Ever since I shifted houses and started cooking for myself, I have started the practice of reciting the holy Vishnu Sahasranamam, while cooking my food. My fare is very simple. A few Dosas, some Sambar and thoran consisting of kadala or payar or some such protein-rich diet. Since preparing the Sambar kuzhambu takes roughly 20 minutes, this time can be very well synced up with the oral recital of VSN, which again takes 20 minutes for me (minus the intro and phalasruti) or 30 min (if I include the intro, phalasruti, and the Apaduddharaka stotram also).
I have been following this practice for the past 6 months. The benefits of this practice, as I experienced them, are as follows:
1) With this, I ensure that I recite the VSN at least once everyday, that too in the morning itself, as I won't anyway be able to skip my cooking, on any day.
2) Recital of the pure, divine names of the lord while cooking, benefits me by giving it a much better taste, than otherwise.
3) Just as I am able to recite VSN in a flow, the cooking too gets done "in a zone", without any boredom!
4) In a general sense, many times have I experienced protection from accidents, by reciting the lord's names. So this practice is a kind of protection while cooking food too.
