Kitchen Gadgets: Beyond the Basics
Some kitchen gadgets and appliances can be expensive, so I’m breaking down which ones are worth the price and deserve a spot on your counter.
Before I talked about my bare minimum kitchen tools needed for learning to cook and make great meals. Now, I want expand on some of my favorite kitchen gadgets that I have found to be really useful. However, they may be more of an investment, or they have specific purposes that occasional cooker may not need.
1. A RICE COOKER
I love my rice cooker and it has been going strong for 5 years now. I first bought it in college when I was living in a dorm with half a kitchen. We didn’t have a stove or oven, and I read very mixed reviews about hot plates. Rice cookers are designed to cook grains like rice that absorb their cooking liquid. They maintain heat to cook the grain and switch to warming when it is finished. I love devices that let me walk away from boring or time consuming tasks, so I can finish my meal quicker. Many also have steam trays on top so you can also steam your veggies at the same time. Once when I was stove-less and desperate, I actually made minestrone soup in my little rice cooker! So I’d say it’s a pretty cool and versatile gadget for only about $30!
2. A VITAMIX (OR OTHER HIGH SPEED BLENDER)
I know this a big investment, but it honestly it’s worth it to have a powerful blender. When I moved, this was one of the first things I unpacked! Smoothies with greens taste so much better because a high speed blender has the power to truly blend more fibrous ingredients without the grittiness and little pieces of greens. Other things I love to make in my blender are nut milks and nut butters. You may have noticed from my recipes that cashew creams are my go-to dairy substitute. The Vitamix can easily blend nuts into a smooth cream without overnight soaking. Ever since I starting following foodies, I heard that the Vitmaix was the way to go, and I agree. I used a Blendtec in our school’s kitchen and I didn’t like it as much. Whatever brand you choose, a good blender will serve you well.
I have the low-profile model (the carafe is shorter and wider), but I would suggest the taller model because I find it harder to fully blend smaller portions. When I’m cooking for one, the ingredients can spread out father away from the blade, and I have to stop a lot to scrap down the sides. I’ve used the taller model and haven’t had any issues.
I got mine from Costco last year for a pretty good price, and I would definitely look for black Friday deals if the price tag is too high for you.
3. A MICROPLANE
A microplane is basically a fine grater/zester that can be used for a variety of tasks including zesting citrus and grating nutmeg. Lemon and lime zests can add a lot of flavor to dishes, so it’s nice to have a tool to easily remove the outer layer from citrus fruits. I’ve also used mine to grate zucchini and sweet potatoes! Really any grating-type tool is useful, but I find the microplane to be very sharp and easy to use. It’s also great at grating skin if your hand slips, so be careful!
4. A CITRUS PRESS
I guess I’m on a citrus roll, because now that you’ve zested your lemon you need to easily juice it! There are two types of tools to juice: a citrus press and citrus reamer. Both are designed to separate the juice from seeds and pulp, but they work in different ways. Reamers are usually cheaper, but I find presses easier to use.
If you want to make your own lemonade or something that requires a lot of juice, I really love this Kitchen Aid press that catches the juice in the bottom and then pours! This OXO reamer is a more budget friendly option that just takes a little more strength to make enough lime juice for margaritas!
Side note: Before juicing your citrus, roll them on the counter with the palm of your hand to release some of the juices and make it easier to squeeze. Also when you place your halves in the press, they go flat side down! It seems counter-intuitive because of the shape but that is the best way to extract the most juice!
5. AN IMMERSION BLENDER
If you like to make soups, then an immersion blender is going to save you an extra step. Obviously, you can pour your soups into a stand blender to make a creamy soup, but an immersion blender is a blade on a stick you can put directly into the pot you cooked in. It will take a chunky stew into a blended, creamy soup easily. Immersion blenders are quicker and easier for clean up. I love to use mine in Crock-Pot recipes because then prep and clean up are both a breeze!
The one I have actually comes with an attachment, so it can double as a basic food processor.
6. A “LEAVE-IT-ALONE” COOKER
Whether you prefer the low-and-slow Crock-Pot or the fast pressure cooker, it is really nice to have a cooking tool you can set up and walk away from. Our crock pot is usually working on chili or potato soup this time of year. I think these gadgets can get you eating more meals at home even if you hate cooking because you just have to prep your meal and it’s ready to eat minutes or hours later! Many pressure cookers like the Instant Pot double as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, and even rice cooker so you can get more bang for your buck (and have less appliances cluttering your kitchen). I have this multi-cooker (that may not be sold anymore?) that I love to make risotto in, but we also still use our old Crock-Pot, so it’s ultimately a matter of preference.
Those are some of my more expensive and more specific tools I reach for regularly because they do the job they were designed for so well! Money and cabinet space are always limited, so stop and think about what you like to cook or what foods you would make more if it was easier. For example, I wanted to make more soups, so I got an immersion blender. If you don’t have time to cook dinner, would a Crock-Pot help? Get kitchen gadgets that will suite your lifestyle and make cooking easier for you! Did I forget your favorite tool? Let me know in the comments below!