In the age of technology, we’re constantly being bombarded by the latest and greatest kitchen gadgets. More than half of these new trinkets that come out are single-purpose, gimmicky items that don’t have much use and end up causing unnecessary clutter in your kitchen.
Most of these items should be ignored. Instead, focus on the kitchen “gadgets”, tools, and appliances that will really make a difference in your life. Investing good money into the following items will be well worth it, and you won’t be watching snippets of your pay check gathering dust after one use.
Water Filter
Contents
If you’re looking to improve your health, skip the detox teas and diet pills, and instead just focus on your hydration – there’s even a kitchen tool to help you do so.
Drinking filtered water instead of regular tap water makes a huge difference. You can rest assured that the water you’re drinking is free from contamination from lead, mercury, chlorine, and other chemicals that might be harmful to your health. Instead of buying bottled water, investing in an at-home water filtration system is the way to go. Even a simple counter top water filter is enough to offer you clean, filtered water right from the tap, and over time, you’ll notice that this was the far more affordable option.
Vegetable Chopper
As far as gimmicky gadgets go, a vegetable chopper is one that might truly be worth your while. These choppers are similar to a mandoline, except they offer many more varieties of slices and dices.
These gadgets will allow you to chop, slice, dice, peel, sliver, or crush just about any vegetable or fruit in a matter of moments. They remove the effort of the knife work and you end up with perfectly even chopping every time. They’re even safer for your fingers, and some brands of vegetable choppers dispense your chopped veg directly into a container to pack away. Never having to cry over an onion again is a good enough reason to try these out.
Cast Iron Skillet
One of the most basic, essential tools you can have in your kitchen is a good pan, and cast iron is always going to be your best option. Rather than buying cheap pans that boast non-stick coatings, spend your money on something that will last.
A good quality cast iron skillet is one of the best investments you can make as a home cook for plenty of reasons. First of all, when cared for properly, these pans will last you for years or even decades. They can be used on the stovetop and in the oven and allow new recipes to come into play. They’re also truly non-stick so long as you keep them well-seasoned.
Pressure Cooker
From slow cookers to air fryers, there is an endless list of kitchen appliances you could have on your countertop. But how many of them will you really put to good use and benefit from?
If you’re going to be picky about your appliances (as you should), one of the better investments is a pressure cooker. These appliances are multi-purpose and can be used for cooking meat, rice, soups, stews, and plenty more. You can steam and poach in them, and you can use them for any slow cooker recipe at half of the cooking time.
Blender or Food Processor
Another truly useful appliance that just about any home cook should have in their kitchen is some kind of blending device. A food processor, a standing blender, or even a stick blender will allow you to create soups, smoothies, sauces, and even grind up whole spices.
If you live alone, then a single-serve blender will be the ideal appliance for your kitchen, but for those who have partners of families, then a larger standing blender will be a better investment so you can blend more food in one go.
Meat Thermometer
Finally, a nifty tool for a home cook that’s perhaps more experienced and more interested in the intricacies of cooking, a meat thermometer will help you produce the perfect Sunday roast.
Being able to snag the ideal temperature on any cut and size of meat will enable you to take your dishes from good to mouth-wateringly juicy and perfect. When you’re serious about your cooking, these are great to have around. These thermometers are useful for more than just meat too! Use them to monitor your water temperature, ice cream, bread, other baked goods, and more.
