13 Cool Kitchen Gadgets to Change Up Your Cooking Game
Upgrade your culinary tools with these cool kitchen gadgets.
As kitchen technology is ever-advancing, it seems there is an endless supply of clever tools designed to make the cooking experience more convenient. With that being said – it can be tough to know exactly what you might need to add to your list of accessories and supplies. Read our curated list of cool kitchen gadgets to find out more about what tools will best help you amp up your cooking repertoire.
Sous Vide Cooker
When it comes to cool kitchen gadgets, it's hard to beat sous vide cookers. These unique kitchen tools are used to create consistently cooked and flavorsome restaurant-quality food that cannot be achieved with normal cooking techniques. A sous vide can be used to cook anything from steak to salmon, and even eggs if you wish. The word 'sous vide' is French for "under vacuum" which is how this amazing kitchen gadget works – via a vacuum sealed bag that is placed in a waterbath. The best part is that this precision cooking tool is affordable, easy to use, and produces food cooked to your exact level of doneness. Using one of these kitchen gadgets is extremely easy, but if you are looking for additional info on how best to use yours, read What Is a Sous Vide?
The next unique kitchen gadget on our list is the vegetable spiralizer. If you are looking for a fun and new way to prepare your food while getting more fruit and vegetables in your diet, consider a spiralizer. These unique kitchen tools are used to create extra-long evenly cut noodles from firm raw vegetables, and even some fruits. Spiralizers can also be used on turnips, beetroot, carrots, potatoes, apples, and melons. They aren't just limited to noodles either. Your vegetable spiralizer can be used to make a range of different styled fries with minimal effort.
Another cutting tool you might want to invest in is called a mandoline slicer. These unique kitchen tools allow you to make even and thin cuts to firm fruit and vegetables with ease. A mandoline slicer usually comprises at least two parts – the base and the cutting holder. The base – which houses the blade and remains still, while the cutting holder (a separate component which you pierce the food item with) is then drawn back and forth over the blade to create uniform slices. Many mandolines have interchangeable blades to allow for a variety of cuts including julienne, waffle, and wavy cuts. Some mandolines can even dice and chop. If you are looking for a quick and precise way to chop your produce, the mandoline slicer is for you.
Garlic is a cooking staple that has the capacity to add a wealth of flavors to any savory dish it is used in. The process of chopping garlic by hand however can be laborious, time consuming, and even take the fun out of cooking – nevermind the scent left on your fingers afterward. If you are looking to amp up the taste of your meals but use less time to do so, you might want to try using a garlic press. These kitchen gadgets allow you to finely crush garlic in seconds, giving you fresh flavor with less work.
Although it's entirely possible to find decent quality store-bought pasta, there is nothing quite like fresh homemade noodles straight from your kitchen. If there is one cool kitchen gadget any food aficionado worth their salt should have, it's a pasta maker. Once you've had a little practice, these unique kitchen tools are pretty easy to use. With the turn of a crank, the internal rollers will help you produce restaurant-quality noodles in no time. To read more about what pasta maker you should choose, read The Best Pasta Makers for Truly Homemade Dinners.
Boiling eggs may not be a difficult task, but when it comes to creating large batches, or if you are pressed for time – the last thing you want is to watch over a pot of water. Egg cookers may not be the newest kitchen gadget on the market, but they certainly do help free up your hands to give you the chance to work on other things simultaneously. Whether you need to cook large batches for deviled eggs or egg salad, or want to make a quick poached egg breakfast, these unique cooking tools can help simplify the process.
Grain Mill: If you have ever tried your hand at making your own pasta, you are sure to know just how costly speciality flours can be. That is where a grain mill comes in. Although these unique kitchen tools are a little more niche, they are beneficial to families looking to mill their own grains. Not only does homemade flour contain more nutrients due to its freshness and the lack of additives, but it helps to produce better pastries and breads that your family is sure to love. Some grain mills can even grind corn, dry beans, and lentils. After buying a grain mill you too can try your hand at making flour from rye, barely, oats, barley, and spelt to name a few.
Mortar & Pestle: When you think of cool kitchen gadgets, a mortar and pestle may not immediately spring to mind. Truth be told – they are one of the oldest and most basic tools that have been carried through from the stone age! If you're not in the know – a mortar (a rounded bowl) and pestle (a blunt club-shaped utensil) are matching tools that when paired together, are used to grind up ingredients (wet or dry) to make a fine powder or a paste. The pestle is pounded and rotated within the mortar to crush your food items until they reach your desired consistency. This is ideal for making and blending your own spices, mincing garlic paste, crushing nuts, and other fine food items to your precise specifications.
Citrus Squeezer: Citrus or lemon squeezers, are well known amongst bartenders and lemonade makers alike. Even if you are not looking to make drinks with your lemons, these unique kitchen gadgets are invaluable thanks to how much easier they make juice extraction. Citrus squeezers work similarly to garlic presses in that you place the cut fruit inside the rounded basket within two handles and squeeze to release the juice from the bottom. Something that many people may not know is that it is best to place the cut side facing down into the basket instead of the rounded side. This simple tip will help to prevent juice from squirting into your eyes, collect the seeds more effectively, and release the most liquid possible.
Reamer: Reamers – also known as lemon squeezers, are another quirky kitchen gadget used to extract the juice from citrus fruits. The word 'ream' means to widen a hole using a tool, which is exactly what this tool does. There are two types of reamers available – though they both perform the same function. They both comprise a tapered conical tool that has ridges running along the bottom half. These furrows work to remove the juice from the citrus. The first type of squeezer has the reamer attached to a dish which catches the juice as you rotate your fruit, while the second simply is a handheld reamer that you push into the fruit to extract juice. No matter which you use, do be aware that reamers often dislodge some of the pith as well as seeds, so it is likely you will need to use a strainer on the juice afterward.
We all know about thermometers used to take our temperature, but did you know there are kitchen models? These cool kitchen gadgets can be helpful in a number of ways.
Meat: If you are cooking a large roast or frying a steak, it can be a little tough to know exactly when the food is done. A meat thermometer will help take the guesswork out by giving you a precise reading of the internal temperature of your meat. All you need to know is what number you are looking for and remove your food at that point.
Deep Fry: For home cooks who enjoy fried food, a deep frying thermometer is a helpful purchase. If you didn't already know – when food is placed in cold oil, it will absorb the oil and usually overcook as it tries to reach the right temperature, while overly hot oil will burn the exterior while the interior remains raw. Thankfully these thermometers can be placed inside the oil as it heats up in order to give you a precise indication when it is ready to be used.
Candy: Candy making is a task that requires precise measurements. If you plan to try your hand at caramel, toffee, or any other sugary confectionery, consider a candy thermometer. Working with sugar is no easy task and as it melts and boils, it reaches various stages that are required for specific types of candy. Trying to catch these points by eye – especially if you are just starting out – is difficult and can easily result in burnt sugar. This is why a candy thermometer is an ideal investment for any budding home bakers.
These cool kitchen gadgets are a great way to get you more excited about cooking and help you improve on your repertoire.
