Twenty-four hours aren't enough when you have a baby who needs constant tending to or a toddler who needs to be entertained all the time. Add to that housework, never-ending piles of laundry (think spit-ups, potty-training accidents, jumping in muddy puddles), a sink full of dirty dishes and you're pooped. But you still have to cook. Interesting looking meals at that, for your fussy toddler will not have pasta unless it is animal-shaped and has red sauce in it!
But if you have these 5 gadgets/essentials in your kitchen, you will save loads of time and energy.
If your life looks anything like this, read on…
1. Hand Blender/ Blender
I salute the person who invented the hand blender. Super-easy-to-use and clean, multi-purpose and takes up minimal storage space. Every mother's kitchen essential. From mashing baby food to whipping up milkshakes for your toddler to making that soup for dinner, this convenient gadget is a real investment for the kitchen.
If you have the space, then a blender is a must-have too, as it can blend larger quantities and is more powerful than a hand-blender. Great for batch-cooking baby food and making healthy breakfast smoothies for the whole family. I use this VonShef 4-in-1 blender (also available on Amazon.) which is also a juicer, smoothie-maker and grinder.
2. Food processor/ mini-chopper
If you want to cook within a limited period of time, you MUST possess a food processor. It's the ultimate multi-tasking kitchen gadget. Chopping, mincing, grinding, slicing, puréeing – it does everything.
It's smaller cousin is the mini-chopper – it still does all the chopping et al, albeit in smaller quantities but takes up less space and can permanently live on your kitchen counter. Every second counts.
3. Slow cooker
Another godsend. Just toss in the ingredients, turn up the heat and go about doing whatever else it is that you need to do, knowing that your slow cooker is whipping up a delicious meal in the meantime. In simple words: unattended cooking.
Roasts, stews, soups and more, there's plenty a slow cooker can do!
4. Microwave
It heats (think previously batch-cooked frozen meals). It re-heats (think your morning coffee). And voila, it even cooks! It makes rice, it boils potatoes and yes it even cooks entire family meals.
Check out these quick, easy n' healthy microwave meal ideas for toddlers. Get inspired…
5. Frozen Vegetables / Ready-to-use Pastes and Powders
I've written about the ease and benefit of frozen vegetables before, and I'll say it again: make sure you have a packet in your freezer at all times. You can whip up breakfast (vegetable omelette), a snack (vegetable toastie) or dinner with that one magical packet. No remembering long shopping lists again.
Ready-to-use pastes and powders are another must-have in your pantry. Which multi-tasking mum wants to waste time grating ginger and dicing garlic? Especially when you can just squeeze a dash of paste instead? Or sprinkle some powder?
Find chopping onions time-consuming? Add pre-fried or frozen onions instead and reduce your cooking time by half.
Agree, sometimes fresh does taste better but when time is of the essence, these kitchen hacks will serve you well.
And here's some even better news: To save some money as well, why not check out voucher code sites like dealsdaddy and dealsplanet for some amazing discounts on kitchen essentials (besides other cool stuff). Save time with half the price – it couldn't get better than that now could it?!
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post
RELATED POST: Kitchen Gadgets that make Mum's Lives Easier
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I've linked this post with these fab linkies
mummuddlingthrough
All hail the slow cooker! Would love to hear your go to recipes!
Thanks for sharing these killer hacks with #coolmumclub x
Nicole
Thanks for reading! Will share more #lifehacks 🙂
shinnersandthebrood
Haha – totally agree. I have the bones of a similar post written and it includes a slow cooker and a hand-blender! Great minds! Sing it for the frozen veg! #coolmumclub
Nicole
Hahahah… great mum minds indeed! Thanks for visiting…
Emmi @ Emmi's Cookin'
Great kitchen tips! I still use frozen veggies in my kitchen! 😉 #GlobalBlogging
Nicole
Thank you!!!
Hurrah for frozen veggies!
One Messy Mama
Oh I am slowly beginning to LOVE my slow cooker! Especially in winter! Nothing like a good hearty soup! #globalblogging
Nicole
Yes, and without hassle:)
The Mum Project
The slow cooker and microwave are my two favorite things in the kitchen, the are THE BEST. The only problem with the slow cooker is that I forget to turn it on (duh!) what is wrong with me?! Haha it is amazing though, especially because I am the worst cook in the world and this makes me look like Martha Stewart (hmm actually not sure I want to be her, maybe Jamie Oliver?). Thanks for sharing with #GlobalBlogging!
Nicole
Hahaha, yes, I agree, a slow cooker does help us so-so cooks dish out some great looking (and tasting) meals!
mummy here and here
Yes to the slow cooker be use to can prep food earlier and relax. I find it really stressful to cook under pressure and in the afternoon when I need the attention to look after two kids X #readysetlink
Nicole
Exactly… you don't need to bother once it's on. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment x
Mummyitsok
Thank god for the microwave hahaha!
#READYSETLINK
Nicole
Couldn't live without it!
Lydia c lee
I am so with you on the microwave – I have 3 different sittings for dinner (and 3 different meals most nights) so microwave is a must in our house! #fortheloveofBlog
Nicole
I so get you! It's a life-saver isn't it? Especially to re-heat the repeatedly-gone-cold coffee!!!
Morgan Prince
I totally agree – I LOVE my slow-cooker. I don't really use a blender though – I do have one but don't use it!
Nicole
I used the blender during weaning, for pureeing. Now I use it to make smoothies:)
Helen Aka Welsh Mum Writing
Completely agree. I have all of those and would be lost without them! #fortheloveofblog
Nicole
Agree, my kitchen would be almost dysfunctional without them!
rebecca
Ah i have nearly all of these!
#readysetlink
Nicole
Blessing, aren't they?!
The Mummy Bubble
I keep meaning to try frozen veg as I think it would save us so much waste! Thanks for sharing with #fortheloveofBLOG
Nicole
I ALWAYS keep frozen veggies. Life-saver and time-saver. Can whip up something nutritious just like that!!!
Daydreams of a mum
My slow cooker is the best thing I own in the kitchen. Just discovered frozen sliced peppers too, total revelation!#fortheloveofBLOG
Nicole
Yes, I discovered those very recently too – honestly, you do get almost everything frozen nowadays!
Alice | Letters to my Daughter
I have all of these and agree they rock! Must make better use of my hand blender and food processor though! #BlogCrush
Nicole
What would we do without them, really?!