With three active kids life can get overwhelming sometimes and I find myself more and more struggling to manage my time. I have learned that trying to be as efficient as possible is key so I plan ahead as much as possible. I do find myself spending more time in the kitchen than I’d like to but over the years I have discovered cool gadgets that actually work and can make life so much easier. Here are my favorite 7 Life-Changing kitchen gadgets that I swear by: 7 Life-Changing Kitchen Gadgets That You Need Right Now
Onion Chopper Pro Vegetable Chopper
When I’m making soups or stir-fries I typically have to chop up lots of veggies and who has the time? This gadget is so amazing and works on a ton of veggies – I just put them in and it chops them up immediately. I usually cut the vegetable into a smaller piece beforehand, then put it into the chopper. As a bonus, all of the pieces are evenly chopped so they cook perfectly, which is especially important in a stir-fry. Washing the chopper is quick and easy: I rinse it in hot water to get all the small leftover pieces out, then use warm water and soap and dry it on a dish rack. It’s also dishwasher-safe.
Amazon Basics Reusable Silicone Baking Cups
If you have not yet jumped on the silicone bandwagon – please do! Silicone is a safe material and also amazingly affordable. I can go on and on about my love for it but instead I’ll talk about my favorite silicone items. These silicone baking cups are fantastic because everything I put in them for baking comes out perfect. No need for greasing the cups – the muffins or cupcakes just pop out.
Salbree Collapsible Microwave Popcorn Popper
If you’re still buying microwave popcorn consider making it at home from “scratch” – it’s so much healthier to make homemade popcorn because you avoid the harmful chemicals. This popcorn maker gadget is one of my favorites because it’s so quick and easy to use. I make popcorn several times per week for the kids to take to school as a healthy snack so I use it often. I simply fill the container with popcorn kernels until the marked line, put the cover and then put in the microwave for 4 minutes. The trick is to listen to the popping sound and when there is a second between each pop it’s time to take it out. I use avocado oil spray instead of butter and a little salt and my kids love it! For a special treat I melt chocolate chips, pour over the popcorn and wait a few minutes for it to harden.
AmazonBasics Silicone Baking Mats
No more aluminum foil! These silicone mats go right inside your half-sheet baking pan and into the oven – no need to use any cooking spray or butter. I used these for my kids’ tofu nuggets and they come out great! According to instructions you can use them for up to 480 degrees but some reviewers said they burn at 400. So far I have used them for 375 with no problem whatsoever and cleaning them is much easier than cleaning a baking pan!
COZILIFE Silicone Egg Poaching Cups
This is my newest “find” – as a pescatarian I tend to eat lots of eggs because I simply can’t have fish with every meal and I need good-quality protein. I have been eating eggs in so many ways but poaching them was something I was hesitant about because when you do it the way chefs do it (i.e. in boiling water) it doesn’t usually come out so well, at least for me. These egg poachers are simply amazing! Reviewers recommend putting cooking spray before putting in the egg, which I do, and then put in microwave for 40 seconds. That’s it! Perfectly poached eggs come out every time. I even tried it with shredded cheese and it came out delicious. I’m now on a mission of finding new things to add to the eggs for different flavors.
Rubbermaid FreshWorks Produce Saver Food Storage Containers
I try to limit my grocery shopping to once per week and with a family of five this means I have to buy in bulk. When it comes to produce I try to keep it all from spoiling too quickly and these FreshWorks containers are wonderful – they keep everything fresh even after several weeks. I don’t remember the last time I threw out spoiled fruit and veggies – this really works!
Wall Mount Paper Towel Holder
Ok, this isn’t really a “gadget” per se, but one thing I love is that it keeps the paper towels off my counter so I have more space for prepping meals. It also keeps me from pulling out too much paper towels at once – I really just need one at a time. Mounting it is easy and it comes with all the hardware.
What’s your favorite kitchen gadget that you swear by?
I was not compensated for this post. This post contains affiliate links.
Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is a freelance writer and has written for several blogs, including The Huffington Post. She has been living in the New York City area for eighteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 12, 9 and 6) and loves finding great products for her family.
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