Cooking can be difficult. There are complicated techniques and you frequently have to multitask. Thankfully some really smart people came up with all kinds of inventions to make the task simpler. Here are 10 simple kitchen gadgets that make cooking easier.
Peeler
A good peeler can be used for many applications. I mostly use it for potatoes as I have a ton of recipes that use them, everything from homemade french fries, southern fried potatoes, and my easy potato salad.
Spuds aren’t the only thing a peeler is good for. They are nifty for all kinds of vegetables, including rutabagas, carrots, cucumbers, and many more. As an added bonus, if you spend the money on it, you might be inclined to add more vegetables to your diet!
Grater
Peeling veggies is a good start, but sometimes you need to grate them as well. A good multi-purpose box grater is what you need. These things can also come in handy as a zester to brighten up some of your favorite dishes.
A grater is also great for cheese. You can grate some Parmesan into your Alfredo sauce, or maybe a little cheddar into your bowl of chili. Having a good grater allows you to utilize better cheeses in your dishes. It’s one of the worthy simple kitchen gadgets to add to your collection.
Whisk
Though spoons are great for mixing, sometimes they are not quite up to the task. To fully incorporate your ingredients, sometimes you need a whisk. For example, if you are mixing the Parmesan you just grated with your box grater into your Alfredo sauce, you’ll want to use a whisk to make sure you have no clumps. This cheap tool is extremely useful. I’d recommend getting more than one.
Spatula
Rubber spatulas are great for scraping pots and pans clean. Food waste is always a problem in cooking, and a spatula helps ensure you don’t waste a drop. They are also handy as a mixing utensil, as they can reach some spots that a whisk can’t. They are particularly helpful in preventing certain soups from scorching, such as potato soup.
Measuring Cups
In cooking, you often need exact measurements to get a dish right. For example, when you cook rice you generally need a 2 to 1 ratio of water to rice in order for it to cook correctly. A measuring cup will handle the job.
There are two main options you can choose from when it comes to measuring cups. You can buy the one big version that usually covers 1 to 2 cups and all the smaller measurements in between. Alternatively, you can buy a set of measuring cups that cover the major individual measurements, such as a cup, 1/2 cup, 1/4 cup, etc.
Measuring Spoons
Measuring cups are good for larger measurements, but for smaller measurements, you need measuring spoons. These are mostly used for measuring spices. Measuring spoons cover measurements like tablespoons and teaspoons. They are super helpful in getting the flavor of your dishes just right.
Meat Chopper/Masher
Ground beef is a cheap ingredient that is used in a lot of simple recipes. Breaking it apart can be a pain, so a meat chopper/masher is a good investment. You can put the days of whacking at your beef with a spoon behind you. A masher is also great for mashed potatoes and a number of other dishes.
Oven Mitts
You can use a kitchen towel to retrieve hot pans from the stove or toaster oven, but I am loathed to do so. I never feel like I have a solid grip holding things that way. Oven mitts are the way to go. They are a thicker and safer option for handling hot equipment.
Digital Thermometer
Cooking food to the right temperature is very important. Under-cooked food can cause serious illness. On the other hand, an overcooked steak can ruin a meal. A digital thermometer will allow you to quickly and easily get your food to the right temp. Fortunately, they are quite cheap these days as well.
Electric Can Opener
I’m spoiled when it comes to can openers. I went electric years ago and there is no turning back. It is so satisfying to just pop a can on this gadget and let it work its magic. Do yourself a favor and pick one up. You won’t regret it.
And there you have it, 10 simple kitchen gadgets to make cooking easier. This list makes a nice sequel to my article on the top 5 kitchen tools for beginners. Those 5 tools will get you started, and the ones listed above will make excellent additions to your kitchen toolset.
