What are the most useful kitchen tools you can invest in today to save to time and money in the kitchen? I will show you all my favorite kitchen tools that save me hours in the kitchen. These are the tools I use everyday to make meals in minutes. Yes, you read that right, in “minutes” not hours.
I have perfected making healthy and afforable meals FAST! I will share all my tricks and tools I use everyday, keep reading.
There are days where I love to make a great meal and spend time in the kitchen. But most often I am busy, tired or just not up for cooking and then having to clean up.
Many of us have work, kids, family and social obligations and by the end of the day you don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen.
Thanks to modern age there are so many kitchen tools that cut down on cooking time and help you make a delicious meals in less than an hour. No more boiling stew for hours as they did in “Little House on the Praire”
When I became a newlywed I decided to invest in good quality tools, that will last a long time, help me make delicious, healthy meals and fast.
We lived in a small apartment in Silicon Valley, and space was limited. At the same time I didn’t want to spend money on kitchen tools that would just take up space and not be used.
I had two rules for the kitchen tool I invested in:
- Has to server more than one purpose
- Has to be used at lease 2-3 times a week for the purchase to make sense
If a kitchen tool I purchased met one of these rules, or better yet both, I was willing to invest the money and purchase it.
Over the years I bought and tested many well known brands and kitchen tools these are by far my most favorite, well worth the investment.
These are the only tools you will need to make delicious meals for your family. It’s a one time investment and will last you a lifetime.
- Breville Fast-Slow Pro Multi Function Pressure Cooker
- NuWave Oven
- Cuisinart Food Processor
- Nespresso Coffee Machine
- NutriBullet
Breville Fast-Slow Pro Multi Function Pressure Cooker
I have tried a number of pressure cookers, but I keep coming back this one. I know there is a big following and loyalty to the InstaPot Pressure Cooker, but this is so much better in so many ways.
Food never sticks. I use to own an InstaPot, but when I used the InstaPot food often burned or would stick to the bottom. Not with the Breville Pressure Cooker, it has a non-stick bowl that is great for making rice and your favorite cheese macaroni.
Faster cooking time. The Breville Pressure Cooker not only has a non-stick bowl, but it cooks meals faster than then InstaPot. Rice in 5 minutes, pasta in 4 minutes with an auto release option. No need to worry about burning your hand when you release pressure, the Breville Pressure Cooker does it all automatically.
Easy to clean. The Breville Pressure Cooker also is easy to clean, the ring that holds pressure to the lid easily can be removed, rinsed and put back. The non-stick bowl wipes clean, and the pressure release valve can be unscrewed for easy cleaning as well. With the Breville Pressure Cooker there are no nooks and crannies that are hard to clean, it is easy to wipe down and start another great meal.
It is more than just a pressure cooks, it can also slow cook, sear, steam, sauté, and reduce.
I would highly recommend the Breville Pressure Cooker over the InstaPot any day. I actully own two of them, and I have healthy and ready meals under an hour.
NuWave Oven
Okay, when I bought this I was very hesitant. After all I did have a regular oven and I just didn’t want to crowed my limited counter space with another kitchen appliance.
But I couldn’t live without my NuWave Oven, next to my Breville Pressure Cooker, this has been the next best investment in my kitchen.
There are so many counter ovens, I have tried half-a-dozen of them, but the NuWave oven is by fart the best.
I could have used my regular oven, but it just made sense to buy this little counter top oven for several reasons.
I live in California and during hot summer days turning on the regular oven it use to get so hot in the house. Also, how many of you use your oven to store pots and pans? Yes, that is me my regular oven has our pots and pans in there, so every time I need to use the oven, I need to get all those items.
The main reason you should invest in the NuWave Oven is it cuts down on cooking time. You can make a 5 lb. chicken in 35 minutes and it is so juicy.
The reason chicken comes out so juicy from the NuWave Oven is because it is a convection oven, so it has a fan that curciucaltes the hot air, and the oven compact enough to quickly heat and cook the food without overdring it.
Unlike an regular oven, which has a large capacity, takes longer to heat and cook the meat and tends to dry it out.
Here is the BEST part!
You can cook a turkey in the NuWave Oven. Yes, you read that right we make our turkey in the NuWave Oven using the extension ring (gives more night and space) and make a turnkey that is between 15-18 lbs.
