How Kitchen Gadgets Can Make Cooking More Fun and Efficient
If you're a professional cook who spends all day in the kitchen or if you're simply looking to save time, these handy gadgets will make cooking more fun and efficient.
Whether it's a gift for a wise abuela or yourself, these kitchen gadgets and tools will encourage healthy eating at home.
Food Processor
If you want a kitchen appliance that acts like your own personal sous chef, look no further than the food processor. The versatile gadget can chop, shred, mince, puree, and even knead dough. It can save you loads of prep time and elbow grease by blitzing ingredients into uniform sizes or textures.
The best models have interchangeable work bowls and come with a variety of blades, including a reversible shredding/slicing disc, a dough blade, an adjustable chopping blade, and a cleaning tool. Many also have a blender attachment for smoothies, and most are top-rack dishwasher-safe.
The Thermomix is an expensive but versatile food processor that can replace many other appliances in your kitchen. It can chop, shred, grind, and knead as well as steam, sauté, and even ferment. It comes with a bowl, blades, and a separate blender jug, but you can add on extras like a citrus press, a spiralizer, or a juicer. It has a bigger learning curve than the typical food processor, but it will make your cooking and baking faster and more efficient. It also has a touchscreen that can guide you through recipes and offers over-the-air software updates with new features.
Electric Mixer
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One of the most popular kitchen gadgets is an electric mixer. It's used for mixing, whisking, beating, and kneading to prepare a variety of foods. It's usually lightweight and compact enough to fit in a cupboard.
Unlike stand mixers, which feature numerous attachments and speeds, a hand mixer is typically just as versatile with only a few simple settings. It has a handle that connects to two metal beaters and has a snap-on cover for convenient storage.
If you're a baker, this tool will help you make your baked goods with more consistency. It helps you achieve the right temperature when baking so that your meat isn't undercooked or your cookies aren't burnt. This Winco thermometer is an oven thermometer that's either freestanding or hangs from a rack.
You can easily whip egg whites to soft peaks or thoroughly combine the batter and homemade salad dressing with this handheld mixer. Unlike other models that come with confusing bells and whistles, the Dualit model has just four simple settings. It's also the perfect solution for those who don't have a lot of counter space because it's small enough to fit in a cupboard. It's also compatible with most nonstick cookware.
Slow Cooker
You’ve probably seen the archetype depiction of a chef in movies or TV shows: a wise abuela, a white-haired Michelin star holder, or a young social media personality with a sleekly styled hat and matching apron. They show up at a tense dinner table and whip up something that makes the room quarrel turn to “How did you do that?”
A slow cooker is one of the most useful kitchen gadgets, especially for plant-based eaters. This electric appliance uses moist heat to cook dishes all day, with the flavors mingling throughout the cooking process. They also produce a delicious aroma that fills the entire kitchen.
While the slow cooker is a staple for home cooks, it can also be used to make other helpful foods. You can prepare hands-free breakfast and brunch recipes like hashbrowns, oatmeal, or cinnamon rolls in the slow cooker. You can even use it to make savory soups and stews.
Another useful kitchen gadget to have is a meat thermometer. It allows you to monitor the temperature of the meat while it’s in the slow cooker so you know when your dish is ready to eat. You can also set this Hamilton Beach Set & Forget slow cooker to automatically switch to warm once the food is cooked, minimizing the risk of overcooked meals.
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Waffle Maker
A waffle maker is a fun way to make a special treat for yourself or your family. They're usually electric and run from a plug, so all you have to do is pour the batter in and let it do its magic.
Some models have indicators and a sound to let you know when it's preheated and the waffle is done cooking. If you're looking for a model that's easy to clean, consider one with nonstick plates. This Lakeland model makes four large Belgian-style waffles at a time, and its deep ridges keep any overflow from spilling onto your countertop.
This Cuisinart has six settings for browning, so if you like your waffles light or dark, you'll be able to adjust them to suit your tastes. It also has a "no-mess moat" to prevent overflow and spillage, and an indicator light and audible beep to tell you when the machine is ready for your waffle. One of the best features is its slim design, which means it takes up less space than a traditional waffle iron. It can also stand up, making it easier to store. And the handles stay cool, so you'll have a good grip even when it's scorching hot.
Sous Vide Machine
Sous vide is a cooking technique that is popular in restaurant kitchens to slowly cook food at very low temperatures. The method allows for precise temperature control and results in moist and tender foods that are very flavorful. This type of cooking is also great for making foods like a perfect steak or roast with incredibly crisp skin.
Once popular only in professional kitchens, the sous vide technique is becoming more widely available for home use thanks to advances in technology. Immersion circulators, which used to cost thousands of dollars and were designed for large-scale cooking setups, have been miniaturized into small wand-shaped appliances that attach to the side of a stock pot or plastic container. These devices heat the water and keep it at a consistent and precise temperature for as long as you set it.
While most people associate sous vide with meat, it can be used to make a variety of dishes including fish, eggs, vegetables, sauces, and even desserts. For example, carrots cooked in sous vide with a bit of ginger and honey take on a sweetness and vibrancy that you can't get from an oven or frying pan.
Other helpful sous vide accessory is a digital instant-read thermometer, which takes the guesswork out of whether or not your foods have reached a safe and delicious temperature to eat. A device like this can help you avoid overcooking proteins such as chicken, pork, and beef, which can ruin their texture and flavor.
Popcorn Maker
Although it's possible to throw a bag of popcorn in the microwave or a pot, a dedicated machine offers more options for flavor, toppings, and even color. Some electric machines offer a hands-free option with a spigot that shoots popped kernels out into your bowl while others require manual cranking and can produce old-time kettle corn. Adding one of these small appliances to your kitchen can make movie marathons at home more fun and can add a touch of nostalgia.
Some of these gadgets are very small and can fit into cabinets or drawers for easy storage. Others, like the waffle or sous, vide maker, are larger and may need a designated spot on your counter or in your cupboards. Consider your cooking style and needs, budget, and recommendations from other experts when choosing what gadgets you need to upgrade your kitchen.
With a variety of different kitchen gadgets, you can easily improve your cooking experience and take your meals to the next level. Consider the different options available to see what might best suit your needs, and be sure to buy high-quality items that will last longer than cheap models. For example, a cheap mixer might only last a few months, but a more expensive model might last years or even decades.
Ice Cream Maker
Whether you're a wise abuela, white-haired Michelin star holder, or young social media personality, you know that you need the right tools in your kitchen. But with so many kitchen gadgets out there, it can be hard to separate the ones that are helpful from the ones that simply take up space and make your cooking more tedious.
Invest in an ice cream maker to whip up your family's favorite frozen desserts in the comfort of your own home. Most models come in 1.5 and 2-quart designs that are perfect for a single person or larger families with a passion for homemade sweet treats.
A simple but useful gadget, an oven thermometer is a must-have for any home cook. The handy device helps you avoid overcooked pizza, burnt cookies, and other culinary disasters by showing you the exact temperature of your food with a large digital display.
If you're always struggling with stubborn jar lids, a multi-jar opener can help. The handy tool features comfortable handles that provide leverage for a variety of lid sizes, from bottle twist tops to safety seals and pull tabs.
Conclusion
If you’re a professional cook who spends all day in the kitchen or if you’re simply looking to save time, these handy gadgets will make cooking more fun and efficient. While the slow cooker is a staple for home cooks, it can also be used to make other helpful foods. Sous Vide Machine Sous vide is a cooking technique that is popular in restaurant kitchens to slowly cook food at very low temperatures.
