Cooking can be time-consuming, but with the right tools, you can save a whole lot of time and make the process more enjoyable while reducing stress. Since cooking meals at home consistently is key to good health, having the right tools can make all the difference. However, with so many options out there, it’s hard to know which ones are really worth the money or the valuable space in your kitchen. Listed below are eight of our tried and true time-saving kitchen tools that we use year-round, week after week.
They also are relatively inexpensive and easy to find at most major major retailers.
Our Favorite Time Saving Kitchen Tools:
1. Mini-Prep Chopper
I would probably count this as one of my favorite time saving kitchen tools. I used it constantly. It is ideal for chopping onions (especially for those like me who find onions hard on the eyes), celery, carrots, making riced cauliflower … you name it.
I also use it for more than just chopping- it comes in handy to whip up a quick sauce or dressing if you don’t feel like pulling out your blender.
And just so you know how much I love my little chopper, I pack it up and take it on vacation when we rent a house at the beach each summer. It’s that good!
Estimated price: ~$40 I use the Ninja mini prep, which is readily available on many retailer sites.
2. Hand Held Citrus Juicer
Using fresh citrus juice is a staple when I cook. Whether I am making salad dressing, a sauce for chicken, or using it to flavor fresh fish, lemon or lime juice is often part of the plan. I also regularly add it to sparkling water and tea for some extra flavor and a burst of vitamin C. Suffice it to say, lemons and limes are always on my kitchen counter and in abundance.
To get juice quickly without seeds, I use a hand held citrus juicer. Although there are fancier, more expensive options out there, a simple manual juicer will do just fine. I have two different ones in my kitchen- an attachment that goes over my Pyrex measuring cup and a handheld press. These tools not only make the process easier but also yield more juice compared to squeezing by hand.
Estimated price: ~$10
3. Garlic Press
Chopping garlic by hand can be tedious and time-consuming, especially for multiple cloves. A garlic press is a great time-saving kitchen tool for making quick work of chopping garlic. It’s a game-changer once you start using it, and I prefer ones made of stainless steel for durability. When I am not throwing it in my mini-chopper, I use a garlic press. Using a press also eliminates the garlic smell on your hands.
Side note: when you chop fresh garlic, let it stand at room temp for about 10 minutes. The exposure to air allows the health promoting properties of garlic to be activated.
Estimated price: ~$10
4. Oven thermometer
An oven thermometer not only saves time but also ensures basic food safety. Rather than guessing if your meat is cooked by cutting into it during cooking, or by the amount of time it’s been in the oven, an oven thermometer gives you the answer.
Also, many home ovens are not accurate when it comes to the temperature. You can’t always rely on cooking chicken at 350 for 30 minutes will cook the meat to a safe temperature. A thermometer gives you peace of mind and saves the time involved in checking and rechecking.
Estimated price: ~$20 to $30
Note: you can spend a lot of money on thermometers that come with lots of tech. However, there are plenty in the lower price range. My meat thermometer was purchased at Target for under $20.
5. Bread knife
Useful for cutting bread, of course —but also melons, squash, fruits and vegetables like pineapples or even tomatoes. Anything that needs some extra grip is a good candidate for the bread knife. I use my bread knife all the time! It can also be useful for carving roast chickens or other large cuts of meat.
Using a traditional chef’s knife in certain situations (such as cutting squash) can actually be dangerous if the knife is dull or slips. A bread knife’s teeth grip the surface of what it is cutting and make prep tasks quick and easy. You could even make the argument that the bread knife is an essential knife in a kitchen.
Estimated price: $25 or less Knives can vary greatly in price, but there are many quality options in this price range)
6. Kitchen Scissors
Ever have to cut through raw chicken breasts? Or cut fish fillets into smaller pieces so it fits in the skillet? A good pair of kitchen scissors can be such a time saver for these messy tasks. Scissors make it so much faster to cut through raw meats, trim excess fat, or cut a whole chicken into pieces.
They can also be handy for portioning pizza and cutting through the crust- way easier than a pizza cutter in my experience!
Estimated price: under $20
7. Hand Held Grater
Although you might not use this tool as often as the others, it still belongs on our list of favorite tools to save time. A hand-held grater is a kitchen essential for mincing fresh ginger for your marinade, grating parmesan to top your pasta, or shaving lemon zest for sauces or desserts. It is also the perfect tool for grating chocolate to top your favorite drink!
Estimated Cost: $10 to $15
8. Sharpie and masking tape
Not just for your office, sharpies and a roll of masking tape deserve a place in our list of favorite time saving kitchen tools. They both are regulars in my utensil drawer. When storing leftovers, you can rip off a piece of tape and label your food so you know how old it is. It also comes in handy to note the date opened on the carton of unused chicken broth, a jar of pasta sauce or salsa. Otherwise, it gets a bit tricky to know if you are beyond the “use within 10 days of opening” noted on the package.
Low tech but so helpful.
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