Kitchen Gadgets. There’s one for every task imaginable. They cost anywhere from $1 to hundreds of dollars. They’re used to save time in the kitchen and make cooking easier. Figuring out which gadgets to buy is tricky. Is it worth the money? Will it work like the description says it will? Is it easy to use? Is it easy to clean? These are some of the questions to ask yourself before buying a new kitchen gadget.
What are Kitchen Gadgets?
Kitchen gadgets are devices or tools that help us in the kitchen. They help us save time in the kitchen by making a task easier and more efficient. For example, using a vegetable peeler on carrots takes the thin skin off the carrot quickly in a very thin layer. A paring knife would take twice as much time and would take a thicker layer wasting some of the vegetable.
What Kitchen Gadgets Should I Buy?
If a gadget gets used on a regular basis, saves time, and makes cooking more efficient, it’s worth exploring the possibility of buying one. A vegetable peeler and instant read thermometer are both handy kitchen gadgets for home cooks. The vegetable peeler helps save prep time and the thermometer let’s us know when chicken is at a proper temperature and safe to eat. Egg Cubers or Sushi Bazookas are not good gadget options for most people. It’s not very often square eggs are needed and most people are not making sushi at home. Those gadgets are cool and attention getters but, if a kitchen gadget takes up space, is not being used, and isn’t making your life easier, it is not worth having.
Kitchen Gadgets I Use
These are some of the kitchen gadgets I use in the kitchen. Some have multiple uses and others are a one trick pony but they fit with my cooking style. There is probably a gadget or two on this list that fits with your style as well.
Salt Cellar
“Salt and Pepper to taste” is a common instruction in recipes. Having this salt cellar nearby lets me
Butter Crock
A butter crock is great for always having softened butter. This is a useful and inexpensive kitchen gadget if you want to keep softened butter on your kitchen counter. It keeps air from getting to butter which can cause spoilage. This is the butter crock I have. Homemade butter is a great thing to make with your stand mixer. You can get the recipe for that HERE.
Stovetop Popcorn Popper
I liked to burn Stovetop Popcorn before I got this Stovetop Popper. It makes perfect popcorn every time. A Tablespoon or two of oil and ½ cup of kernels. Heat over medium-high heat while turning the crank. The popcorn starts popping and once the popping slows down to about 1 or 2 every few seconds it’s done. The lack of unpopped kernels never stops amazing me. There are a few but not many. This is the Stovetop Popper to have.
Soup Mug with Vented Lid
This Soup Mug by Corningware has a vented lid. The lid lets the soup heat up without making a mess in the microwave. It’s also great for heating up leftover pastas and casseroles for lunch the next day. Cheeses in and on top of leftovers melt perfectly back into ooey gooey goodness when using this mug as opposed to clumping up when using a plate or open container. Make Sausage, Lentil, and Kale Soup to put in your Soup Mug.
Yeti MagSlider Lid
Bench/Dough Scraper
When not being used for baking a Bench Scraper is an excellent tool for moving prepped food from your cutting board to the pot or pan. You can move twice as much with a Bench/Dough Scraper as opposed to using your hands. Use the Bench/Dough Scraper to move the peppers and onion to the pan when making Low Carb Philly Cheesesteak.
Multi Cherry Pitter
Who has the time to pit cherries one by one? NO ONE! This Cherry Pitter handles 6 at a time. I only buy fresh cherries when they are in season and reasonably priced. This gadget gets used plenty to justify being a one trick pony. You could probably test drive it with olives as well.
Hot Handle Holder
Cast Iron pans work great for cooking and keeping even heat.
Onion Saver
I keep whole onions on the counter. When I cut into one and only use part of it the rest of it goes in the fridge. To keep the entire fridge and multiple containers from smelling, I keep partial onions in an Onion Saver. I use the Onion Saver for onions mostly and the occasional Bell Pepper.
