Kitchen Timesavers: Cool Tools to Save You Time in the Kitchen

Kitchen timesaving tools

I have a love affair with kitchen stores. I must know about each new, cool kitchen tool on the market. Let me see it, touch it, formulate an opinion. I want any kitchen tool that promises to make my life a bit easier or my food more delicious. And I absolutely must have any tool or appliance that saves me time in the kitchen. Here are seven of my favorite timesaving tools for the kitchen. Don’t forget to check out my previous post: Kitchen Timesavers: 8 Healthful Foods to Prep on the Weekend.

My 7 Favorite Kitchen Timesavers

Rice cooker: A rice cooker is a multi-tasking appliance, not the single-use appliance that it sounds like. I use mine to prepare wheat berries, farro, freekeh, quinoa, steel cut oats, barley and more. It saves me time because I can turn it on and walk away to do other chores. When the food is fully cooked, the rice cooker turns itself off and keeps the contents warm. Meanwhile, I’ve checked the mail, prepared other parts of the dinner. Maybe I’ve even worked out for a few minutes.

Digital food scale: This tool saves me from washing multiple measuring cups! I simply put my bowl or plate onto the scale and scoop my cottage cheese, yogurt, berries, cereal or whatever until the scale signals the amount I want in grams or ounces. I “zero” the scale and add the second food. Then the third and on and on. I have nothing to wash except the dish I eat from. A most favorite food is peanut butter. Instead of measuring out two tablespoons, I use my food scale and knife to spread the proper 32 grams. (I know that 2 tablespoons of peanut butter weighs in at 32 grams because the Nutrition Facts label tells me so.) No need to level off the peanut butter from the measuring spoon and force myself to return the extra to the jar, no need to wash an extra spoon.

Food label Kitchen Timesavers

This tells me that 2 tablespoons of peanut butter weigh about 32 grams

Digital food scale Kitchen Timesavers

33 grams of peanut butter is about the equivalent of 2 tablespoons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Industrial-strength blender: I use a Vitamix, but my Blendtec-using friends are also happy. These are expensive tools, so be certain it’s a good fit for you and compare prices before bringing one home. The motors are so strong in these blenders that gazpacho and chicken salad take only minutes to prepare. There’s no need to finely chop each ingredient when you have the power of these machines. Before I had my Vitamix, I prepared my family’s favorite gazpacho only a couple times each summer. Now I make it nearly every week. These blenders are perfect for so many other things, including smoothies and pureeing black beans for my favorite black bean burgers.

7 timesaving kitchen tools. A digital scale means no measuring cups/spoons. #BusyAndHealthyClick To Tweet
Kitchen Timesavers Kitchen scissors

Cleanup is easy because these scissors comes apart.

Kitchen shears: Cut herbs and pizza and remove chicken skin with more ease and in less time than the same tasks done with a knife. Choose shears that come apart for quick, easy washing.

Immersion blender: These are also called stick blenders. They let you puree right in the cooking pot, so you don’t need to transfer hot liquids into a blender or blend in batches. This makes pureeing faster, easier and safer. Puree cooked vegetables to add to casseroles or puree your favorite soups. You will love my “Creamy” Tomato Soup. Smoothies are super fast to make too because you can blend right in the wide-mouth container that you’ll drink from.

George Foreman Grill or Panini press: I’ve had the same George Foreman Grill for over a decade. It has tons of uses, but my favorite way to use it is to quickly and simply make a panini for dinner. Just start with whole-grain bread and add some cheese, veggies and herbs. For interest, I often slip in some sliced apple or figs. Here are more ideas to healthify a sandwich.

Nonstick baking mat: Talk about fast and easy cleanup! Use these for roasting vegetables, baking fish or chicken, making cookies and so much more. They work as well as lining your pan with aluminum foil, but with a washable baking mat, you eliminate the waste. And that’s just plain smart!

I have many more kitchen timesavers to love, but these are certainly at the top of my list. What’s at the top of yours?

Jill-Weisenberger_about-image-2
Jill Weisenberger

I'm Jill, and I believe simple changes in your mindset and health habits can bring life-changing rewards. And I don't believe in willpower. It's waaaay overrated. As a food-loving registered dietitian nutritionist, certified diabetes care and education specialist and certified health and wellness coach, I've helped thousands of people solve their food and nutrition problems. If you're looking for a better way to master this whole healthy eating/healthy living thing or if you're trying to prevent or manage diabetes or heart problems, you'll find plenty of resources right here.

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6 Comments

  1. Neily on August 4, 2016 at 7:11 am

    Thanks Jill! Many many years ago I sold Pampered Chef (mainly to get free stuff!) and some products receiving the most use include my garlic press (no need to peel garlic first), food chopper, mandolin-type slicer (PERFECT thickness every time and fast!), lemon squeezer/juicer, micro-cooker – the perfect microwaveable covered container always on hand. All those products are available just about anywhere. Btw…one product you love I never could get right is the rice cooker … maybe need to dust it off and give another try 😉

    • Jill Weisenberger on August 4, 2016 at 8:14 am

      I have and use each of your favorites on a regular basis too. I think I should have included garlic press on mine because I use it daily. Thanks for sharing.

  2. Megan on August 4, 2016 at 2:09 pm

    Great list! I didn’t use my electric rice cooker often and sold it, but I now use a microwave version that I love. Not only can I perfectly cook pasta, but I use it for noodles, potatoes to be mashed and steel-cut oatmeal.

    I’d also add my strawberry huller and pizza cutter to the list. This time of year, I use the strawberry huller so often it lives in the dish rack. It is perfect for my seven-year-old to help out safely. With two small children, I find my pizza cutter valuable to cut food into bite sized pieces for them … pancakes, grilled meat, vegetables, and, of course, pizza.

    • Jill Weisenberger on August 5, 2016 at 1:45 pm

      Great additions to the list Megan. Thanks for sharing. And awesome to get kids in the kitchen!

  3. Aimée on August 12, 2016 at 10:11 am

    Thank you for the information. I really like what you said about getting a food scale. I have been thinking about getting one. Do you have any suggestions?

    • Jill Weisenberger on August 12, 2016 at 11:00 pm

      Hi Aimée, no I don’t have a favorite. I suggest looking for one that switches between ounces and grams and one that’s big enough that a plate of food doesn’t cover the display. They are so helpful. I’m sure you’ll enjoy whichever one you buy!

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Jill Weisenberger

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