When we make our turkey for Thanksgiving it takes less than 2 hours for a 15 pound turkey. The meat is super moist thanks to convection fan that circulates the air around the meant and moist because it cooks so fast in a smaller space.
With the NuWave Oven you can make so much more than roast chicken, I use it to make: the best grilled cheese, buisucuers, hash browns, bread, cakes, banana bread, roasted vegetables, roast pork.
The NuWave Oven not only can bake, but sear and dehydrate.
Note: Some NuWave Ovens only go up to 350 degrees, I highly recommend you buy the one that can go up to 425 degrees, there are just so many more ways to utilizes it.
Also, some NuWave Ovens come with an extension ring, I highly recommend you get one. It will give you more height and space to make your favorite meals.
Cuisinart Food Processor
I think we all need a food processor in our kitchen. Chopping, grading, shredding, dicing, all can be done with the Cuisinart Food Processor.
I bought this when I got married and it has been a great addition to my kitchen.
I make my smokey chipotle salsa in it, choppe vegetables, and grade blocks of cheese (much more affordable they buying pre-graded).
I would recommend getting a larger capacity food processor. My Cuisinart Food Process holds 14 cups and I haven’t regretted getting the bigger capacity food process.
You can make bigger batches and store it for later and the clean up is as easy as for a smaller food processor then a larger one.
You can’t add more ingredients to a smaller food processor, but you can add as little or as much to a bigger capacity food processor. If you don’t want clutter your kitchen with multiple food processors in different sizes, opt for a larger capacity one. You won’t regret getting it, trust me.
Nesspresso Coffe Machine
I love coffee and I drink it everyday, sometimes 2-3 times a day. Initially I was hesitating investing in a coffee machine that uses pods. I was concerned with the price of the pods, how easily can I find the pod?
My husband gifted me my Nespresso Machine Christmas of 2012, and I have been using in for over 8 years.
The Nespresso coffee maker is a beast, we brew single cups 8-10 times a day and it has lasted and survived several moves and dropped at least half a dozen times.
My initial concern with the pricing of the pods is non-existent now. After calculating the cost per cup for a regular coffee machine and the Nesspresso cofffee machine that use pods actually more afforable.
I figured when we make coffee in a regular coffee maker, we tend to add more coffee to make the stronger, but the pods are already designed to do that. You can get pods in all flavors and strengths.
Also, by brewing coffee per cup, you waste less. I know in my house there was often coffee left over and dumped. But with the pods you make as much coffee as you need.
If your only hesitation in investing in a coffee maker that uses pods is cost, I will tell you that it shouldn’t be.
You will save more money, time and reduce your waste with the Nesspressor coffee maker that uses pods then a regular coffee maker.
Did I forget to mention that the coffee that uses pods tastes so much better and richer. It goes back to high-end coffee machines you would find in the fines Italian coffee houses that use pressure to brew your coffee.
When it comes to taste coffee machines that use pods win hands down.
Easy of use is also something I love about the Nesspresso Coffee Maker. When I am in a hurry in the morning I just pop a pod in the machine, press the dissired cup and in 30 seconds I have fresh brewed, hot and delicious coffee.
NutriBullet
When I diceded to buy a blender I really took the time to compare the NutriBullet and VitaMix, two of the most popular blender names on the market.
I wanted something easy to use, easy to clean and compact with an option to blend and pure. The NutriBullet hands down is the best blender out there.
It is compact, not as heavy as the VitaMix, and just like the VitaMix it blends, purses, and heats food.
Although the VitaMix has a bigger motor, I found that the NutriBullet with a 1200 watt power does a great job, there wasn’t much of a difference in taste or texture.
When it comes to price you can get the best NutriBullet under $150. If you are someone that will use the blender everyday to make smoothies and pure then I suggest you invest in a VitaMix blender.
But if you are someone like me, who once in a while has a health craze kick and wants to make a good smoothie and pure some veggies or fruits, then the NutriBullet is more than sufficient to do the job for a great price.
All the small kitchen appliacnces I recommended here are used by me everyday. These are the kitchen tools I use everyday to make my families meals.
I hope you found this article helpful, and remember you will only need to buy these items once and they will last you a lifetime. Opt for quality and you will be happy with your kitchen gadgets for life.
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