Pickle Strainer
Pickles are good when I want a salty snack that’s low in calories. Digging them out of the jar is a pain. I have an old Pickle Strainer from Tupperware……that’s avocado green. Yes, avocado green. This Pickle Strainer is a little more modern in color but just as cool. It works well for other pickled products as well.
Bag Holder
Herb Keeper
Keep the bunch of parsley or cilantro fresh with an Herb Keeper. Cut off the stems like flowers. Then, add water to the bottom of the Herb Keeper and put it in the fridge. It’ll keep the herbs green and ready to use for the next recipe. Change the water every couple of days and your herbs will stay fresh for the whole week. This is especially great in the winter when I don’t have fresh herbs outside growing on the deck. Put the leftover parsley in the herb keeper after making Corn and Avocado Salad.
Mason Jar Juicing Lid
If life gives you lemons (limes for margaritas in my case) and you’re squeezing a bunch this Juicing Lid is the gadget for you. Juice the fruit directly into your wide mouth jar, put on the storage lid, and your fresh citrus juice is in the fridge ready to go. You can get your Lid HERE.
Kitchen Scale
Instant Read Thermometer
You don’t want your family or guests sick from your cooking. A meat thermometer will keep that from happening. This one is a best seller on Amazon with 4.5 stars, over 6800 reviews, a great price, and ships free with Amazon Prime. You’ll never have to guess if you’re chicken is cooked through again with this Thermometer. Use the thermometer on a Copycat Version of Chili’s Monterey Chicken.
Silicone Baking Mats
Food sticking to a sheet pan is a nightmare. Silicone Baking Mats take care of your sticky situation. No more broken cookies or breading left behind. No oil, parchment paper, or cooking spray needed when you use one of these. Silicone Baking Mats make clean up a snap and keep your cookie sheet shiny and bright.
Mandolin
When I started seeing sweet potato chips as dog treats in the store I thought it would be a great healthy treat for Finnigan, our sheltie. When I looked at the price and the packaging size however, I was shocked. There is no way I am paying $11.00 for 8oz. of dehydrated sweet potato. Fresh Sweet potatoes cost under $1.00 lb. We make our own sweet potato chips for the dog. To get them extra thin, I use the Mandolin Slicer. It slices them all the same thickness. I then put them on the food dehydrator overnight and the next day they are dried out and read to go. One sweet potato makes about 1 week of dog treats and Finnigan loves them.
Stainless Steel “Soap”
Cutting up onions and garlic can leave your hands smelly even after washing with soap. A Stainless Steel Soap Bar removes the odors like magic just by washing and using it like a regular bar of soap. It works because the sulfur molecules in the onions and garlic bind with the molecules in the steel. The molecules transfer from your hands to the stainless steel soap. Now that’s a neat science trick!
The Two Final Kitchen Gadgets on this List are Really Small Appliances
Vacuum Food Sealer
Food Sealers have been out for years. Using them preserves, protects, and extends the shelf life of foods. Buy meat in bulk when it goes on sale and freeze it for later. Sealers also reseal that bag of chips or pretzels you opened and didn’t finish.
Food Sealers are between $100-200 but the bigger expense is the bags. They are crazy expensive for the brand name bags running $15-20 for 40 feet of bags. To save on the cost I order mine online and get 100 feet for under $20. The Bags are more product for your money and just as effective.
Multicooker
Multicookers are all the rage right now. It makes your grandmothers pressure cooker a one trick pony. The new multicookers steam, sauté, slow cook, pressure cook, make yogurt, and more. The best known brand is the Instant Pot. The more I use it, the more I want to cook in it. Cook roasts, bean, soups and more in no time. If pressure cookers make you nervous, the Instant Pot will take away that anxiety. Instant Pot Recipes will be on the blog soon. Stay tuned for those.
Do you have any of these kitchen gadgets or others that you find useful? Leave your comments on what kitchen gadgets you can’t do without.
