Kitchen Appliances for Quick Cooking

There are certain appliances experienced cooks cannot live without.  Efficiency, usefulness and easy clean up are all important factors in selecting the right cooking tools for your kitchen collection. 

Which utensils to purchase for your kitchen depends largely on your cooking preferences and needs.  Like any other trade, the right tools can go a long way in cutting preparation and clean up time, and can provide you with a whole new range of possibilities.  A single utensil can add chapters of recipes to your usual menu routine.  Browse some of the most popular kitchen appliances available today.

Food Processor

A food processor is a must-have item for serious chefs.  If you like to keep kitchen appliances to a minimum, a food processor is the appliance king of multitasking.  Chop nuts or cabbage for cole slaw, mix dough for pie crusts, make your own bread crumbs, you name it.  Go for reputable companies – you want the mixer to last a long time.  A blade specifically designed to knead dough for homemade breads is a great accessory.  If the blade does not come with the food processor, it will most likely be possible to purchase it as an attachment.  Look for easy cleaning.  Hard-to-reach nooks and crannies can stretch clean-up time exponentially, so opt for the design that allows for quick cleanup.  Popular brands for food processors include KitchenAid and Cuisinart.

Crockpot

A Crockpot, or "slow cooker" can be a life saver for busy cooks.  There are plenty of crockpot recipes that require very few ingredients, and even your frying pan favorites can be easily converted into slow-cooked dishes with simple temperature and cooking time modification.  When purchasing a crockpot, choose quality and simplicity over cheap prices and frivolous add-ons.  You want this handy utensil to last as long as possible.  Opt for a slow cooker that automatically switches to warming mode once finished.  You will avoid over cooking and the meal will be warm whenever you chose to serve it.  Removable wires are a must for safe and easy cleaning.  Be sure to explore great crockpot recipes to serve your loved ones.

Mixer

If you are an avid baker, a mixer is crucial for making mixing, whipping and kneading quick and easy.    A powerful, heavy duty stand mixer is the most reliable option for frequent use and tough jobs.  Heavy mixers can be off-putting at first for their excessive weight, but they often provide the durability needed to handle demanding kneading projects.    If you are purchasing a hand-held mixer, make sure it is a comfortable fit in your hand.  Turn it on at the store for a test drive to make sure it easy to handle and maneuver.

Oven

An oven is a given, and unless you keep a strict, cook-free diet, no kitchen is complete without one.  Consider the size.  Will you be hosting guest dinners?  Do you live alone or are you cooking for a large family?  Insulation is important as well. Ask the salesperson how much heat the oven will give off: will the door get hot easily, where is the vent located, what is the temperature of the air coming out of the vent. etc.  An oven with low insulation can give off so much heat that it can be bothersome to stand even near it.  Imagine using such an oven in the hot summer months.

When shopping for any appliance, find a salesperson that will thoroughly answer your questions rather that brushing them off with gimmicks and advertising slogans.  Ask what the most popular item is.  Ask which item the sales person uses themselves.  Do some homework before you even get to the store.  Ask friends and family what has worked for them.  You may get surprising information you would not have found otherwise.