People love products that solve a specific problem. It’s in our nature to look for faster and smarter ways to accomplish an otherwise mundane task. When it comes to cooking, it’s no different. Throughout the years, we’ve seen a plethora of innovative kitchen devices that have revolutionized the way we cook, bake, and prepare our ingredients. Gadgets and appliances like toasters, electric ovens, non-stick pans, easy peelers, and food processors have all played a vital role in improving the kitchen experience for just about anyone.
While we’re sure you already have your kitchen essentials down pat, there are a plethora of kitchen products out there that may just make your life easier. From nonessentials to must-haves, here are five kitchen products you didn’t know you needed.
1. Hand-Held Food Chopper
Importance ranking: Very Important
What’s it for? Food choppers are a godsend especially if you don’t like making a mess when prepping a million different ingredients. As the name implies, hand-held food choppers are manually-operated gadgets that you can use to easily chop up fresh vegetables and herbs. It’s also a great way to quickly prep your ingredients especially if you don’t like working with sharp knives. However, keep in mind that most hand-held food choppers cannot accommodate large ingredients. You may have to cut your ingredients into smaller pieces first for best results.
Why should you buy it? Not only would a hand-held food chopper make prepping easier for you, but it would also be safer for you and your hands.
Is there a downside? Food choppers aren’t exactly known for their precision so expect chop sizes to be inconsistent.
Where can you buy it? Food choppers can be bought anywhere! Retail giants like Amazon or Bed Bath & Beyond have food choppers of all shapes and sizes.
2. Finger Guard for Cutting
Importance ranking: Very Important
What’s it for? Like manual food choppers, finger guards are great for anyone that’s scared of getting injured by sharp knives. You simply wear a finger guard by pulling it onto your fingers and a sheet of metal acts as a shield that protects your fingers while you’re slicing or dicing your ingredients.
Why should you buy it? Not all cooks are cut the same. (Ha! Now that’s intended!) If you want to get better at cooking but you’re scared to properly slice your ingredients, then finger guards may just be the answer for you! Finger guards also work well for kids that want to help out in the kitchen as well as the elderly. Finger guards also work well for kids that want to help out in the kitchen as well as the elderly.
Is there a downside? Zero. Zilch. It’s always better to err on the side of caution, right?
Where can you buy it? If you can’t find a finger guard in the tools section of the grocery store, they’re available at major online retailers like Amazon.
3. Spiralizer
Importance ranking: Fairly Important
What’s it for? This is a treat for anyone that’s trying out a plant-based diet. Spiralizing is an easy way to get more vegetables into your diet without the need to learn elaborate recipes. If you’re unfamiliar with spiralizers, here’s how it works: pick a vegetable you’d like to use, put it into your spiralizer, and start spiralizing. It really is that simple. The end product is a pasta-looking ingredient that you can use for salads, pasta dishes, and even soups!
Is there a downside? Spiralizers are notoriously bulky so make sure you have enough storage (although there are smaller, hand-held versions available too).
Why should you buy it? If you’re trying to get yourself, your child, or your significant other to eat more veggies, then a spiralizer is the perfect tool to make eating veggies fun.
Where can you buy it? You can easily find a spiralizer at retailers that sell kitchen products like Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Crate and Barrel.
4. Salad Spinner
Importance ranking: Slightly Important
What’s it for? A salad spinner is a kitchen tool that enables you to wash your vegetables all at once – saving you precious time in the process. All you need to do is to determine the number of vegetables you would like to consume, put it inside your salad spinner, and wash it thoroughly with water. After washing, make sure to dump the water and give it another spin. This removes the excess moisture that may lead to spoilage. Salad spinners aren’t exactly new but if you’re trying to turn over a new leaf (no pun intended!), then this kitchen device might just be perfect for you.
Why should you buy it? Put simply, salad spinners will save you time. Instead of washing your vegetables and fruits one at a time, just put them inside your salad spinner and wash them all in one go.
Is there a downside? The only downside we could think of is that salad spinners can be a little bit bulky. If you live in an apartment with tiny cabinets, you could probably go for compact salad spinners that would let you wash a couple of items at a time.
Where can you buy it? Salad spinners are sold in most home goods stores, or online at Bed Bath & Beyond or Amazon.
5. Rubber Wine Stopper
Importance ranking: Not At All Important
What’s it for? Okay, we know we just said this product isn’t all that important but hear us out! Have you ever had an amazing bottle of wine go stale just because you weren’t able to seal it properly? If you don’t want your money and your expensive bottle of wine to go to waste, then a rubber wine stopper is a must-have. You just plug it in after you’ve had your fill and it perfectly seals your wine bottle for you.
Why should you buy it? Rubber wine stoppers provide you with a convenient, inexpensive, and reusable way to seal your wine. No more sealing your wine bottles with pieces of foil or saran wrap!
Is there a downside? None!
Where can you buy it? Basically anywhere that sells household products. But if you want cute and unique ones, try Etsy!
