Simplify for your kitchen with these tools

by Kimberly Blaker, Sage Rare & Collectible Books

The kitchen may just be the heart of the home. People spend so much time preparing meals, whether for fun, special occasions or out of necessity each day. Home-cooked meals may be best for your wallet and health. Yet, meal prep can be challenging to do consistently for a host of reasons.

Whether you love to cook and want to simplify food preparation or dread the task but want to cut back on takeout, there are so many smart kitchen gadgets. The following can save you time and energy so you can focus on creating delicious, nutritious meals.

Tilt-Head Stand Mixer

Counter-top stand mixers allow for easy mixing without effort. The tilt-head design comes with a dough hook, beater, and whip. It’s easy to swap out the other attachments, including a pasta roller, spiralizer, juicer, shredder, slicer, sausage stuffer, grinder and even ice cream maker.

Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

The Instant Pot Pressure Cooker is another multi-use cooking tool that simplifies the cooking process while also speeding it up. You can use it to saute, steam, cook rice, make yogurt, and more. It also serves as a pressure cooker or slow cooker. Some versions also include other settings like an air fryer adapter.

Easy Egg Peeler

Peeling hard-boiled eggs can be difficult, especially if you have arthritis or when those tiny little pieces of shell stick to the egg. The Easy Egg Peeler does the hard work for you. Your only job is to shake it up then peel off the outside.

Butefo 8 in 1 Kitchen Tool

If you’re low on counter space, this device conveniently stores eight basic kitchen tools together. It includes a funnel, measuring cup, fruit squeezer, egg masher, spice grater, egg separator, cheese grater and silicone cap opener.

Salad Cutter Bowl

Simplify your salad with this all-in-one device. Wash and strain fruits and veggies, flip it over to cut through slits, turn to cut pieces again, then flip over for a ready-made salad. If salad isn’t your thing, use it to quickly chop fruits, veggies and more.

Kale & Herb Razor

Sometimes, the simplest gadgets can make a huge difference. This small razor quickly strips kale, herbs, and leafy vegetables to save you from repetitive chopping and slicing with a knife.

OXO Good Grips 3-in-1 Avocado Slicer

Avocados can be slippery, dangerous fruits to handle with a sharp knife. This tool makes it easy and safe to cut, de-pit and slice avocados.

Fullstar Vegetable Chopper Dicer Mandoline Slicer

This gadget simplifies food prep with seven interchangeable blades that quickly chop, dice, slice, spiralize, grate, and more, quickly and safely. The prepared food then drops into the container, keeping everything in one place, ready for the next step.

Rapid Slicer

This simple device makes cutting small fruits and veggies easy, quick, and safe. It holds food in place while you slide the knife through, protecting your fingers while cutting more at once. You can even use it to slice meat and bread products.

Automatic Pan Stirrer with Timer

This device will save your arms on sauces and other dishes that need constant stirring. Set the timer and place the stirrer in your pan. Then work on the rest of your meal or sit down and relax. This stirrer is perfect, especially if you find it challenging to stand at the stove or stir for an extended time.

NutriChef 12 Cup Food Processor

This gadget does the work for you regarding meal prep. It comes with six blades to slice, shred, mash, chop, knead, emulsify, and juice large amounts of both wet and dry ingredients.