I don’t really like unnecessary kitchen gadgets. They just take up space and end up not being used. My mandolin, garlic press, avocado cutter, grape slicer, hard boiled egg slicer, have all gone to Thrift Store heaven and I’ve never missed them. I hate one trick ponies in the kitchen, and I hate my drawers and cabinets to be cluttered. I’m all about minimalistic and multitasking kitchen gear.
However.
There are a few kitchen gadgets that are truly life changing. Like, I don’t know how I cooked without them. And if they were to break or get lost, I would hold a funeral for them. And then replace them immediately.
This little guy is beyond handy. It’s more accurate than any other meat thermometer I’ve ever had, and it’s a cinch to check the temperature of whatever you’re cooking. I’ve even used it as a candy thermometer in a pinch.
Cookie Scoops in Assorted Sizes
If you don’t own these, your muffin, cookie, ice cream, candy, cupcake, and basically any baking life is about to change. I use these constantly. The littles one are great for cookies, and I use the big ones for filling muffin tins. I’ve even used it as a melon baller in a pinch.
Pyrex Glass Measuring Cups
I keep wanting to start these descriptions with “Okay, THIS is the most important thing in my kitchen.” I really am obsessed with all of them. But these might truly be my most favorite. I use the little guys for liquid measuring, the big ones for melting stuff in the microwave, measuring broth for soup, mixing liquid ingredients… I just use them constantly. Ol’ faithfuls.
Microplane Zester
I don’t know how anyone acquires citrus zest without one of these guys. I’ve even used it for super fine parmesan shavings.
This is by far the most expensive thing on this list, but I’m telling you right now- learn from my failures. I have owned like 5 different knife sets in my life. Ever since I bought this bad boy, I only use this knife. I use it for everything. It’s so sharp! Using a dull knife is more dangerous than using a sharp knife. I know this from science and also from personal experience. I cut myself constantly with my garbage knife collection, and I’ve never cut myself with this. If you don’t own a good, sharp knife, may I implore you to TREAT. YO. SELF. It was my birthday gift to myself a couple of years ago, and I’ve been so grateful to me ever since.
Collapsible Strainers
These are just ingenious and brilliant. Another item in constant use in my house. They take up so much less space than traditional strainers, and I love using the teeny one for rinsing fruit real quick.
Citrus Juicer
This is another product that I don’t know how I functioned before owning. I juice a lot of limes in this house, because I love limes on anything and everything, and this makes short work of the job, and measures! I’ve yet to find an easier and more effective way to juice citrus.
I have a deep an abiding love for these sheet pans. Cookies, roasted vegetables, rolls, french bread… so many of my favorite things are made on these awesome pans. They clean up in a flash, they bake evenly and perfectly, and I am in a committed relationship with them. It’s pretty serious.
OKAY THIS TIME I REALLY MEAN IT. If you don’t have kitchen shears and don’t use them constantly, WHAT ARE YOU EVEN DOING WITH YOUR LIFE?? Sorry to shout, but seriously, guys. Off the top of my head, here are things I do with these bad boys: Cut up my kids’ food (sooo much easier!), cut up chicken, trim fat off meat, cut pizza, cut cilantro and other herbs, open meat packages, cut bacon… You need a designated pair of kitchen shears. Actually, you need two, because one will always be dirty.
Hello, have we met? I am crazy. These color coded cutting mats speak to my OCD heart. I like to make sure my raw meat cutting board doesn’t ever touch my raw vegetables. The red one is for meat, I use the yellow one for cooked meat, and the green and blue one for fruits and vegetables. I love that they go in the dishwasher, I love how thin they are for rolling into a funnel of sorts and scraping in your chopped stuff, and I love that they are cheap and easy to replace when the knife cuts are too deep and chicken guts keep getting stuck. Raw chicken is the worst, man.
Okay I know I said earlier that I hate excessive kitchen gadgets, but I gotta know- what’s something life changing in your kitchen? Lay it on me!
Leave a Reply