Streamline Your Cooking Preparation with these 19 Time-Saving Essentials
For individuals who dislike cooking multiple times a day but still want to enjoy delicious meals, smart kitchen tools and gadgets that save time, reduce cleanup, and make meal preparation easier are essential. Mugdha Kusray, a BuzzFeed Staff member, shares her top recommendations that align with the latest trends and expert opinions.
## Kitchen Essentials for Infrequent Cooks
### Air Fryer
Perfect for quick, oil-free meals and leftovers, the air fryer is an excellent addition to any kitchen. The Philips Airfryer, for example, features preset cooking programs for fast, healthy versions of favourite foods and is easy to clean, making it ideal for those who want to avoid cooking multiple times a day. It's best for reheating leftovers, making crispy snacks, and cooking simple meals in batches.
### Nonstick Silicone Muffin/Cupcake Pan
Eliminating the need for greasing, this nonstick silicone muffin/cupcake pan makes cleanup easier. It's also microwave- and dishwasher-safe, and can be used for baking, freezing broths, sauces, or treats in single servings.
### Chef-Recommended Non-Toxic Utensils
GIR's Ultimate Spatula, made with medical-grade silicone, BPA-free, heat-resistant, and easy to clean, is an example of a durable and safe utensil. The seamless design prevents bacteria buildup and won't scratch cookware, making them ideal for people who want low-maintenance tools.
### High-Quality Storage Containers
Pyrex Freshlock Glass Food Storage Container Set is a great choice for safe and versatile storage. These containers are suitable for freezer, oven, microwave, and dishwasher use, making them perfect for batch cooking and storing meals for later use.
### Staub Ceramic Baking Dishes
Durable, versatile, and scratch-resistant, Staub Ceramic Baking Dishes can be used in the oven, broiler, microwave, and dishwasher. Some models double as Dutch ovens, making them ideal for one-pot meals and casseroles.
### Minimalist Essentials for Everyday Use
BALMUDA The Kettle and Obsidian Black Salad & Serve Tongs are space-saving and time-efficient kitchen essentials. The kettle boils water quickly, while the tongs are stylish and functional for serving and tossing salads or sides.
## Summary Table
| Tool/Gadget | Key Benefit | Best Use Case | |------------------------------|---------------------------------|-------------------------------| | Air fryer | Quick, healthy meals, easy clean| Leftovers, snacks, batch meals| | Silicone muffin pan | Nonstick, easy clean, versatile | Baking, portioning, freezing | | Non-toxic spatula | Safe, durable, easy to clean | Mixing, scraping, folding | | Glass storage containers | Multi-use, easy storage | Meal prep, leftovers | | Ceramic baking dish/Dutch oven| Versatile, durable, low maintenance| Batch cooking, one-pot meals | | Minimalist kettle/tongs | Fast, efficient, saves space | Drinks, serving, salads |
These tools are designed for efficiency, minimal upkeep, and batch preparation—perfect for people who want to minimize daily cooking without sacrificing quality or convenience. Some of the recommendations may have been sent as samples, and the article does not specify the source of the recommendations.
The article also recommends a smart and safe peeler, herb scissors, a 3-piece knife set, a silicone mat for making round rotis and parathas, a garlic mincer, a tool with a container for storing liquids and a brush for oiling pans, greasing pastry trays, and basting meat, a handy produce storage container, leak-proof silicone lids, a fruit slicer, a revolving spice rack, a veggie chopper, vegetable storage bags, silicone moulds for poached eggs, chocolate, steamed veggies, or jelly moulds, a foldable metal mesh basket, a salad spinner from Ikea, and a multipurpose tool.
The recommendations were independently selected by the article's editors, but the article does not provide information about the nature of these recommendations or the editors who selected them.
1.Mugdha Kusray highlights the Philips Airfryer, a versatile kitchen appliance that offers quick and healthy meals with minimal effort, making it ideal for infrequent cooks.2. The nonstick silicone muffin/cupcake pan from an unspecified brand eliminates the need for greasing, easing cleanup and adding versatility in the kitchen for baking and portioning food.3. GIR's Ultimate Spatula, a durable and safe utensil made from medical-grade silicone, is a recommended non-toxic option for people seeking low-maintenance kitchen tools.4. Pyrex Freshlock Glass Food Storage Container Set provides safe and versatile storage solutions for meal prep enthusiasts who value multi-use containers suitable for freezer, oven, microwave, and dishwasher use.5. Staub Ceramic Baking Dishes, with their durability and versatility, are recommended as a must-have kitchen item for one-pot meals, casseroles, and baking tasks.6. The BALMUDA The Kettle and Obsidian Black Salad & Serve Tongs serve as minimalist essentials for everyday use, boiling water and serving food quickly and efficiently, while saving space.7. For those seeking a vibrant and easy cooking lifestyle, Amazon India offers a variety of smart kitchen tools and gadgets, ranging from smart peelers to herb scissors, 3-piece knife sets, and vegetable storage bags.8. For meal prep enthusiasts and infrequent cooks, the latest food-and-drink trends on Pinterest showcase quick and easy kitchen hacks, such as silicone moulds for poached eggs, chocolate, or jelly moulds, and in-shopping-home frustration-free mallkits for cookware, kitchen accessories, and even home and garden necessities.
