AIBU to ask you about your best kitchen gadgets?

[OoFaithoO]

Hi all

Moving back home after a couple of years abroad and really want to hit the ground running with healthy homemade cooking as often as possible. Both HTB and I work fairly long full time hours and both like to have 2-3 evening activities per week. Can easily fall into bad habits and eat out of convenience / tiredness rather than health. I like cooking but would love some equipment to both help me save time and to improve my presentation if at all possible! Willing to pay for quality, hard wearing equipment that will last.

Aim to make things like juices, salads, hummus, pesto, sauces, soups. Lots of veggies that I’d love to save time on cutting. Happy to cook ahead when I have time at the weekend or evenings as well as batch cook.

Also TTC next year so equipment we can utilise for weaning / early meals would be great.

So, AIBU to nosily ask what gadgets you use to help you make tasty meals and help save time? I don’t know a blender from a processor, never used a mandolin and the only stick blender I’ve ever used left a burned smell/taste when I tried to make a pineapple smoothie as a student . Totally in the market for any little gadgets like poached egg holders, salad spinners, spiralisers etc that you love too.

Thank you for your time

[CuteOrangeElephant]

I love my InstantPot, there's a lot of recipes for it online. I use it the most for chicken stock and risotto.

[strawberrie]

Joseph Joseph microwave rice cooker. Perfect fluffy rice every time, and you know exactly how long until it's ready so you can concentrate on the main dish. I luffs mine.

[SomethingNastyInTheBallPool]

Instant Pot. Definitely.

[CreditCrackers]

Not a gadget but the Hairy Dieters recipes are delicious, quick, easy and healthy so would probably suit your lifestyle.

[ShinyMe]

I've found that most of the clever gadgets that I've bought have been used intensively for a week or two, then sporadically for a month or two, and then have gathered dust and eventually been relegated to a back bedroom before being handed on elsewhere.

The only things I really really couldn't do without are a good chopping board, a kettle, a couple of decent pans, and two really good knives - a big one and a little one. I've had my big Sabatier knife for 25 years and I use it almost every day.

[parietal]

I do plenty of cooking but don't use many gadgets. Good knife , good chopping board, carrot peeler etc are used everyday.

Kitchen aid hand held blender for cakes (no space for the big one)

Lakeland microwave pans are v good for frozen peas or broccoli etc.

But most of my fancier gadgets- toastier maker & pasta machine etc are rarely used.

[fairydustandpixies]

Ninja Foodi! It does everything - a pressure cooker, a slow cooker, a steamer, air fryer, grill, you can bake cakes in it, saute veggies...best thing I ever bought!

[Tunnocks34]

My garlic crushed. Love it.

[Tunnocks34]

Crusher sorry

[SimonJT]

Waste disposal, the only things that can’t go down it are onion/leeks. Some authorities reduce your council tax if you have one.

[TroysMammy]

Electric hand mixer. I've had mine for 31 years.
Measuring spoons
Lakeland vegetable peeler
Silicon spatula, gets the last bit out of my mixing bowl
Lakeland garlic slice and dice
Don't buy cheap baking tins
Wind up timer as I never hear the timer on my phone
Lakeland quarter pounder burger press.
Mandolin and no cut gloves

[Singlebutmarried]

Instantpot for sure

Also a stand mixer and Pyrex baking trays.

[1Morewineplease]

I asked a master carpenter to make me a large chopping board /butchers block as I couldn’t buy one that was any much larger than A4 size. It’s the centre point in my food prep.
Also the kenwood mini chef. It processes small amounts of herbs, spices, bread crumbs, hummus , curry pastes , pesto etc...
And get the best knives that you can afford.

[daisyphase]

You need a basic knife sharpener. I have space on my kitchen surfaces so can use gadgets. If they are packed away you’ll never use them. I use a slow cooker weekly and a Magimix daily. Love them both. Ooh... and my bread maker, but not every day.

[TroysMammy]

Pyrex measuring jug

[Clarinet53]

Slow cooker, love mine. Good for a mid week roast. Loads you can do with it.

That’s the only gadget I use

[Unescorted]

Good knife, pans, utensils and chopping board. For serving plain white crockery in a pleasing weight and shape.

[qwertyuiop098]

Ikea silver garlic crusher is the best one I’ve ever used and saves peeling and chopping. Just always hand wash it.

Invest in good knives especially if you will be chopping lots of veg - saves so much time and effort. I just got Wurthofs for my birthday which are pricy but look at reviews online to find one to suit. You really only need a chopping knife and serrated knife.

[dotoallasyouwouldbedoneby]

Sounds like you could do with a decent food processor. It can do everything you have mentioned including baking if you choose carefully. I like my Kenwood Multipro.

[Duckchick]

Given you want to make soups, pesto and hummus, a combination stick blender and mini chopper. I have no longer available much cheaper version of this one www.amazon.co.uk/Braun-Multiquick-9087X-hand-blender/dp/B01KPT839A/ref=mp_s_a_1_13?dchild=1&psc=1&keywords=stick%2Bblender%2Bfood%2Bprocessor&sprefix=stick%2Bblender%2Bfood&th=1&qid=1593373093&sr=8-13&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21 which has had a huge amount of use. I use the small chopping pot for small quantities of stuff like pesto and the big one for larger and also to make pastry.

Otherwise, a roasting tin so you can make one dish dinners in it (highly recommend the roasting tin cookbooks).

[OoFaithoO]

Wow some great suggestions, thank you so much! I will definitely invest in some good knives and a decent chopping board. I last had a glass one that was soooo loud to chop on, so will look for a good one.

Will definitely look into an insta pot / slow cooker!

[JW13]

Highly recommend global knives. They're expensive but very good.

The gadget we use daily is a nutribullet. Bought it years ago and thought it was a fad but still use it all the time. We make smoothies, hummus, soup and sauces - doesn't do huge quantities but I often do 2-3 batches as we have a few cups. Used it for pureeing food for weaning as well.

I also have a magimix but it's currently in storage so haven't used it loads.

Friends swear by their Vitamix blenders but they're a lot more expensive than the nutribullet.

[newtb]

Mini mandolin for grating ginger and garlic
Bamix blender

[cjpark]

The only gadgets that I use weekly are;
K Mix Food mixer - use it for cakes, bread, any pastry.
Slow cooker (hob to slow cooker one!) - for stews, chilli, soups, slow roasts.