Kitchen Appliances That Can Open Up Whole New Worlds Of Cooking

Aside from helping you give the space a makeover, the appliances that you choose for your kitchen can have a truly profound effect on one of the most important family rituals of the day: dinnertime. If you have been underestimating just how vital certain appliances can be for the variety of meals available in your kitchen, then here are a few that might open up whole options you’ve never thought of.

Kitchen Appliances That Can Open Up Whole New Worlds Of Cooking

Kitchen Appliances That Can Open Up Whole New Worlds Of Cooking

Image - CC0 License

Slow Cooker

Are you the type who likes to set and forget it? Slow-cookers make it easy to toss almost any manner of meat into a sauce, stock, or marinade. From one-pot meals to stews to casseroles, they cook at low temps over long times, which can help to make meats even more succulent. If you ever just want to chill with a low-effort chilli, the slow cooker is one of the easiest ways to make it.

Air Fryer

If you want some delicious meals but you want to make them a little healthier than usual, then getting the grease out of the equation is one of the best ways to do that. They are also highly convenient. So, if you’re ever looking for healthier super easy boneless wings, a good air fryer can help you out there. They are also great for air frying vegetables in all kinds of marinades so you have tastier greens with your meals, too.

Rice Cooker

Now, how useful you find this particular choice depends on how much rice you like to eat. When it comes to all manner of Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, or other inspired dishes, rice can be vital and there’s no easier way to make a lot of it. However, there are lots of different things you can make in rice cookers, including soups, poached fruits, eggs, and steaming vegetables. They’re a lot more versatile than the name might make you think.

Food Processor

Food processors can help you make food prep so much easier in general. Any recipe that calls for something to be sliced, diced, or turned into a fine mist and these appliances can sort it out with little effort on your end except the clean-up after. However, one of the benefits of food processors (and blenders, too) is the addition of smoothies to your life. These quick, easy, and healthy breakfast (or lunch) drinks can make it much easier to get all the greens you need through the day.

Convection Ovens

You might be thinking that a convection oven might take a lot more room and money than you have. While still something of an investment, there are plenty of countertop smart ovens starting to come out that can help you cook more quickly and with more control than the traditional oven. Some of these smart ovens even have the option to connect to recipe books so the oven can automatically program itself to cook them efficiently.

If you want to make cooking in the kitchen less of a chore and much more of a varied experience, then the appliances above can introduce not just convenience but also diversity. Consider adding one or two to your kitchen.

PIN ME!

Kitchen Appliances That Can Open Up Whole New Worlds Of Cooking

What foods can you cook frozen? Image Credit

What Foods Can You Cook Frozen?

If you’ve ever waited for your frozen food to thaw before cooking it, then you know the frustration that comes with it, especially when you want something to eat quickly. Thankfully, there are some foods you can cook right away without having to wait for the thawing process. Considering that the frozen food market is worth $65 billion in retail (2020 statistics), it’s pretty understandable why people love it.

Frozen Chicken Wings

Image credit 

Did you know that you can cook your frozen chicken wings in air fryer? For the best results, air fry your wings at 380°F, and when it’s almost done cooking, gradually increase the heat for a crispier outcome. Chicken wings are not like thick red meat, which takes longer to cook. Instead, they are classified as white meat and have less fat, which quickens the cooking time. As you air fry your chicken wings, be careful they don’t burn out.

Vegetables

If you have frozen peas, corn, beans, etc., at hand, all you need to do is toss them right into your cooking soups or sauces without waiting for the defrost period. Additionally, vegetables classified as cruciferous – i.e., broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower can also be cooked frozen to reduce your time in the kitchen. They are particularly easy to handle when cooking stir-fries or sauté meals that need some extra crunchy veggies. The trick to cooking frozen vegetables is to avoid overcrowding them in your pan. A cooking utensil overloaded with frozen vegetables will result in the latter becoming mushy and soggy.

