There are some things you expect to see in every kitchen. Pots and pans, a toaster, a stand mixer—these things are commonplace and we use them all the time. But beyond these simple, familiar kitchen products, there’s a whole world of exciting, interesting and downright useful gadgets out there. The question is, are they worth owning?
Below, we’ll take a look at five intriguing kitchen items you may or may not have heard of before, and why they’re worth owning if you don’t already. Let’s explore some popular (and useful) products everyone from home chefs to kitchen creators swear by.
1. A Dutch Oven
Most people have heard of a Dutch oven before. But do you currently own one? If not, this item needs to be at the top of your wish list! Dutch ovens are one of the most versatile cooking products you can own. They’re perfect for baking bread, simmering stews, concocting casseroles, steaming seafood and much, much more!
Dutch ovens are usually made of cast iron or enameled stone, making them literal ‘buy it for life’ pieces of cookware. Best of all, they’re not outrageously expensive, usually ranging from $50 to $300, depending on the size (quarts).
2. Insulated Food Delivery Bags
If you’re the type of person who cooks in bulk and always shows up to every family gathering with a veritable feast in the back seat of your car, insulated delivery bags are definitely worth the investment. These bags keep food piping hot in transit, so you can arrive at your destination with dishes that taste fresh out of the oven.
Good, quality insulated food bags will generally set you back between $50 and $150. When you consider the convenience of transporting food at-temperature, that cost is nominal. Even better, insulated food delivery bags are a whole lot simpler than balancing glassware containers as you go from house, to car, to house!
3. An Immersion Blender
Every at-home chef needs an immersion blender. In fact, for the price tag and the versatility that comes with one, you can’t afford not to own one! These little gadgets are the simplest solution to blending and pureeing just about anything on-the-fly—soups, sauces, fruits and much more. The best part about an immersion blender? It’s handheld, which means quick blending in any bowl, dish or pot. Some are even cordless!
A decent immersion blender will run you anywhere from $15 to $50, although there are some high-end models that can top $100. If you want to get the most out of one, get a model with detachable heads, like a whisk.
4. A Sous Vide Cooker
Even if you can’t pronounce it (“su veed”), you’re definitely going to want to invest in a sous vide cooker if there are carnivores in your house. The concept is simple: meat is vacuum-sealed in a bag with a thermometer and cooked in a water bath. While it sounds like a lot of work, the results speak for themselves. Sous vide is associated with flavorful meats that are moist and juicy, cooked to perfect temperatures.
What’s the price of a perfectly-cooked steak or mouth-watering chicken breasts? For a sous vide cooking system, it’ll run you between $100 and $300. While the price may seem a little steep, you’ll change your mind after experiencing the other-worldly results of precision sous vide cooking.
5. A Vacuum Sealer
Are you someone who loves to buy in bulk and stock the freezer? If so, a vacuum sealer is the must-have kitchen product for you. Say goodbye to Ziplock bags and the freezer burn that comes with them! Vacuum sealing your food not only protects it from freezer burn, it also extends the shelf life of fresh meats like chicken, fish and pork. It’s not just great for freezing food, either—try vacuum sealing meats to marinate them!
A decent at-home vacuum sealer will set you back about $100 to $150, plus the cost of plastic. But, when you consider the benefits—freshness, extended life, preservation, etc.—it’s a kitchen product that’ll pay for itself in short order.
Add to your kitchen collection
Do any of the five items above spark your curiosity? Thinking about picking any of them up for your kitchen? All of them are great investments that’ll pay for themselves, and you’ll find yourself using them more than you thought. The only thing you’ll need to worry about is finding space amongst the pots and pans in your kitchen to store these great products!
Leave a Reply