Top 6 Kitchen Gadgets That Make My Life Easier

For most, cooking can be more of a chore more than a hobby. When you realize it’s almost dinner time, do you loathe the idea of chopping, dicing, sautéing and seasoning? Lucky for us, inventors everywhere are diligently creating kitchen gadgets to reduce time in the kitchen and make cooking easier.

I noticed recently that I have a go-to roster of helpers in the kitchen. These six gadgets make cooking more enjoyable, because it lessens the burden on the whole experience. Hey, if you love being in the kitchen, we love you! But no one will disagree that a little help with clean-up, prep time, and flavor enhancement is a bad thing.

Here’s my list of six kitchen gadgets to make your home-chef life easier.

Defrost Tray

Ever open the fridge to get ingredients for a recipe and realize the main dish is still frozen? At this moment, what left is there to do than speed dial pizza delivery? Wait, wait. Hold the phone. You got this.

A defrost tray cuts the time in half to thaw frozen meat. What’s more, it helps keep your kitchen sanitary. Reduce the risk of cross contamination by keeping raw meat on the defrost tray, away from the rest of your ingredients.

Check them out on Amazon.

Knife Sharpener

Stop wrestling with trying to cut raw meat and vegetable skin with a dull knife blade. Make your life easy with this simple investment in your sanity. A knife sharpener freshens up your slicer of choice. There are a lot of fancy options out there, so what should you look for? I’m no knife expert by any means, but I do know my inexpensive Ikea sharpener gives my blades the touch up they need. The difference is significant after a periodic sharpening sesh. Just make sure to watch those fingers.

Skillet Splatter Screen

Everyone can agree the worst part about cooking is the clean up. Keep your stove-top free of grime and grease with a splatter guard. I love these because I can still cook while the guard does its thing. Then wipe it off or run it through the dishwasher, and cleanup complete. Easy peasy.

Meat Tenderizer

Break down muscle fibers faster and make less-expensive cuts just as tender as expensive, naturally tender cuts. By cutting through connective tissue and creating rivers of marinade throughout the cut, a good meat tenderizer can enhance a meal substantially, with little added work.

Oven-Friendly Meat Thermometer

Let’s face it, the biggest criticism of a well-cooked meal is how well-done the meat is. Undercooked or overcooked and you’ve ruined dinner for everyone! No longer. All you need is a meat thermometer. Better yet, a meat thermometer that tells as soon as your meal is done.

This one works amazingly well. It even has dual probes so you can ensure Dad’s steak is rare and little Jimmy’s is fully cooked. Say goodbye to overcooking for good.

Super Slicer Carving Knife

I recently discovered that a carving knife is my new favorite kitchen accessory. I wouldn’t even call it an accessory at this point. It’s a necessity.

Why do you need a good carving knife you ask? After you’ve spent all that time thawing, preparing, and seasoning your roast, turkey, or ham, the last thing you want to struggle with a knife that’s too small or too dull for the job.

Make your life easy. You should barely have to saw that roast to get perfect, thin slices of your tasty creation. The one that I use is forged by Wusthof.