There are many different kitchen gadgets that can be really useful to make the cooking and baking processes easier. Here is a list of 10 useful kitchen gadgets that I use frequently or find particularly helpful/necessary.
Some items may be more common, while others may be more unexpected. As I said before, these are based on my personal experiences and focus on the difference of not using the gadget vs. using it. Take a look at these 10 useful kitchen gadgets that I really love and then share your personal experiences in the comments below. Do you have a different gadget that you love but it isn’t listed here? Feel free to talk about it in the comments and explain how it helps you in the kitchen.
1. Garlic Press
A garlic press makes mincing garlic a lot easier than using a knife. It’s also very simple to do many cloves quickly. All you have to do is load the garlic cloves into it, then press it shut and it will crush the garlic into small pieces that come out through its holes. It’s a really nice tool to have if you use a lot of garlic like me, but don’t like all the fuss of mincing it manually with a knife on a cutting board.
2. Citrus Squeezer
A citrus squeezer is a useful gadget for juicing fresh citrus (lemon, lime, orange, etc.). It has many uses in both cooking and baking. Anytime a recipe calls for a particular citrus juice, you can easily make your own fresh juice. I love using a citrus squeezer since it’s a lot easier than the more manual method of squeezing the citrus by hand.
3. Zester (Microplane)
A zester, (also known commonly by the brand name, Microplane), can zest citrus easily, grate ginger, etc. It is essentially a long flat grater that can be held or placed over something. Before I bought one, I would use a cheese grater to zest citrus and do any of the other tasks. It was never a very practical method and I always found it especially difficult or complicated to clean the grater afterwards. Now I love how easy it is to zest citrus with this tool and the clean up process is a lot simpler too.
4. Meat Chopper/Masher
The meat chopper or meat masher has been pretty popular tool on TikTok and other social media lately. It is a star-shaped masher, similar to a potato masher, that can be used to easily break up ground meat. It can also be used for other purposes such as mashing things like avocados, fruit, etc.
5. Dough/Bench Scraper
A dough scraper or bench scraper is quite useful for handling and cutting dough. It’s usually made of metal, or sometimes plastic, and is typically used to move dough around. It can help to pick up, turn, roll, or cut the dough. You can also use a dough or bench scraper to help pick up and move things from a cutting board. I personally find this gadget very useful for dividing dough when making things like cinnamon rolls.
6. Cookie/Ice Cream Scoop
A cookie scoop or ice cream scoop is useful for making cookies/other baked goods or getting out ice cream. It is an especially helpful tool for creating uniform dough balls easily. I always use one when making cookies like my red velvet cookies.
7. Small Whisk
A small whisk is useful for when you need to whisk something in a smaller container. I find it particularly useful for beating eggs or making a homemade vinaigrette for salad. It’s a very handy tool to have as it can be used for any whisking task and it’s easy to store since it doesn’t take up much space.
8. Pastry Mat
A pastry mat is typically a silicone mat with guidelines (often relating to size/measurements and conversions) for pastry making. It is a really useful tool for working dough. I love how it helps to avoid mess on the table or counter top. The guidelines are also super helpful for the planning or baking process.
9. Immersion Blender
An immersion blender or hand blender is particularly useful for soup making. It’s much easier than using a traditional blender. You simply use the immersion blender directly in the pot or whatever you’re working in to blend the ingredients. This gadget is so helpful when making soups because you won’t have to transfer it to a traditional blender and wait for it to cool down. I use mine all the time when making soups like my potato soup. It can also be used for things like making mayonnaise.
10. Salad Spinner
A salad spinner is used for when you’re washing lettuce and you need to remove the water. Before I got a salad spinner, I would use a strainer and then paper towels to try and dry off the lettuce as much as possible. It wasn’t a very practical method and a waste of paper towels. Now that I have a salad spinner, I love how much easier and more effective it is at getting the water out in a matter of seconds.
Final Thoughts
That was my 10 useful kitchen gadgets that cover an array of uses. I hope at least one item will resonate with everyone and that you learn something new. I have definitely experienced the before and after owning these tools, which is why I chose them.
Don’t forget to share your experiences with kitchen gadgets below in the comments. If you already own all of these items, then is there another gadget not listed here that you love? Share it below! If not, then simply share your favourite kitchen gadget from the list in the comments below.
