I must confess, this year is probably the one I’ve spent the most time in the kitchen. Let’s be real, I feel like I’ve taken on the lion’s share of cooking since the pandemic started. Don’t get me wrong, every role and relationship is different, I just happen to be in the kitchen more. A lot more. And so, with the holidays in full swing, and whether you are entertaining safely and at a distance or are keeping it low-key at home, there are just some kitchen tools that you need to make your holidays a little less stressful and time in the kitchen more enjoyable.
the KitchenAid mixer: I was lucky enough to be gifted one 8 years ago. This thing is a tank. The apocalypse could be upon us and this machine is so rugged, I think it would outlast everyone. I use this frequently enough that it takes up valuable real estate on my counter and not hidden away in a cabinet, and I’ve only scratched the surface with what it’s capable of. You can make pasta with it, ground different meat, juice, sauce, ice cream (!), the list goes on and on. A must for even the most novice of cooks.
the Always pan: OK. I admit. I was influenced by an influencer on social media to try this pan. The thing is, some of my beloved nonstick pans that we were gifted when we got married had started to scratch, and the thought of consuming pieces of nonstick material with god-knows-what chemicals in them, was enough to make me consider heading for the hills. And I don’t love stainless steel, though we have a set since my hubs and I have differing cookware taste. So, this was an experiment of sorts. And was worth every penny. So much so that I purchased one as a gift for a family member for Christmas. I’ve sautéed in this pan, fried, boiled, simmered, even cooked pasta with the removable steam basket. This is a game changer in the kitchen. I hope it’s here for the long-haul.
Now that I’ve got this amazing pan, a Silicon whisk was needed. You can’t use metal tools, tongs, whisks, spoons, etc. so silicon or wooden are the way to go. I picked this one up from Target and was pleasantly surprised at the weight of it.
hand mixer: a great backup to the KitchenAid if one isn’t in your budget. This one has lasted us 6 years (and counting), and is my go-to when I need to mix and don’t feel like using the hefty stand mixer.
crockpot: you haven’t really lived if you haven’t used a crockpot for something. Following Thanksgiving, I made turkey broth, then turkey soup, with ours. I’ve made pulled pork, chili, dips, pasta sauce, mulled cider… This is another one of those items that’s invaluable. AND since it’s winter (aka soup season), this gets a ton of use throughout the colder months in New England.
fat separator: a number of years ago, my husband made turkey soup for us the day after Thanksgiving. The thing is, he forgot to separate the fat from the rest of the soup. Things were not pretty for the next 24+ hours. This tool is a must and doesn’t have to be used just during the holidays.
cutting board with rim for drippings (that can also double as a cheese board): I don’t know about anyone else, but if you’ve had to clean up the mess left after carving a turkey, I feel you. Things would be so much easier with a cutting board that has a rim to catch any juices! I purchased mine at HomeGoods last year, but here's another alternative. BONUS - use this as a cheese board or charcuterie platter! I love tools that can serve more than one purpose.
glass storage containers for leftovers: a must for all those leftovers - and can be used the entire year! Plus, I feel better putting one of these in the microwave than a plastic one.
serving platter: another must for something like a turkey, a ham, a roast beef, anything that needs a larger serving surface. There are soooo many out there, but this one and this one are a couple that I would snag if I needed another one.
pie server: have you ever tried to serve pie with a spoon or a fork? It doesn’t work. You need a pie server! This would work with cake too, or any other dessert that requires serving ‘slices’.
silicon pie crust covers: pie ranks very high on my list of favorite sweets. And there’s nothing worse than a burnt crust. These are sooo handy for not letting your crust overcook.
stainless steel mixing bowls: rugged, long-lasting, easy to clean and I appreciate having different sizes to choose from. Another must.
casserole dish: these are a personal preference and there are many colors, shapes and sizes out there. I had a Le Creuset dish with a cover in the prettiest blue and I learned the hard way that I couldn’t take a hot stoneware dish out of the oven and put it on a cooler glass top surface. I’m waiting for a good sale to replace it. Here are a few others that don’t break the bank: classic white, set of three or with a cover .
What are some kitchen tools that you couldn't live without? Feel free to share in the comments below!
留言