There is probably only one other thing that I collect more of then pillows, and that is kitchen gadgets. In fact, my kitchen drawers are loaded with them. I couldn’t even tell you what some of them are for, but maybe someday I’ll need it right? A great cook needs to have great tools. We all have our own “go to” gadgets that we cannot live without. Here I will talk about my top 5 kitchen gadgets:

1. Best Crockpot: Hamilton Beach Crockpot

By far my most used kitchen gadget is my crockpot. These are so helpful for those who work or have children and just don’t have time to cook. You simply throw everything in the crockpot, set it, and forget it! I love using mine for chili recipes, soups and even desserts. It is so nice to come home at the end of the day and have dinner all ready to go! Don’t forget the disposable liners to make cleanup a breeze! Check it out here: https://amzn.to/3lUCfr8

2. Best Griddle: Presto Electric Griddle

I don’t know about your children, but if you ask mine what they want for breakfast the answer is almost always “pancakes!” I’ll admit that I used to just buy bags of the frozen cakes because we went through so many a week. But then I realized how easy it is to cook and freeze my own (more on that later). This griddle (from Amazon) is a great way to get the pancakes done in a flash. You can easily throw 6-8 cakes on at a time.  It heats quickly and evenly. It is non-stick so it wipes clean easily. Check it out here: https://amzn.to/3qB5vXq

3. Best Mixer: KitchenAid Stand Mixer

Before I owned a stand mixer, I was mixing everything by hand. While this is a great workout, it’s not the most efficient way to mix. And when you like to bake tons of Christmas cookies, mixing by hand is torture! When I received my first stand mixer I was instantly in love! I don’t think I could ever go back! Over the years I upgraded to the KitchenAid mixer that comes with all the bells and whistles. Not only can I whip up cookies but I can make my own pasta too! If you have never tried a stand mixer then do yourself a favor and get one!  https://amzn.to/3m2SXVv

4.  Pampered Chef Meat Masher

You might be chuckling at this one, but trust me there’s a reason it made this list. I have picky little eaters in my house that won’t touch anything that has “chunks of meat” in it (heaven forbid!). Rather than tediously breaking up the meat with a fork, I just break out his handy little gadget. This tool breaks up ground meat in no time and leaves you with a fine consistency that works great in sauces. And hey, the mashing is a great way to relieve some frustration too! https://amzn.to/2VOWyMb

5. Utilitea Kettle

Last, but not least is the Utilitea Kettle. If you like to drink tea then this one is for you. It heats water super fast and has a dial to adjust the temperature according to the kind of tea. It is small, so no need to worry about taking up a lot of counter or cabinet space either. https://amzn.to/2JKTtdl

So there you have it, my top five kitchen gadgets! What are your “must have” kitchen gadgets/appliances? Let me know in the comments! Happy cooking!