Best Kitchen Gadgets
Here are some of the best kitchen gadgets I have found recently. I love shopping kitchen supply stores and trying out new gadgets. Some gadgets turn out to be a waste of money and some work but require so much effort they just are not worth it. I have tested each one of these gadgets in my own kitchen and only recommend those that I actually use and find very helpful. All of these gadgets can be found online at my favorite online cooking supply stores.
You don't actually need to have all of these kitchen gadgets, but they will save you time and effort. If you enjoy kitchen tools as much as I do, or if you have a cook in your family that may enjoy these, please give them a try. Kitchen gadgets make great gifts for cooks too!
Panini Press:
Cuisinart 11x7 Griddle/Panini Press, Brushed Stainless
 - You can make paninis on the stove in a skillet but I really like the job my Panini press does. It toasts the bread perfectly on both sides while heating the middle, making the job quick and easy. You can also use these Panini grills as an indoor grill for meats, vegetables or fish. This makes the Panini press an affordable and versatile kitchen gadget.
Garlic Press:
OXO 6.5-in. Good Grips Garlic Press,
You can mince garlic with a good chef’s knife, but these garlic presses make the job quick and easy.I have used cheap models that are not sturdy and don't last, and are very difficult to clean. Here is one I really like because it is sturdy and has a built in cleaner that pops the garlic pulp right out.
Garlic Peeler: There are many ways to peel a clove of garlic, but these peelers are great when you have several cloves you are peeling at once. Garlic can make your hands quite sticky and smelly, and these rubber peelers allow you to peel the garlic without even touching it. These can be hard to find in stores, so if you don't see one you can pick up an inexpensive one at Cooking.com
Zak Designs 5-in. Garlic Peeler, Orange
Immersion Blender:
Toastmaster Immersion Hand Blender, White
 This kitchen gadget won’t replace your counter top blender, but it is a great tool to have. You can puree things like whole tomatoes directly in the pan you are cooking in. Since they are portable, you can blend soups and smooth out the lumps in polenta. I also think they blend eggs better than anything for scrambled eggs or frittatas.
Nicer Dicer? I have tried many types of food choppers and I can honestly say this is the best one I have used. It chops onions in large or small dices quickly and easily - saving you many tears! Your diced onions go neatly into the little cup with quickly detaches for you to dump them into your recipes. It also does a great job chopping other vegetables like potatoes as well. I have used mine often and the blades are still sharp.
Pasta Machine:
VillaWare Al Dente Al Dente Pasta Machine, Chrome
 I have this inexpensive, hand crank machine and it works great. Look for a stainless steel machine because they hold up the best. You can roll out your pasta dough and cut it by hand, but this inexpensive kitchen gadget will make the job much easier. This model also comes with an optional ravioli maker for quick and easy homemade raviolis.
VillaWare Imperia Ravioli Pasta Machine Attachment, Chrome
Ravioli Wheel: This handle little wheels make homemade ravioli a snap. Just roll the wheel around the ravioli filling and you have perfectly sealed pouches ready for cooking or freezing. I like this one because you get two wheels in one gadget - always love gadgets that do double duty.
Mario Batali 8-in. Italian Kitchen Ravioli Cutting Tool
Vacuum Sealer:
Tilia 18x6x13-in. FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer, White
These may seem expensive at first but this is one cooking tool that really will save you money! My first sealer was a very inexpensive model and didn't last long. My next was a very expensive model and I had many troubles with it and it often would not seal at all. Then I found this average priced model by Tilia that has all the features I need and is very reliable. This is not something I use everyday, but is great for when I buy food in bulk – good for singles or couples who don’t eat much food at a time. You can vaccum seal bulk cheeses (Parmesan freezes well) and meats to be stored in the freezer. With a good vacuum seal, they will stay fresh for months. These can also be used to seal dishes such as casseroles and lasagna in oven proof cookware. Just seal and freeze and it will be good for months. Tilia makes all of the accessories you need as well - I love the instant marinator!
Reynolds® Handi-Vac™ sealer: This is a great device for everyday use. They sell them in grocery stores where I live, but if you don't find one near you, you can always get one online. The price is a deal for how well this little gadget works! You do need to buy their bags designed for this vacuum sealer but they can be washed and reused a few times to save money. This is a hand held vacuum sealer you press onto the hole on the bag and it quickly sucks out the air. It can seal anything you want to keep fresh. I use it often for cheeses that I use everyday and don’t want to drag out my big vacuum sealer. Larger vacuum sealer also have the disadvantage of needing a new bag each time you open the food, while these Reynolds bags are hand-sealing zip lock bags. I have used one that I have opened and sealed closed every day for a week and the bag never lost its suction. This gadget is a must have!
V Blade Mandolin Slicer : Unless you are an expert with a knife, nothing will make perfect slices every time like a mandoline. There are a variety of models ranging from inexpensive to over $100. You don’t need the most expensive, but I would go with a mid-priced model because they will have more blades giving you more slicing options. You can make perfectly sliced onions, tomatoes and peppers for sandwiches or you can julienne vegetables quickly and easily. They come with a food guard to protect your hands which I recommend because the blades are extremely sharp. The great thing about this kitchen gadget is the ease of use and the perfectly uniform size of all of your slices that just can’t be done with a knife.
Stainless Steel Tomato Slicer : For those who don't have great kife skills this nifty gadget makes slicing up tomatoes quick, easy and safe!
Tomato Peeler- Serrated Peeler A friend gave me this gadget to use for peeling tomatoes because she thought it was easier than the boiling/ice water method. I tried it and it really does work, though I think the other method is easy too. You decide which is best for you.
Vacuum Seal Storage Containers: – I love these bins for salads, vegetables and leftovers. You simply close the lid and press down a few times to pump out the air creating a vacuum seal. I love buying prewashed salad mixes the grocery stores carry now, but they are are expensive and the lettuce goes bad within a couple of days. I did a home test with the pre-cut salad in these bins - puting half in the vacuum bin and leaving the other half in the bag. The bins kept the salad fresh for a week, while the bag lettuce wilted and browned in 2 days. If you have thrown away a lot of premade salad like I have, these nifty containers will pay for themselves in no time! If found mine online here:
FreshVac 3-pc. Square Vacuum Food Storage Containers
Learn some Italian Cooking Methods...
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