Table of Contents
FOOD PROCESSOR
My first must-have cooking tool is a food processor with interchangeable disks/blades. This item might be regarded as the cook’s best friend. It can shred block cheese and slice stick pepperoni (both of which are much cheaper than buying pre-shredded cheese or pre-sliced pepperoni).
You may also use it to quickly prepare mayonnaise, peanut butter, or whipped cream, as well as chop or slice a variety of veggies.Food processors are fantastic for producing pates and dips, as well as smooth and creamy deli-style tunafish. Make delicious hummus or guacamole in minutes, great for our guacamole deviled egg appetisers! They are simple to clean and produce better results than buying premade deli meat.
THE SLOW COOKER
A slow cooker, also known as a crockpot, is my next must-have kitchen appliance. Aside from the energy savings of cooking a roast in a slow cooker rather than an oven, this little beauty is a great way to use up leftover meats and vegetables – just toss them in with some broth, let it cook all day, and you’ve got soup!It’s also the simplest way to cook a chicken for casseroles or pot pies that call for cooked chicken – while also making your own chicken broth! Simply season the chicken, insert a peeled onion into the cavity, cover with 2-4 cups of water, and cook on low for 8-10 hours.
RICE COOKER
Another must-have kitchen tool, and one that elicits the most scepticism from fellow cooks because it appears odd or unnecessary, is an electric rice cooker.Rice is a pantry staple for any frugal cook and is most likely used frequently. This gadget is the best and most energy-efficient way to cook your rice to absolute perfection every time, whether white or (my preference) brown.Consider how many times your rice has boiled over, or been overcooked and burned, or dried out without enough liquid, or taken up valuable burner space, forcing you to wait to cook another part of your meal. Rice cookers eliminate all of these barriers.
JUICER
If you don’t already have a juicer, get one right away! These are an absolute must-have kitchen item. If you already have one, start using it!
Not only are juicers useful for squeezing lemon, lime, and orange juice when called for in recipes, but they can also juice vegetables.They save you muscle and extract the most juice possible, which you could never achieve by hand squeezing citrus fruits alone, and they allow you to extract juice from plants that an old-style citrus juicer would never be able to squeeze.
.BLENDER
Blenders do not have to be expensive. You can get a good low-cost blender for $20 to $30, and this handy gadget will come in handy for everything from making smoothies and blended cocktails to making your own sorbet from frozen fruits and juice.
I can personally recommend the Oster 6812-001 Core 16-Speed Blender for a lower-cost option (actually two, thanks to many household moves with the Army). They have glass carafes and look really nice on the counter.
SPATULAS MADE OF RUBBER
In the kitchen, having a nice set of rubber spatulas in at least three sizes will save you time and money. There will be no food waste when using the last of that mayonnaise or pouring batter made from a freshly prepared baking mix Rubber spatulas are also excellent tools for spreading condiments on bread or a toasted sandwich.They spread considerably more easily than butter knives and may do the job in one swift motion. When you’re making sandwiches for a crowd, you realise how important a good spatula is for saving time!
FOUR-SIDED STAINLESS STEEL GRATOR
A good grater is not only a great time saver for quickly grating cheese (and grating your own cheese is far superior in taste to buying store-grated cheese), but it is also useful for grating raw vegetables of all kinds, from carrots to radishes, potatoes, and much more. It doesn’t take much muscle to grate your own food, and you’ll discover that grating some products is considerably faster than chopping them with a kitchen knife.
COLANDER, LARGE METAL OR PLASTIC
I don’t think I go a day without using my colander. This is a quick and effective tool for draining pasta and veggies, as well as sliced potatoes for handmade french fries.Don’t believe you can Simply keep a pot top on and dump off the extra water without using a colander. The “hold the lid and just pour the water” method is not only ineffectual, but it can also cause severe burns from the steam that escapes.Dealing with a burn or injury will take significantly more time than if you had simply used a colander in the first place.
WOK IN CARBON STEEL
By using a carbon steel wok, you may save time in the kitchen while also cooking delicious dishes. Fresh veggie-based dinners are ready in minutes with only one pot to clean. That is unbeatable! A wok can be purchased for as little as $20. Unless you want to deal with a “wok ring” to hold a curved-bottom version over your fire, I’d recommend looking into a flat-bottomed version. I especially like the one displayed because it is made in the United States (ironic, isn’t it?). The Chinese have unique stoves (both modern and traditional) that appropriately accommodate the curved-bottom versions, but they don’t operate as well on modern Western-style cooktops.
FOOD STORAGE CONTENTS THAT ARE AIRTIGHT
Because you can neatly store your rice, pasta, dry baking materials, and snacks, as well as organise your spice packets and meal mixes, airtight food storage containers will save you both time and money in the kitchen.
They will help you discover what you need in your pantry at a glance, not only keeping supplies fresh, but also preventing you from spilling that open box of elbow macaroni, instant rice, or open bag of flour and causing a kitchen disaster that will necessitate a lot of sweeping and vacuuming!
CUPS MEASUREMENT
Measuring cups are essential for bakers, but they’re also useful for regular cooking. We keep a 4-piece set on hand for measuring dry ingredients and tiny amounts of liquid. A 1-quart glass measuring cup makes measuring liquids more easier and more efficient, plus you can also make sauces and vinaigrettes from within and then pour them into whatever you’re preparing.
SPOONS MADE OF WOOD
Wooden spoons are non-abrasive to your cooking surfaces and will last a lifetime. Just make sure you don’t put them in the dishwasher! Choose a set with a range of wooden spoons, such as this 6-piece set, so you may use it for a variety of kitchen tasks.
