Hearty herbs like rosemary, oregano, and thyme should hold up for a few days under proper storage, but make sure to chop parsley, cilantro, and more delicate greens just a few hours before you need them or they may get soggy. Toast nuts before storing. While salads and pastries often call for toasted nuts, they usually need them to be cooled to room temperature before using. Get this out of the way when you bring them home, and then add them to recipes as needed. Grate and crumble cheeses.
Sticky cheese can make quite a mess during prep time.
Get this task out of the way by grating onto parchment paper and storing in the fridge until you're ready to cook. However, when accenting a dish with a fresh grate of expensive cheese, save it until just before serving to get maximum impact in each bite. Take advantage of time. Remember, the flavors of some food actually improve when left on their own for a few hours.