Must-Have Helpful Kitchen Gadgets
Kitchen Gadgets That Make Cooking Easier
As I have worked on becoming a more well rounded at home cook I have realized that there are so many gadgets out there that it is hard to choose which ones are a must for the kitchen. Included are my favorite gadgets that every home cook should have. Now having a lot of these helpful gadgets myself, I don't know how I functioned without them! These products will simplify your cooking process in so many ways!
Blender
I'm finding that some people are giving up their blenders just to save space and if you are one of them, then think twice! It seems for a long time there was only one type of blender, but now there are various shapes, sizes, and colors. They are great for smoothies, shakes, making baby food, purees, making dressings, etc.
We love to use our blender to make smoothies and if you are thinking that is a lot of work, that process has even been simplified. You now can find ready frozen fruit mixed with yogurt at the grocery store and all you need to do is add juice and blend.
Favorite Blends
What is your favorite food to make in the blender?
One Touch Can Opener
I have had two manual can openers and I always struggled to get cans opened. It seemed they would work on some cans, but not on others. Growing up my mom had an electric can opener, but I was convinced I didn't want one, as it was always getting messy and dropping the cans and the lids would be really sharp on the edges. With the one touch can opener you just pop it on the lid, hold down the button for a second and it does the rest. It also cuts the lid in such a way that it does not have any sharp or jagged edges. I have never had a problem with it falling off the can and you can take the cover off for easy cleaning.
Other One Touch Items
If you like this product, then you will love these! One touch products are devoted to making processes easier in the kitchen.
Slow Cooker
Slow cooker meals can save a lot of time and energy. I have cooked turkey in our slow cooker for Thanksgiving, ham for Easter & Christmas, I love cooking pulled pork in it, I also make a spinach artichoke dip in it. There are so many things you can do with this gadget. We actually received ours as a wedding present and I put it in the cupboard and forgot about for almost a year. Once I remembered we had it and realized the treasure that it was I started trying to find reasons to use it.
The Prefered Slow Cooker
I like a general settings slow cooker, but some say that the programmable slow cookers are the best way to go. I want to know what you think.
Which Do You Prefer?
Electric Kettle
We bought found this helpful gadget when we were tired of waiting for water to boil. I am convinced it is worth its weight in gold! It is great to use for cooking, tea, hot chocolate, and even when you need hot water while cleaning. Heat your water in just a few quick minutes rather than waiting for a pot of water to boil on the stove.
Rice Cooker
I would recommend getting a rice cooker/steamer combination when purchasing this gadget because you can cook your rice and steam other foods at the same time. This is great in our home when making oriental food, just put in the rice and water and let it do the rest. A few minutes later you have fluffy rice and if you have the steamer combination you can even have your veggies ready as well. I have other friends that use their rice cooker and then add other ingredients to the pot that they have already prepared afterwards to create an entire rice dish.
Quick Tip:
People think cleaning rice cooker pots can be hard because the rice can stick, but I found a simple solution. Put the pot and any left over sticky rice in the sink, fill with hot water, add some white vinegar & a few drops of dish soap, then let soak overnight. Works for me every time!
George Foreman Grill
My husband and I have had two George Foreman Grills, when were newly weds we had the small version and when our first little one could start eating regular food we decided to upgrade to a bigger model. What I love about this model is that you can remove the grilling plates and put them in the dishwasher after using it. Grilling with this gadget cuts fat and allows you to grill any time of year.
Chopper
I make quite a few things that require foods to be chopped into smaller pieces and I found out quickly that it is a pain to do with a knife. This little gadget can make that task simple as well as allow you to even get out some of your frustrations while chopping. It is great for chopping nuts, pickles, making salsa, guacamole, toppings for salad or ice cream, etc. I love that there is a cup to hold everything in, which also makes it easy to pour the food you chopped and you don't have to dirty another dish. It is also dishwasher safe for quick and easy cleaning. It is so nice when you don't have to add to the dishes that pile up in the sink that need to be hand washed after cooking!
Chopping Fun
Do you think chopping food is fun?
Borner V Slicer
I want one of these so badly! We have tried so many different slicers in our home that have had flimsy plastic or the blades went dull quickly and right now we have the old fashioned metal triangular one, but I think they are hard to hold and practically impossible to use while holding over a bowl. This helpful gadget is almost like having a professional slicer at home. It has different levels and slicer types, as well as a child proof lock!
Borner Easy Use Bowl - Sold Seperately
More about the Borner V Slicer
I think this gadget is just amazing! When you watch this video you'll see why!
Kitchen Aid Mixer
This is a gadget I have yet to purchase and am hoping someday I'll get it as a gift. My mom swears by these machines and I know it can make food preparation ten times easier. When you buy a Kitchen Aid mixer I would recommend one that you can put different attachment tools on, as well as purchasing the attachments if they aren't already included, so you can mix a variety of different things, including kneading bread.
Instead of having to use an electric mixer or mixing by hand, which seems to take forever and is hard to get the right consistency, you can use the Kitchen Aid and multitask while it does the work. You can just put the ingredients in the bowl, choose the setting you need, and let it work its magic while you prepare other foods. You also will never have to worry about lumps again!
Electric Knife
This product that makes carving simple and is especially helpful during holidays. This is a purchase my husband and I need to make as well. This last Thanksgiving was our first time carving the turkey and all we had was regular knives; it took quite a long time and dulled our knife. You can also use it to carve pumpkins and cut watermelon! This is a gadget this useful and fun to have.
(Gadget suggested by Mrs_A_for_Apple)
Easier Cooking
I know that as I make cooking easier, I feel calmer about completing the task. It also helps to be able to do things quickly in the kitchen when you have little ones running around. In addition, I have found that when I am happy while I am cooking the food tends to turn out better. These are products I wish I knew to put on our wedding registry when my husband and I got married because it would have saved me a lot of time and grief if they would have been in our kitchen from the start! In my opinion, they are absolutely must-haves for any kitchen.
Which kitchen gadget do you love to use or would like to have that could make cooking easier?
© 2012 Rymom28