When you have a favorite kitchen gadget, gizmo, utensil, or small appliance, you might enjoy your time doing food prep that much more. In this post, the Nutrition Mechanic team is sharing their favorite kitchen gizmos from 2021 and the “must haves” we are taking into 2022.
From Kristin:
I’m a foodie. You may know from my bio that I used to work in the Napa Valley wine industry. My life revolved around food and wine back then. Today, my life still revolves around food, but it’s all about helping people fuel themselves by improving their relationships to food.
Kershaw Kitchen Shears - I don’t think I’ll ever buy another pair of kitchen shears. These scissors are made well, multi-functional, come apart for easy cleaning, and not expensive. They’ll snip through artichoke stems, spatchcock a chicken, clip rosemary from your garden, trim pie crusts, open cans, and crack walnuts. I love these kitchen shears and I know you will, too!
Immersion/Hand Blender - Puree soups, blend salad dressings and sauces, whip cream, and beat eggs--these little appliances are a must-have in the kitchen. It makes life so much easier than having to pour batch after batch into a blender to puree things, and clean-up is a breeze. There are lots of brands out there, and you’ll want to make sure you get one with a stainless steel shaft to withstand being submerged in hot liquids. I’ve had my current Cuisinart for years and the one I had before lasted over twenty. I’m loyal to brands that build things to last and that’s why this one gets my vote.
Instant-read Thermometer - Poke and thump all you want, but you cannot tell how cooked something is by squishing it with your finger. I’ve never met anybody whose prodding could tell the difference between an undercooked 190º bread loaf and a finished 200º loaf. You know what can? An instant-read thermometer. I rely on mine to tell me when my salmon is ready to come out of the oven and whether or not my sourdough needs a few more minutes. So, unless you have some amazing superpower, buy yourself one of these thermometers. Here’s the top-of-the-line version.
From Maggie:
Like the rest of the Nutrition Mechanic team, I love to be in the kitchen cooking. However, living in an apartment in Denver does not translate to a large kitchen, so I rely on a few precious kitchen gadgets to keep me going!
Instant Pot (mini) - If you don’t already own an Instant Pot, I cannot recommend it enough. You can make (almost) anything in it with EASE. I love the mini one for those who don’t have a lot of kitchen space or for those who are just cooking for a few people. One of my favorite Instant Pot recipes? Oyster mushroom and sweet pea risotto in less than 40 minutes. Heck yes!
Silicone Food Covers - These nifty little guys have become so useful in the kitchen for me. If you have read my blog on food waste, you will know why, but they really are handy for leftovers or when you just can’t quite finish that bowl of ice cream (say what?!). They’re also great not only for reducing waste, but they go right in the dishwasher for an easy cleanup too!
Mini Food Processor - Back to the miniature gadgets. I love this mini food processor from Cuisinart, because it is small yet mighty! I make sauces like pesto and fresh homemade hummus in this little guy and it doesn’t take up too much space and everything is dishwasher safe!
From Dina:
I am on the go a lot, so meal prep is key and it’s important for me to “walk the talk.” Plus, my brain and body are in the Happy Camp when I plan ahead food-wise. The other fun fact I learned about myself is that I do a way better job with hydration when my water is bubbly in nature.
Vitamix - I make a smoothie nearly everyday and from past experience with shoddy blenders, I now have uber appreciation for the investment in a top notch blender. It has a serious motor to tackle any kind of creation you can think of and the “wet” and “dry” containers are handy for blending and mixing all kinds of goodies. This beauty is also easy to clean and reliable for the long haul.
GoStak - From the Blender Bottle company, these different size stackable containers are great for the lunch box, snack bag, or keeping portion sizes legit (for me, the nuts and trail mix needs to be monitored). This was a gift from a client long ago and one that I cherish for its versatility. Oh, and they’re cute too.
SodaStream - I know I’m not alone when I say I drink more water when it’s carbonated and sometimes jazzed up with a touch of flavor. For years, I was buying aluminum cans and while these are recyclable, the refillable CO2 cylinders are more eco-friendly (so far as I can tell). To me, this is a win-win situation all around.
We hope you enjoyed our list of faves. What are yours?? Let us know in the comments!
Your Nutrition Mechanics,
-Kristin, Maggie, & Dina