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Prachi Joshi profile imagePrachi JoshiPublished on
10 kitchen gadgets that will make your life easier

Step up your cooking game with these must-have gizmos

As much as I enjoy cooking, I don’t particularly like toiling in the kitchen. So naturally, I am a sucker for gadgets that will reduce the amount of time I spend there. Apart from time-saving tools, I also cannot pass up a gorgeous piece of kitchenware (hello, Le Creuset!). And don’t get me started on the sheer variety of coffee-making paraphernalia I own. Here’s my pick of 10 kitchen gadgets that will make cooking a breeze.

Avocado slicerIf avocado toast is your go-to breakfast/snack/meal, this nifty three-in-one avocado slicer is a must-have—you can split, pit and slice an avocado without any effort. The stainless-steel pitter removes the pit in one smooth twist and the slicer creates uniformly perfect pieces. It’s easy to use, has a non-slip grip and is safer compared to a knife, since the cutting edge is made of plastic and hence there are fewer chances of nicking yourself. Chalk this under things you didn’t know you needed!

Avocado slicer

If avocado toast is your go-to breakfast/snack/meal, this nifty three-in-one avocado slicer is a must-have—you can split, pit and slice an avocado without any effort. The stainless-steel pitter removes the pit in one smooth twist and the slicer creates uniformly perfect pieces. It’s easy to use, has a non-slip grip and is safer compared to a knife, since the cutting edge is made of plastic and hence there are fewer chances of nicking yourself. Chalk this under things you didn’t know you needed!

Cast-iron cookwareStill using a non-stick tava, kadai and skillets? It’s time to switch to cast-iron cookware. When properly seasoned, a cast-iron tava is equivalent to a non-stick one, can handle higher heat, is more durable and is certainly a healthier option—no nasty Teflon coating on it. If you find it a chore to season cast-iron cookware, you can easily find pre-seasoned ones that are ready-to-use. The Indus Valley has everything from a dosa tava to a grill pan to even a paniyaram or appam pan.

Cast-iron cookware

Still using a non-stick tava, kadai and skillets? It’s time to switch to cast-iron cookware. When properly seasoned, a cast-iron tava is equivalent to a non-stick one, can handle higher heat, is more durable and is certainly a healthier option—no nasty Teflon coating on it. If you find it a chore to season cast-iron cookware, you can easily find pre-seasoned ones that are ready-to-use. The Indus Valley has everything from a dosa tava to a grill pan to even a paniyaram or appam pan.

Dutch ovenDesigned for making hearty one-pot meals, the Dutch oven is a kitchen classic. This enamelled cast-iron pot is perfect for simmering, poaching and braising meats, vegetables, rice as well as for making soups and casseroles. It also transitions easily from the stovetop to the oven. Le Creuset’s round Dutch oven in a variety of colours is desirable but Amazon’s in-house brand too has perfectly serviceable ones. If your heart is set on Le Creuset (I don’t blame you!), the brand has shops in major metros across India, or you can order via Tata Cliq.

Dutch oven

Designed for making hearty one-pot meals, the Dutch oven is a kitchen classic. This enamelled cast-iron pot is perfect for simmering, poaching and braising meats, vegetables, rice as well as for making soups and casseroles. It also transitions easily from the stovetop to the oven. Le Creuset’s round Dutch oven in a variety of colours is desirable but Amazon’s in-house brand too has perfectly serviceable ones. If your heart is set on Le Creuset (I don’t blame you!), the brand has shops in major metros across India, or you can order via Tata Cliq.

Egg boiler and poacherI have a confession—I have never managed to poach an egg perfectly. That’s why this 2-in-1 egg boiler and poacher is high on my dream gadget-list. You can boil up to eight eggs at a time (either soft, medium or hard to your liking) but more importantly, you can poach up to four eggs at a time. The device indicates when the eggs are ready and switches off automatically. All the parts of the gadget, including the steaming rack and egg trays, are easy to clean.

Egg boiler and poacher

I have a confession—I have never managed to poach an egg perfectly. That’s why this 2-in-1 egg boiler and poacher is high on my dream gadget-list. You can boil up to eight eggs at a time (either soft, medium or hard to your liking) but more importantly, you can poach up to four eggs at a time. The device indicates when the eggs are ready and switches off automatically. All the parts of the gadget, including the steaming rack and egg trays, are easy to clean.

Espresso makerWhile my coffee-making arsenal is formidable, I do have a soft spot for the Wacaco Nanopresso. This manual brewer is sleek, ergonomically designed and makes a mean espresso, complete with a fabulous crema—that caramel-coloured creamy froth on top, the mark of a freshly made espresso. It’s easy to use and clean; a simple cleansing rinse is all it takes. Use ground coffee of your choice and you will never have a bad cuppa at home or when you travel, as it’s compact and portable.

