Jupiter Images Even if you order takeout twice as often as you bother to cook, it's still worth developing basic knife skills. While you don't have to be able to chop veggies as fast and fluently as a TV chef or butcher a whole animal, it's nice not having to break out (and clean) the food processor just to chop a single yellow onion. Here are some shortcuts for handling yourself in the kitchen:

Use scissors. That's right, scissors. You can put herbs in a measuring cup or a mug and chop them up with kitchen shears (just make sure they're designated specifically for the kitchen!).

Get a garlic press. The difference between a good and a bad press is stark. Be sure to get one that's big enough to crush more than one clove at a time and isn't an ordeal to clean.

Use a good knife. It's amazing how much your knife skills will "improve" if you invest in a quality knife and commit to keeping it sharp. Avoid cheapie kits -- most cooks only need a (good) chef's knife, paring knife and serrated bread knife.

Beyond these tips, practicing your knife-wielding abilities will ultimately make your life in the kitchen faster and easier. But in the meantime, we have five recipes that require no -- or very little -- chopping, slicing or dicing.

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No Knife Skills Recipes