Cooking Gadgetry You Have To Have

I was a late bloomer in the kitchen. In college, my specialty was spinach fettuccini with mayonnaise and fake bacon bits. I kid you not.

As I started taking a more vested interest in the goings-on inside a kitchen, I learned you are only as proficient as your best tool. The most seasoned chef will agree that his personal knife set and the pots and pans he uses are some of the secret keys to his success.

Over the years as I have developed my cooking prowess, (long way to go, according to my mother) I have a few essential gadgets and tools I cannot possibly live without. I thought I would share them with you.

COOKING GADGETRY YOU HAVE TO HAVE

Spiralizer: This is one of those kitchen thingys that is constantly in my dishwasher. I would love to get some fancy expensive one. I just heard I can get an attachment to my Kitchen Aid for spiralizing purposes (how did I not know this) but frankly, this little guy does the trick, barring the odd scraped knuckle if you are not careful!

Herb Cutter: This is the one thing you really have no idea you can’t live without. I put this on my Christmas list one year because it looked cool and now it is my favorite. Whether it is parsley, basil, rosemary, or cilantro. Fresh herbs are ready in seconds!

Pairing Knife: I know this might seem obvious, but a good little knife is an absolute must for any cook. Some chef might roll his prima donna chef eyes at me recommending a knife that is not going to cost you a mortgage payment, but I recommend the Zyliss brands of knives. They are affordable, super sharp, and hello, cute colors!

Mini food processor: I received this little cutey for my wedding, and I was not cooking much at the time. It went in the high cupboard. You know, the one you need a stool to grab anything? Well, let’s just say it is now in the low cupboard. I use this for energy balls, stuffing, breading for my paleo chicken tenders and much more. It is so handy and way easier to use than a standard size processor.

Chopper: I still have my food chopper from when we got married. It is fifteen years old and has been used at least once a week since we got it. I love a “chop” salad with tiny bits of colorful veggies. But any salad is done in seconds if you use this guy to pulverize your salad veggies. I also use it for a quick chopped nut topping on my paleo muffins.

Scraper: This is another one that spends more time in the dishwasher than the drawer. The scraper is a must-have for pre-prep when you are cutting tons of veggies at once. I place my cutting board close to the edge of the sink and just use the scraper any time the odds and ends need to be shuttled into the sink. Cleans your surface in one fell swoop!

Mason Jars: Silly, I know, but I use them for EVERYTHING. Smoothie pre-prep to homemade salad dressings we have mason jars in every nook much to my husband’s dismay. I have never canned anything in my life but have a house full of Mason jars! 

Two big ticket cooking gadgetry items I seriously cannot live without.

Kitchen-Aid Mixer: First of all they are beautiful, and if something hasn’t changed dramatically since the sixties it must be awesome. This baby should be on every single person’s registry whether you think you are going to use it or not. You will, and you will love it. It has tons of attachments you can get now and fun colors you can choose to match your kitchen.

Vita-Mix Blender: When I first started thinking about a Vitamix I realized they were a little pricier than I wanted to pay. I looked on EBay and other resale sites to try and find one. Proverbial crickets.  Once you have a Vitamix you will NEVER let it out of your sight. I have a friend that carries hers on the plane WHEREVER she travels! This blender can blend absolutely anything, and it can also make, salsas, soups, dressing and so much more. It truly is worth every single penny.

[Tweet “No, you actually can’t live without these.”]

This week’s first steps are to clean out your gadget drawers and cupboards. Is there stuff you can get rid of to make room for things that will be bee more useful to you? Just like a good workout outfit makes you want to hit the gym, cute and functional kitchen gadgetry and all of a sudden you’re Julia Child.

If you like any of the ideas, I have put forth above please use the links to purchase. The price remains the same for you, but I get a little love from the companies, and that allows me to continue my blogging and writing efforts. Thank you for supporting me.

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