A good cook can always do with a little help in the kitchen, and there’s no shortage of cool kitchen gadgets that will turn your kitchen into an efficient and stylish space.
Whether you’re prepping meals for the week or baking for special occasions, these tools will streamline cooking. Find everything you need to simplify tasks and design a more efficient kitchen with this collection of must-have items from Williams Sonoma.
1. Meat Thermometer
Thermometers are an essential tool for anyone who cooks meat regularly. They ensure that proteins reach a minimum internal temperature for safe consumption.
To use a thermometer, insert the probe into the thickest part of your cut (avoiding skin or fat). Allow it to read until the temperature is at the appropriate level.
Some thermometers are oven-safe, meaning they can stay in your meat while it cooks on the grill or in an oven. These are great for checking the doneness of roasts and whole turkeys.
2. Parmesan Grater
If you’re a cheese lover, the Parmesan grater is one of your best kitchen gadgets to invest in. It’s ideal for grating hard cheese, making it easy to use for pasta and salad dishes.
It’s also great for zesting fruit and other delicate ingredients like chocolate and nuts, which is perfect for pastry and cake makers. Its long blade makes it comfortable to grip and doesn’t cramp your hand.
3. Soap Dispenser
A soap dispenser installed near your sink makes it easy to wash your dishes and other kitchen items. It also frees up counter space and adds a touch of elegance to your kitchen.
Whether or not you choose to invest in a built-in dispenser depends on your personal preferences and priorities. They are a stylish way to store liquid soap or hand sanitizer, but they can be expensive and require regular maintenance.
4. Herb Scissors
Herb scissors can be the perfect way to quickly snip fresh herbs from your garden or indoor herb plant. They can cut sprigs of basil, parsley and thyme into thin strips for garnishes or soups and salads without crushing or bruising the delicate leaves.
Herb scissors come in a variety of blade styles and lengths to meet the needs of different cooking tasks. Straight blades tend to be more precise for snipping small buds and herbs like rosemary or thyme, while curved blades are better for cutting thicker stems.
5. Hand Blender
A hand blender can help you easily make a wide variety of foods like soups, chutneys, batters and cake mix. They are also great for emulsifying food like mayonnaise.
A good hand blender should be lightweight and easy to use, while still being able to handle tough jobs like chopping up hard cheeses or nuts.
Many hand blenders come with additional accessories, like a whisk attachment for making whipped cream and meringue or a chopper for blending salsa or chopping vegetables. Some models even feature a milk frother for preparing lattes and cappuccinos at home.
6. Fruit and Vegetable Chopper
A vegetable chopper is a handy kitchen gadget that can help you cut vegetables quickly and easily. It can also help you get more of your recommended daily allowance of vegetables into your diet.
There are two main types of vegetable choppers on the market — electric and manual. Each one has its own pros and cons, so you’ll want to consider what will work best for your needs.
7. Corn Peeler
A corn peeler is an excellent tool for preparing and enjoying fresh kernels off the cob. Whether you use it to prepare salads, make stews or can or freeze your corn, this convenient kitchen gadget can save you time and effort.
The best corn peelers can easily remove all the kernels off a corn cob in one fell sweep. Some are adjustable in their sizing, so they work well on smaller or larger ears of corn.
8. Pancake Pen
A pancake pen is a fun, mess-free way to distribute batter on a hot griddle. They’re also an excellent way to create creative doodles and designs on pancakes, particularly if you add food coloring to the mix.
The original pancake pen from Dancakes has a drip-free nozzle, a cap that doubles as a rest and an easy-grip contoured tip that fits up to 3 cups of batter. It’s also got a measurement label in the lid. The best part?
