Specially written for KathleenJennison.com
By: Rozlyn Jaylah
Easy Kitchen Upgrades That Can Transform Your Cooking
No matter how much time you spend in the kitchen, investing in a few technological upgrades works wonders. Whether it’s improving your favorite recipes, replacing multiple tools with one device, or speeding up the cooking process, here are several options that will wonder how you’ve ever functioned without them before. Even if you’re a beginner, you’ll find that investing in the right tools will dramatically speed up the learning curve until you’re well on your way to becoming a master chef.
A Smart Speaker
It may not be the first upgrade to spring to mind, but a smart speaker has numerous applications. From playing a soothing soundtrack to your French-inspired cooking to suggesting recipe ideas, a voice-enabled speaker like Alexa or Google Home is totally life changing. You can also catch up on some news or audiobooks while you cook, or ask it about the best wine and beer pairings with food. Some of them can even control the lighting system in your kitchen so that it’s filled with a soft glow during evening meals.
An Induction Cooktop
While many households enjoy cooking with a traditional gas stove, using an appliance like the Next-Gen Induction Cooktop reduces the need for huge ventilation systems. In addition, they’re faster and make better use of energy compared to standard electric cooktops. Because they don’t create open flames or fumes, they can also be safer to use. The cooktop surface also stays cool so there’s no need to worry about burns. For the discerning chef, it’s also much easier to control the temperature to your exact specifications. Lastly, many induction cooktops are visually sleek in nature, giving your kitchen a modern update.
A Rice Cooker
For the cook who’s a fan of multi-tasking, investing in a rice cooker can help you cook a variety of rice grains, as well as cakes, pasta, vegetables, and meat. For instance, the Instant Pot Lux Mini 3 Cup Rice Cooker may be small in size, but it also functions as an electric pressure cooker, sterilizer, slow cooker, steamer, sauté, and warmer. Popular brands include Tiger and Zojirushi, who are known for their innovative technology and sturdy build quality. If you’re used to cooking your rice on a stovetop, a rice cooker is an affordable way to create a perfect cup of rice every time.
An Immersion Blender
You may already have a countertop blender, but an immersion blender comes equipped with a bunch of extras. Although it can’t crush ice, it can blend drinks, emulsify dressings, puree soft vegetables, and blend together soups and sauces. The Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender also comes with variable speed control functions so you can customize the blending power to suit your needs. In addition, it also comes with a blender cup with side-measurements so there’s less washing up to do. Finally, it comes with a chopper/grinder and a whisk to round off its set of versatile tools.
An often neglected upgrade is a kitchen faucet. If you hate washing dishes by hand, having powerful jets of water can help make the process a lot less painless. It’s also a relatively straightforward DIY project, and you can even buy touchless versions from Kohler and Delta. These will come in handy if your hands are covered in ingredients from an intense cooking session. In addition, it’s also an easy way to upgrade the aesthetics of your kitchen by adding a brushed copper finish for an industrial vibe, or polished chrome for an effortlessly modern look.
As you can see, kitchen upgrades don’t necessarily have to break the bank to make the change worthwhile. Being critical about the state of your kitchen and thinking about what you need to improve on will definitely have you looking forward to your next meal.
Specially written for KathleenJennison.com
By: Rozlyn Jaylah
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