This isn’t your typical “must-have” kitchen gadgets list aimed at minimalists or penny-pinchers. No, these are tools that elevate your culinary game, giving you more time to savor life outside the kitchen while still enjoying wholesome, delicious meals. Here are five kitchen gadgets that not only streamline meal prep but also add a dash of joy to your cooking routine. And if you’re a culinary enthusiast, you’ll find these gadgets indispensable.
A juicer so you know what your kids are drinking
I talked about juicers in my post about making homemade apple juice. There is nothing better than completely replacing store-bought that is full of processed sugar, preservatives, and God-knows-what with fresh and natural juice.
For parents, they are great because you don’t have to worry about what is in your children’s drinks, and you can easily sneak vegetables in there and they will never know (did I mention you can also juice vegetables?).
The juicer is the most costly kitchen gadget on this list, so I would recommend spending the extra money and getting a high-quality one. We have a Braun J700 and love it. We use it a couple of times a week. It’s easy to use and comes apart into smaller dishwasher-safe pieces.
Get a slow cooker to save hours a week of cooking time
If you have kids or a busy schedule, drop what you’re doing now and get a slow cooker. It’s not as big an investment as you might think, but it will pay for itself with the amount of time you can save. It’s so easy to use and you can cook overnight and have your meal ready for the next day. Or you can start it before you leave for work and have dinner ready when you get home.
This one from Hamilton Beach is a great choice at under $60, as it includes functions to cook to a certain temperature, sous vide, and of course slow cooking. At over five and a half liters, you could cook a few meals, and with our next item, have meals for a few days.
Keep food fresh with a vacuum sealer
If you have a large slow cooker, you might have a lot of food lying around waiting to go bad. Cooking over five liters of food at once is great, but you need a place to store it. A vacuum sealer locks in freshness and takes up a lot less space than bulky plastic boxes. A simple NutriChef vacuum sealer at under $50 could save you that amount with how much food you would save from going bad.
It’s great to use in conjunction with a slow cooker. You could put all your ingredients in vacuum seal bags and then take them out when you are ready to put them in the slow cooker, or you can divide up and freeze meals and warm them up whenever you want. They are also great if you want to try sous vide cooking.
Make great sugar-free candies with a dehydrator
Out of all the kitchen gadgets on here, the one I would get last is a food dehydrator. If you have kids though, or maybe a garden, they can be extremely useful.
My daughter loves dried fruit. We are in the middle of potty training, and candy after she uses the toilet is great motivation, but she gets a little crazy with sugar. Dehydrated fruit is a great alternative to sugar-filled candy. Ours especially loves dried kiwi.
It’s not only great for fruits, but also vegetables too. Dried tomatoes are a delicious topping for salads. Oh, and it can also work with meat.
Replace your blender with a hand mixer
A hand mixer is the only tool on here that will save you space. It can do pretty much everything a big, bulky, and heavy blender can do, and so much more, and it hides away nicely in your drawer.
You don’t need to spend a lot of money on a hand mixer, but there are a few things I would look for. A bowl with an attachment for the mixer is essential if you are replacing your blender. And a whisk attachment can be great for whisking eggs and starting bread doughs. Again, I recommend Braun. They are known for their quality and longevity.
These kitchen gadgets aren’t just tools – they’re culinary companions that make cooking a joyous experience. So go ahead, indulge in a little kitchen magic and reclaim precious time for the things you love. Your taste buds will thank you.
