Top Five Kitchen Gadgets for Convenience Cooks
5. The Cocoa Latte Hot Beverage Maker
There is nothing as comforting as a hot drink on a cold night. Until I bought the Cocoa Latte Hot Beverage Maker, I used to heat water in the microwave, then add powdered hot chocolate or instant coffee and stir. Which, now that I spell it out like that, is pretty easy, I admit.
The Cocoa Latte Hot Beverage Maker is even simpler. You fill the top with water or milk, and the beverage mix of your choice, put the cap on, and press the button. The Cocoa Latte Hot Beverage Maker will heat and blend all at once. When the beverage is fully mixed and at the perfect temperature, the machine shuts itself off. There is a second button that will froth the drink for you, if that’s your preference.
The drink can be poured out of the top, which will act like a pitcher, or dispensed through a spout in the front. Best of all, it will automatically reheat whatever is left inside until you shut the machine off, so you can make enough for several servings at once and it’s kept warm for you.
4. The Pancake Factory
I used to make absolutely horribly, misshapen pancakes. I never mastered the flipping part, or even the knowing-when-to-flip part. The Pancake Factory takes all of the guesswork out of making pancakes. If you don’t think that there is any guesswork to making pancakes, then you are a far better cook than I am.
The Pancake Factory comes with a batter scoop which will fill the pancake maker perfectly, so you will never have a mess from overfilling. Simply use your favorite batter, fill each of the two wells. Once you can see bubbling, you close the lid, flip the unit, and can start making your next two pancakes.
Pancakes made in the Pancake Factory are uniform in shape and size, browned evenly, and always cooked all the way through. Personally, I never plan to make pancakes in a skillet again.
3. Two-Slice Sandwich Maker
This is another kitchen gadget that I have no idea how I ever lived without. These sandwich makers make two sandwiches at a time, and are simple to use. There is a small light on the front that will light up when the machine is plugged in, and go off when it is fully pre-heated.
I usually butter my bread on the side that will go against the cooking surface, but many of these sandwich makers are advertised as non-stick, so you could probably skip this step or use a cooking spray if you’re more health conscious than I am. You set the first slice of bread in the machine, top it with whatever sandwich filling you prefer, then set the second slice on top. Close the machine and in about five minutes you’ll have a hot toasted sandwich with the fillings sealed inside – or two, if you filled both sides at once.
Two-slice sandwich makers are great for making grilled cheese, pizza pockets, hot turkey sandwiches, and even fruit-filled mini-pies. Clean up is also a breeze – just let it cool and wipe it down.
2. A Bread Machine
A bread machine would be a worthwhile addition to any kitchen even if it only baked bread. But most bread machines have a “dough” setting, where you can fill it with the ingredients, and it will knead the dough for you but not bake it. You can then take the dough from the machine and use to make something other than just a loaf of bread.
The other thing I love about my bread machine is that it has a timer function. You can put all the ingredients into the machine in the morning, tell it that you want to have the bread read at 6:30 in the evening, and the machine takes care of everything else. Your bread is ready exactly when it’s supposed to be.
1. A Crock Pot
This is the can’t-live-without-it appliance as far as I’m concerned. A crock pot can be used to make just about any meal far in advance of when you want to eat it. There is nothing better than coming home from work to find dinner hot and ready to eat.
One of my favorite things to make in a crock pot is pasta sauce, which also freezes well and makes for more quick and easy meals. The ability to make a lot of whatever you’re cooking all at once in order to have planned leftovers is another reason I couldn’t live without a crock pot in my kitchen.
Finally, if you have a family that rarely gets to eat all at the same time, a crock pot will keep your meal warm and fresh for hours, so that everyone can eat on his or her own schedule.