Espresso maker

While my coffee-making arsenal is formidable, I do have a soft spot for the Wacaco Nanopresso. This manual brewer is sleek, ergonomically designed and makes a mean espresso, complete with a fabulous crema—that caramel-coloured creamy froth on top, the mark of a freshly made espresso. It’s easy to use and clean; a simple cleansing rinse is all it takes. Use ground coffee of your choice and you will never have a bad cuppa at home or when you travel, as it’s compact and portable.

Food thermometerIf you cook a lot of meat, a food thermometer must be an essential part of your kitchen, or have you learnt nothing from Masterchef Australia? Jokes aside, when undercooked, meat can be a health hazard and overcooking absolutely ruins its taste and texture. Any meat–be it chicken, lamb or steak–is perfectly cooked at a particular temperature, and only a food thermometer can tell you that. For the most accurate reading, test the thickest part of the meat, away from the bone.

Food thermometer

If you cook a lot of meat, a food thermometer must be an essential part of your kitchen, or have you learnt nothing from Masterchef Australia? Jokes aside, when undercooked, meat can be a health hazard and overcooking absolutely ruins its taste and texture. Any meat–be it chicken, lamb or steak–is perfectly cooked at a particular temperature, and only a food thermometer can tell you that. For the most accurate reading, test the thickest part of the meat, away from the bone.

Stand mixerFor an avid baker, the KitchenAid stand mixer is a necessary investment—at least that’s what I tell myself as I contemplate buying the empire-red tilt-head mixer! It comes with standard-issue attachments such as a flat beater, dough hook and whisk, but you can also get more advanced attachments such as a juicer, grinder and a grain mill too. With this gadget, you can easily turn your home kitchen into a mini-patisserie, dishing up everything from cakes, cookies and breads to pizzas, pastas and pancakes.

Stand mixer

For an avid baker, the KitchenAid stand mixer is a necessary investment—at least that’s what I tell myself as I contemplate buying the empire-red tilt-head mixer! It comes with standard-issue attachments such as a flat beater, dough hook and whisk, but you can also get more advanced attachments such as a juicer, grinder and a grain mill too. With this gadget, you can easily turn your home kitchen into a mini-patisserie, dishing up everything from cakes, cookies and breads to pizzas, pastas and pancakes.

Vacuum-sealing machineIf you are the kind who likes to do a lot of mise en place or prep in advance, this vacuum-sealing and packing machine should come in handy. It has a dual purpose—simple sealing with regular plastic bags or vacuum -sealing, which requires a special kind of bag (the machine comes with five vacuum-sealing bags). It is compact, portable and easy to use, helping you keep food fresh with nutrition locked in as well as preventing odours in your refrigerator or freezer.

Vacuum-sealing machine

If you are the kind who likes to do a lot of mise en place or prep in advance, this vacuum-sealing and packing machine should come in handy. It has a dual purpose—simple sealing with regular plastic bags or vacuum -sealing, which requires a special kind of bag (the machine comes with five vacuum-sealing bags). It is compact, portable and easy to use, helping you keep food fresh with nutrition locked in as well as preventing odours in your refrigerator or freezer.

Vegetable spiraliserWith summer turning up the heat, it’s time to switch to salads and light, cooling meals. Or perhaps skip the carb-heavy pastas and try some zoodles instead? This vegetable spiraliser is easy to use with carrot, zucchini and cucumber as well as with hardier vegetables such as turnips and sweet potatoes. Drizzle your favourite dressing or even tip in some pasta sauce for a healthy summer-ready meal.

Vegetable spiraliser

With summer turning up the heat, it’s time to switch to salads and light, cooling meals. Or perhaps skip the carb-heavy pastas and try some zoodles instead? This vegetable spiraliser is easy to use with carrot, zucchini and cucumber as well as with hardier vegetables such as turnips and sweet potatoes. Drizzle your favourite dressing or even tip in some pasta sauce for a healthy summer-ready meal.

Microwave cleanerCleaning a microwave oven can be incredibly annoying; it’s not just the spills but getting rid of food odours can be a task too. But don’t despair—Angry Mama Microwave Oven Cleaner is a handy little gadget that releases all the gunk from inside the oven. Just add water and vinegar into the contraption and microwave for seven minutes. It will soften any grease and baked-on food, which will clear out with a good wipe-down.

Microwave cleaner

Cleaning a microwave oven can be incredibly annoying; it’s not just the spills but getting rid of food odours can be a task too. But don’t despair—Angry Mama Microwave Oven Cleaner is a handy little gadget that releases all the gunk from inside the oven. Just add water and vinegar into the contraption and microwave for seven minutes. It will soften any grease and baked-on food, which will clear out with a good wipe-down.

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