Whether you are a seasoned cook or just someone cooking for yourself, you need more than the essentials to make mouth-watering meals.
It’s not only about having a well-organized kitchen or buying the highest quality products; you should also consider investing in reliable equipment to make cooking easier and products well worth the money to make your kitchen more pleasurable.
You should also consider which kitchen equipment you’ll need to get the task done without taking up too much room in your kitchen – not to mention the cleanup afterward.
Today, we cover ten things every home chef needs to whip up sumptuous feasts easily.
1. Non-stick frying pan
A frying pan is essential even for those who don’t cook that often. It’s one of those things that everyone needs to have in their kitchen regardless of all the other cookware.
If you don’t often cook, a non-stick frying pan can be the saving grace in your kitchen as you can easily prepare a simple meal for yourself.
But that’s not all; now, you can buy frying pans that eliminate the need for all other cookware, such as the Always pan.
It’s an earthenware pan that satisfies the need of every other cookware in your kitchen, from sautéing and frying pans to steamers and skillets – it can do it all.
2. Food processor
If you cook meals for a large family, then a commercial food processor is something you need in your kitchen.
It reduces the time spent on meal prep by half, and you can get many different uses from this device, from chopping to blending and even pureeing.
When it comes to food processors, the possibilities are almost limitless.
A juicer, knife sets, and shredders are no longer necessary in your kitchens once you get one of these.
You only need to have all the ingredients ready and let your food processor work its magic. You can process any and every kind of ingredient with a food processor.
It can crush nuts, dice, chop or slice veggies, grate cheese, and knead dough to make miniature loaves of bread, among other things.
3. Storage Containers
Storage containers are a nifty item that is a must-have for anyone struggling with meal prep and leftovers. As we have experienced at one point or another, leftovers are an inevitable part of any meal, whether you overcooked or ordered too much.
Food storage containers are the best solution to prevent such food items from going stale. You can also use them to prepare your meals in advance and save some coins on food delivery as they can keep your food fresh for an extended period.
When purchasing one, you should look for durability, leak-proofness, microwave-friendliness, airtightness, and portability.
5. Toaster oven
A toaster oven on hand for single-person dinners is a smart idea, even if you have a conventional oven. Ovens are infamously expensive and use a lot of energy. And much energy is spent on trivial things like heating small individual meals or snacks.
Using such a large oven for basic functions is unnecessary and wasteful.
Plus, because of its compact size, you can use it for baking cookies, roasting veggies, and toasting bread substantially faster than a regular oven.
Plus, it delivers ultra-crispy results on snacks such as fries, cutlets, pizza, or chips that even the microwave can turn mushy.
6. Vacuum sealer
This is another food storage option, especially if you struggle with a packed, messy fridge. Getting a vacuum sealer can solve more than half of your fridge-organizing problems.
It can compress veggies, leftovers, and poultry items in small airtight bags, saving a lot of space in your fridge.
Now, you won’t have to worry about meat juices making a mess on your beautiful fridge shelves.
7. Air Fryer
You can rapidly crisp up veggies or make somewhat healthier versions of your favorite fried meals using an air fryer.
Because of their rapid pre-heat times, air fryers allow you to use your oven less often, saving on excessive electricity and energy use. You can use air fryers for cooking various foods, including homemade crispy fries, roast potatoes, slow-roasted turkey, or unbelievably crisp chicken tenders for supper, among others.
The great thing about air fryers is that they come in a wide range of price points, allowing you to save significant money while still getting a high-quality product.
So, you can get one for a third of the price of a high-end model without losing out on major functionality.
Final thoughts
Preparing meals can be time-consuming and stressful when you don’t have the right tools. You may well be having a hard time cooking because you don’t have the necessary equipment. However, meal preparation and planning don’t have to be a hassle!
You can save money by dining at home more frequently if you invest in kitchen essentials to meticulously prep and plan your daily meals.
To prepare and cook meals quickly and effectively, you need high-quality, long-lasting kitchenware.
We hope you found our recommendations useful. You can easily conquer mealtime and meal prep while saving money on takeaways and dining out.