5 Must-Haves in Every Mum's Kitchen

by | posted in: Lists, The Learning Curve, The Mummy Chronicles, Tips n' Tricks | 28
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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…

Mother And Children

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.

vegetables

 

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.

 

 

RELATED POST: Kitchen Gadgets that make Mum's Lives Easier

 

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28 Responses

  3. shinnersandthebrood
    | Reply

    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

  4. Emmi @ Emmi's Cookin'
    | Reply

    Great kitchen tips! I still use frozen veggies in my kitchen! 😉 #GlobalBlogging

  6. The Mum Project
    | Reply

    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
      | Reply

      Hahaha, yes, I agree, a slow cooker does help us so-so cooks dish out some great looking (and tasting) meals!

  7. mummy here and here
    | Reply

    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
      | Reply

      Exactly… you don't need to bother once it's on. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment x

  9. Lydia c lee
    | Reply

    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
      | Reply

      I so get you! It's a life-saver isn't it? Especially to re-heat the repeatedly-gone-cold coffee!!!

    • Nicole
      | Reply

      I used the blender during weaning, for pureeing. Now I use it to make smoothies:)

    • Nicole
      | Reply

      I ALWAYS keep frozen veggies. Life-saver and time-saver. Can whip up something nutritious just like that!!!

    • Nicole
      | Reply

      Yes, I discovered those very recently too – honestly, you do get almost everything frozen nowadays!

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