My Top Kitchen Gadget Staples

So, whether you want to downsize your kitchen collection, or you are just getting started in the wonderful world of home cooking, here are my top 4 kitchen gadget staples that I have found most useful, and that have provided the biggest bang for my buck.

1. Vitamix Blender
   • From creating smoothies, nice creams, sorbets, and oat/nut milk to sauces, dips, soups, and batters- it is safe to say that this is by far the most-used gadget in our kitchen. At LEAST once a day. Its high-power wattage, and large capacity (64 ounces, 2 liters!!!) make it stand out from the rest of the high-powered blenders on the market. It’s a pretty penny upfront, but boy it’s worth it. This machine has been around for decades for a good reason. **Tip: You can also find refurbished, less expensive Vitamix blenders on their website!
2. Cuisinart Food Processor
   • So, now that we have the blender that assist with more liquified things, let’s talk about a tool that is made to work with more semi-solid creations. A food processor can quickly chop, slice, shred, and grind almost any food, making food prep feel like a breeze. I use it to preserve the texture in sauces like pesto or romesco, to quickly break down veggies for slaws and salads, and to form doughs or thicker batters and dips when making things like salsa, hummus, fritters, falafel, nut/seed bars, or nut/seed butters.
3. Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
   • I ditched the slow cooker years ago, after receiving an Instant Pot as a gift. It’s the gift that keeps on giving…I truly didn’t know what I was missing! Instant Pots have multiple cooking functions, including setting specific to cooking rice, beans and grains, sauté, and pressure cook. Blaise and I eat LOADS of rice, beans, grains, and legumes. I can honestly say that until until I used the instant pot to cook rice at home, I didn’t really enjoy homemade rice. I thought it was mushy and weird, and preferred the store bought, precooked (and overpriced) rice. Now we buy dry rice in bulk, and with the Instant Pot we can make perfectly fluffy, beautiful, delicious rice in our home in exactly 22 minutes.
   • Grains, beans, and legumes-same idea! Buy it cheap and dry, and follow the simple instant pot instructions for preparation. The high pressure function also makes soups and stews come together in less than 30 minutes, but taste like they’ve been cooking for hours (or days…). For these reasons, and many more, the Instant Pot has made herself a non-negotiable in the DiStefano home.
4. A Le Creuset Dutch Oven:
   • Our absolute favorite pot to cook with. We use it for so many different purposes (soups, stews, currys, pastas, bread, etc). It works wonderfully both on the stove and in the oven. It was gifted to Blaise and me about 5 years ago as a wedding present, and we are confident that it will last us for many, many more years to come. Like a cast iron skillet, if you treat a Le Creuset with the respect it deserves, it will outlive you!
5. Nonstick COOKLOVER Cookware Set (100% PFOA Free, Aluminum Induction Pots and Pans-15 Piece):
   • Okay, so this cookware set is not necessarily a ‘gadget’, but I wanted to include it here because it is an extremely affordable kitchen set that I have come to know and love. I use this set daily, in conjunction with my three favorite gadgets (from above), so they’re basically a little family, working together on the S&S team, making cooking feel fun, functional and efficient.
   • Why I love them:
     • NON-STICK MARBLE COATING: interior & exterior is coated by high performance non-stick PTFE marble coating makes the pans and pots easy to cook and clean.
     • SMOKELESS, GREEN & HEALTHY: Environmentally friendly and high temperature resistant. 100% PFOA free Durable and non-burnt cookware.
     • STURDY ALUMINUM BODY: ensures fast, even heat distribution, uniform heat dissipation, preventing hot spots.
     • TEMPERED GLASS LID: Has a steam vent that makes viewing food easily, safe and anti-scald.
     • INDUCTION BOTTOM: Conducts heat quickly and evenly, retains heat longer, saving time and energy. Suitable for: Induction, gas, ceramic, electric, halogen & solid fuel cookers (NOT SUITABLE FOR OVEN).