Cooking doesn’t have to be a chore. Your time in the kitchen can be fun. Today I’m looking at 3 fun specialty appliances for your kitchen! It’s time to turn that culinary journey into an adventure!
Treating cooking as a chore is something we all fall into from time to time. Coming up with dinner ideas day after day can be frustrating. One way I try to bring the fun back is by trying different dishes. Another way is by introducing new gadgets and appliances to the kitchen.
It’s no secret that people like buying and trying new things. I know I can’t wait to cook something in every new appliance I buy. If you are looking for more kitchen ideas, check out my post on 5 appliances you need in your kitchen!
Panini Press
A panini press is similar to a George Forman grill. It uses hot plates and a weighted lid to heat up and press your sandwiches. They are great for making a simple grilled cheese.
The panini press will take your sandwich game up a notch. Toasting your bread adds a different flavor and texture to your sandwiches. Compressing the sandwich can also make some of the towering monstrosities we create a bit more practical when it’s time to eat it.
I’ve been using a Hamilton Beach model for 5 years with great results. A review of that and more fun specialty appliances is coming soon! I’ll also be adding some great sandwich recipes to put that press to use.
Sous Vide Precision Cooker
Sous vide precision cookers work by warming water to a precise temperature and cooking food low and slow inside of a vacuum-sealed bag. I’ve frequently talked about the benefits of cooking low and slow when it comes to BBQ. Well, sous vide takes it to the extreme!
By sealing food in plastic bags, you retain all of the juices and aromas that you lose when you fry, boil, sear, or bake. The precise temperature control prevents overcooking. If you want to try and cook something absolutely perfectly, sous vide is a good method to try.
Sous vide is great for cooking meats. You can get a perfect medium rare steak using this method. Once you get your steak to the right temp, all you have to do is give it a quick sear in a skillet to get the classic steak texture.
Dehydrator
Dehydrators have a ton of uses. These appliances work by removing moisture from food. By doing so, they are amazing at preserving various foods, from meats to fruits and vegetables.
One of the most popular items to make with a dehydrator is jerky. The most well-known is of course beef jerky, but other varieties are out there to try as well.
Dehydrated fruits can make for some fun snacks for your kids. Apples and bananas are great first options to try out.
Another fun use of this appliance is dehydrating meals for camping trips. There are tons of recipes across the web that can be dehydrated and reconstituted in boiling water over a campfire. If you want to see some of these meals in action, check out Xander Budnick’s camping videos on Youtube. This guy makes amazing videos, you won’t regret it.
These appliances are just a handful of ways to have fun in the kitchen. Mix it up and keep things interesting! If a new appliance isn’t in the cards for you now, you can always mix things up with a new recipe! We’ve got everything from fried crab claws to meatball subs covered. If you prefer video, check out our Youtube channel!
