5 Time-Saving Kitchen Appliances
If you haven’t considered using time-saving kitchen appliances, perhaps it’s time to ask yourself a question.
Do you have 4 hours every day to prep, make, serve, eat, and clean up breakfast and then repeat for lunch and dinner?
I know that with a hungry teenager, a husband, and a job, it’s pretty much impossible. Many thanks to the people who came up with time-saving kitchen appliances!
Now I know there are a lot of gadgets and appliances out there, too many to talk about in one sitting. So I have narrowed it down these 5 time-saving kitchen appliances: rice cooker, food processor, indoor grill, air fryer, and Instant Pot.
Let’s take a look at how they work and how they can save you time spent in the kitchen.
Rice Cooker
If you have never tried a rice cooker before because you think “cooking rice is easy,” then you are missing out.
When I first purchased my rice cooker, I initially continued to cook rice on the stovetop (I don’t know why). However, once I started to use the rice cooker, there was no turning back. The rice cooker is so much simpler.
You don’t have to worry about keeping your eye on it to make sure it doesn’t burn. And you don’t have to be concerned about undercooked or mushy rice, that sometimes happens on the stovetop. Quite simply, your rice will turn out close to perfect every time. All you have to do is set it up, turn it on, and continue on with the rest of your cooking.
There is a wide range of rice cookers out there, starting from your basic timer with no bells and whistles that start around $20 to the really fancy ones that go for over $300. With the less expensive models, you have to remember that when it turns off, it doesn’t mean the rice is ready. You still have to let it sit for a few minutes before serving, and you might not get perfection. Spend a little more and get a good non-stick one to make the clean-up easier.
If you are now thinking, “well, I don’t want an appliance that does one thing” well… GOOD NEWS! Most people don’t realize that rice cookers can also be used to steam veggies or even bake a cake!
Food Processor
If you want to slice and dice as quickly as possible, then a food processor is what you need. This handy dandy appliance will cut down your prep time by 75% if used correctly. It only takes seconds to chop up your vegetables. The clean-up time is a little longer than just cleaning a knife. But the time saved in preparation more than makes up for it. A lot of the bowls are dishwasher safe, which saves even more time when cleaning.
Not only can you chop, slice, and dice vegetables, but you can grind things like nuts, shred cheese and make dough batter, all in a fraction of the time of doing it by hand.
The types of food processors vary with power, speed, functions, and size. You just need to pick the right one for the size of your family. The price range is pretty wide too, from $40 (small & basic) to $400 (professional). With a little research, you can find the one that best suits your needs.
Although food processors are great for things I mentioned above, some people try to use them to make soups or smoothies. No! They are not designed for that. If you want to make a soup or a smoothie, you need to use a blender.
Indoor Grill
If your family is like mine and loves grilled food, then this item is just what you need. I know, I know nothing beats the taste of a BBQ steak cooked over an open flame, but when you want burgers in a hurry, nothing beats an indoor grill.
How does an electric grill save you time? Easy, you just plug it in, and you are cooking your favorite grilled food in minutes. There is no big set up, no long wait to get your BBQ to temperature. And clean-up is a breeze with a non-stick surface.
You could go for a smaller basic grill, or you could grab yourself a more versatile griddle. These types can also do hot sandwiches, or you can even flip the hot plates over and make some pancakes.
Air Fryer
Another one of the popular time-saving kitchen appliances is the air fryer. Air fryers work by circulating hot air around the food, cooking it fast and evenly. This makes them ideal for cooking things like French fries and chicken wings, to name a few. Plus, they’re relatively user-friendly and don’t require a lot of cleanup.
These handy devices can cook food fast and evenly, with little to no oil. And they’re perfect for those who want to enjoy fried food options without all the extra fat and calories. While air fryers are user-friendly for the most part, there are a few things to keep in mind to get the best results.
First, be sure to preheat it before putting your food in the air fryer basket. This will help ensure that your food cooks evenly.
Second, cut food into uniform pieces for even cooking.
And finally, don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. This will lead to uneven cooking and could potentially cause your food to stick or burn. By following these simple tips, you’ll be on your way to enjoying perfectly cooked food – with little to no effort!
Instant Pot
Ahhhh, the Instant Pot, I saved this for last. Household cooks are going back to the slow cooker because now the slow cooker is not so slow! The Instant Pot has made it possible to make those meals that we love but take way too long to be put back on the menu.
The Instant Pot not only is a pressure cooker extraordinaire, but it also sautés. Now, this a feature that you can use in conjunction with the pressure cooking or just make a nice sauce or soup in the pot. There is also the Duo Air Fryer Instant Pot, which adds another dimension to your cooking.
The Instant Pot uses extremely high pressure to cook to reduce cooking times, so you can now make the 4-hour pot roast or beef stew in just one hour.
I would like to mention a few notes on the Instant Pot:
- Yes, it cooks fast, but it does need a little time to come to pressure. This will depend on the amount of liquid used, less liquid less time to pressure.
- Be very careful when releasing the steam, steam is hotter than boiling water. PLEASE follow the instructions.
- The base stays cool, but the top gets hot.
- Make sure to clean the silicone sealer in the top after use, it retains the odors of what was just cooked.
So I have mentioned how the Instant Pot cuts down cooking time on slow cooker recipes, but it does oh so much more. You can make pasta, fall-off-the-bone ribs, pulled pork, the list goes on and on. And one of the best things is that once the Instant Pot is cooking the food, you can take time to be with your family… or just sneak out for a well-deserved break.
Recap
At the end of the day many of us are eating a lot of our meals at home. So, if you’re looking to save time in the kitchen, these time-saving kitchen appliances will help you do just that. A rice cooker, food processor, indoor grill, air fryer, and instant pot are all great options that can help make your life a little bit easier.
So go ahead and give them a try – your future self will thank you!
