Essential Kitchen Gadgets

There are many great specialty gadgets available to make preparing and enjoying your favorite foods an easier, more enjoyable experience. We’re going to take a look at some that take some of the pain out of working in the kitchen. We’ll find ways to save money, eat healthier and enjoy our favorite meals with less fuss.

Juicers For Making Healthy Snacks

Kitchen timers

One of the most basic of these, and one that every cook worth his (or her) salt should have, is a good timer. They come in many shapes and sizes and offer varying functionality. There is no rule saying that they must be of the kitchen timer variety; a scientific timer or even a stopwatch will suffice. Some timers are more advanced than others and may offer extra features, such as multiple timers, temperature display and more. Some have innovative designs, such as one from Sharper Image which is shaped like an egg. To turn it off, simply tip it over and it will go silent and right itself.

Kitchen Timers

Food processors

Tired spending tons of prep time in the kitchen chopping vegetables for stews? Had enough of the tears associated with chopping onions? Then it sounds like a food processor is the gadget for you. When choosing a food processor, be sure to choose the size that’s right for you. A larger capacity, more powerful model is going to be suited for more tasks than a smaller, weaker one. However, it is going to cost more and take up more precious shelf space in your kitchen. Sizes range from handheld units, to small counter top units and all the way up large industrial processors fit for a commercial kitchen. A good food processor will save you time and energy and take much of the aggravation out of cooking.

Effort Saving Food Processors

Juicers

A juicer can be a wise investment, both for your health and the health of your wallet. Store bought juices are often stripped of many of their health benefits. Many times they are not 100% juice, but a blend of juice, water and HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup). They lack many of essential vitamins and minerals that are present in fresh squeezed juice. To get a premium juice in the supermarket requires a premium price. Save money and drink your way to better health with a juicer. While there are non-electronic models, those are typically only good for juicier fruits, such as oranges and tangerines. The electronic models are where it’s at. With these you can juice all kinds of wonderful fruits and vegetables, such as carrots, apples, tomatoes and a whole lot more.

Citrus And Electric Juicers

Bread makers

Bread makers are a way to enjoy high quality, artisan foods without the associated costs. Modern bread machines have come quite a long way. This isn’t how your grandmother made bread. Newer models are nearly foolproof. They typically come with recipes and some starter ingredients so you can begin making bread right away. There are many varieties available, from simple white and wheat to more exotic breads such as pumpernickel and marbled rye. There are recipes available for specialty breads that include fruit and nuts. Fresh baked bread is something anyone can enjoy and makes a great gift. As an added bonus, bread makers make your kitchen smell wonderful. They are sure to whet the appetite of your whole family.

Make Fresh Baked Bread

Toaster ovens

Toaster ovens are incredibly handy appliances. From making toast, to cooking frozen appetizers, to heating up leftovers, toaster ovens can give you a huge advantage in the kitchen. They save you time because toaster ovens heat up in a fraction of the time of your main oven. When you want a quick snack, just pop it in the toaster oven, set the timer and walk away. They save you money since toaster ovens use much less energy than a conventional oven, which can make a big impact on your electric bill. Let’s face it, in the middle of summer, slaving away in a hot kitchen is the last place you want to be. Turning on the oven just adds to the problem. Using a toaster oven in place of a conventional oven emits less heat into the kitchen, saving you from becoming drenched in sweat. Conventional ovens make your air conditioner work over time, costing you even more electricity. Toaster ovens come in a variety of sizes. The larger the oven, the more things you can use it for. They can be purchased for as little as $20 at your local retailer and are a great investment.

Time Saving Toaster Ovens

Handheld and stand mixers

If you do a lot of baking, a mixer is a valuable appliance to have. It can save your arms from becoming tired when mixing up a batch of cake batter. Mixers come in a range of sizes. Handheld mixers are versatile, as you can use them in any bowl. They’re great for cake mixes, mashed potatoes and literally hundreds of other dishes.

Versatile Handheld Mixers

Stand mixers, like the ones from Kitchenaid, are workhorses. They typically have a large capacity bowl that attaches to them and work hands free, leaving you both hands to add ingredients and do other tasks while the work is getting done. These are quite a bit more expensive and as such are typically only for the more hardcore bakers. You’ll find this style of mixer in most commercial kitchens.

Durable Stand Mixers

Coffee and espresso makers

A good coffee maker or espresso maker can be another big money saver. Have you ever sat down and considered just how much our morning (and if you’re like me, afternoon) coffee at the local coffee shop costs us? If it’s simple coffee, it might not be so bad, but if you enjoy espresso drinks like cappuccinos, mochas and lattes the costs can add up pretty quickly. With a home espresso maker, a mocha costs little more than a regular cup of coffee would. Not to mention the time saving aspects of it. How often are you late for work, but can’t resist stopping to get a cup of coffee, only to find a long line? Make your drink at home, pour it in a travel mug and you’ve just removed one stop from your morning routine. Feel free to experiment with syrups such as vanilla and caramel to give your drink that extra little something.

Great Coffee Makers