time on weekends to do a big, long, drawn-out cooking day, but not during the typical work week," he explains. "If you have the ability to get a meal made from scratch on the table in five to 10 minutes, you are going to do that." To spend more time with his family, Michael found ways to get simple homemade meals on the table quickly.

We asked Michael for the secret, and he shared 15 time-saving tips that will turn you into a believer. Find out what five essential pantry items you should always have on hand, why keeping your knives sharp is so important and what surprising common kitchen appliance Michael has never owned.

Check out the slideshow above to discover Michael's 15 tips to make meals faster.