Full disclosure: we’re kitchen gadget junkies. From tools that are mega time-savers, to ones that have just about every function and feature you could think of, to simply downright cool-looking stuff, kitchen gadgets are inescapable. But we’re not talking about the tchotchke gifts that you used once and are now laying underneath a pile of items in the rarely used “miscellaneous drawer”. No, these will be useful gadgets that will benefit your cooking skills. (You might like it so much that you’ll probably get one for the in-laws!) Here are a few must-have kitchen gadgets you should consider!
Avocado Slicer
If you’ve ever made avocado toast, you’ll understand how long it takes to prep the green superfood. With the OXO Good Grips 3-in-1 Avocado slicer, you can cut, de-pit and evenly slice a medium to large avocado without batting an eye. Sure, there’s nothing automatic about this handheld tool, but pitting the avocado couldn’t be easier or safer. In one fast, easy motion, you have seven even slices of avocado – no more carving it out with a spoon! The knife on this slicer is more than sharp enough to cut an avocado in half quickly, but not sharp enough to cut skin, and the rubber grip keeps your hand from slipping, even when wet. Be sure to try this swordfish with avocado relish recipe.
Coffee Grinder
KitchenAid’s Blade Coffee and Spice Grinder is the answer to your morning prayers. At the touch of a button the device’s powerful blades get to work, grinding enough beans to make up to 12 cups of coffee. The grinder comes with three grinding cups: a large one for coffee, and two smaller ones for spices. (Having separate cups for spices is a major plus because you wouldn’t want to be grinding dried peppers to then find out that they taste like residual coffee grinds!) All three are easy to wash. It leaves such a small footprint on your counter that it’s easy to tuck out of the way when space is limited. Probably the most underrated feature is that the cup lifts out so you can dump the grinds into the brewing basket without making a mess.
Cooking Basket
It might not look like much, but this porous pouch is pretty impressive. The Dreamfarm Vebo Basket is a perfect multi-tasker tool for steaming vegetables, but also for soaking, cooking, and straining water. With the ability to endure up to 500 degrees thanks to its silicone construction, this steamer was built to handle the heat. The material is incredibly flexible so the steamer can fit whatever size pot you are working with. Simply put your veggies in the Vebo, and the Vebo into the pot. Plop on the top and boil or steam. Once done, lift out the Vebo to drain. This basket works incredibly well with pressure cookers, so if you already own one of those, this is naturally the next step.
Sous Vide Cooker
This one is well worth the price, as it is a fantastic accomplice to your arsenal in the kitchen. In addition to the built-in controls and easy-to-use-display, the Anova Sous Vide Precision Cooker is fairly intuitive. For the layperson, sous vide refers to a method of cooking food in a temperature-regulated water bath. This means you may also need a few add-ons like a container or vacuum sealer; however, the Anova Precision Cooker can attach to any pot or container, and you can save a few bucks by using Ziploc bags. After pairing with a cellphone, you’ll automatically get an alert once water heats up and cook time starts, even if you initiate the process via the precision cooker.
Fruit-Tapping Keg
Earn major party hosting creds at your next backyard BBQ party with this fun gadget! Turn regular cider, punch, or wine into creative fruit-infused cocktails by using this handy spigot. It’s sturdy, the pieces fit together tightly and the handle is an easy pull. You can have your watermelon keg set up within twenty minutes. (This tap works for alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages in case your summer party is kid-friendly.) Included with the keg is a useful coring tool to easily create a hole for your tap to insert. And the fun doesn’t need to stop at watermelons; pineapples and honeydew work well too, and in the fall, attach to pumpkins for any of these pumpkin-based cocktails.
Foldable Cutting Board
If you find yourself to be a frequent chopper of vegetables, this cutting board is for you. When laid flat, you have a durable, 15 x 8.75-inch surface for cutting food, but when you squeeze the handle, the board transforms into three panels, the outer two panels fold-up to create a chute where food can be easily transferred to other areas. Something as simple as making it so the edges fold is pure brilliance. No more dropping sliced mushrooms into the floor or cut up bits of carrots rolling all over the place. Guide them into the skillet or colander – or trashcan – with this no-mess cutting board.