Bacon

Bacon slices or strips are covered with fat which melts quickly with the slightest heat application. Apart from cooking straight away from the freezer, the slight moisture soaked up within the bacon helps in a quicker cooking period. It explains why after frying or grilling bacon, it still retains its stretchy nature while crisp. However, over-cooking makes it lose its natural moisture, which gives your bacon a crunchy feel. As a tip, ensure your raw bacon is frozen in individual slices. This way, they will not freeze into a huge block that demands defrosting.

Dumplings

This Asian cuisine found its way onto the American market decades ago and continues to be loved by many. Indeed, the dumpling-making procedure is time-consuming, but once you’re through with that, its subsequent use is easy. For example, uncooked dumplings can be frozen for over a month. Then, when you’re ready to cook it, take it out of the freezer and cook it right away. But, according to experienced chefs, allowing frozen dumplings to thaw before cooking them can make the outcome soggy and sticky. 

Some Varieties of Fish

Image credit 

Some fish varieties are better for this. For example, salmon, tilapia, and cod can be cooked while frozen. They tend to maintain their outlook without falling apart. Therefore, whether you’re grilling, pan-frying, or grilling, these types of fish do not require prior thawing.

Hopefully, you know now that not all frozen foods require that long waiting time to defrost. Moreover, many commercially frozen food products use this as a marketing tool to attract more consumers. However, when you have to use them, follow the package instructions.

 

Quick and Easy Dinner Ideas for the Family

3 Quick and Easy Dinner Ideas for the Family

Most people will agree that nothing beats a home-cooked meal. Perhaps, it's why 98% of Americans prefer home cooking to any other meal. There's a reason people look forward to heading home to connect with family over a delicious plate of dinner, but depending on what you're cooking, dinner can take up a lot of time. What if you can sustain the momentum by cooking a storm in very little time? In this piece, you will read about some time-efficient and straightforward meals you can prepare for the family.

1. Soy-glazed meatloaf

Image Credit

This meal is meat-based, and with some vegetables of choice, you can serve a tasty plate for your family's enjoyment. With balsamic vinegar, parsley, onions, diced or shredded carrots, soy sauce and of course, the main ingredient, ground beef, you will serve dinner in no time. For families seeking healthier options, 85% -90% lean ground beef is a better alternative, as it cooks quicker and makes the meat maintain moisture without feeling or tasting overly greasy.

Many family recipes claim a secret to the most delicious and moist meatloaf, but on the whole, one cuts across it; the meatloaf glaze. Now that is the real secret to attaining a juicy and delicious meatloaf! Before stuffing the main meal (your meatloaf) into the oven to bake, glaze the outer portions with your soy-glaze, usually a mixture of brown sugar, ketchup, and umami soy sauce. Because soy sauce tends to be high in salt, be mindful about the quantity used.

On the other hand, for those with soy allergies, wheat-free Tamari works just fine. Furthermore, due to this dish's versatile nature, it can be combined with other simple accompaniments for an evening meal. Moreover, you can refrigerate leftovers for up to five days only. In the freezer, wrap unbaked meatloaf in food foil or a tight container for up to two months.

2. Tamale pie

Casserole dishes take roots from French history, and one of the most popular ones is the tamale pie recipe. The main ingredient in the tamale pie is its well-seasoned ground beef. However, with cornbread, corn, cheese and other optional vegetables, your tamale pie will achieve its place as a regular family dinner meal. As a constant feature in home economics classes, this spicy meat-based pie is filling, nutritious and flavor-packed.

What makes it a loved meal is its versatility and long storage option in the freezer. To do this, prepare all the ingredients in advance, but do not bake. While uncovered, put it into the freezer for an hour. After that, wrap the mixture into a plastic food wrap and freeze. With this method, you can freeze your unbaked tamale pie for as long as six months.

3. Spaghetti and meatballs

Image Credit

This meatball dish is a regular feature on busy family dinner tables. Aside from its quick to cook method, this meal is nutritious and healthy for an evening meal. Once again, lean meat is a better option to improve your cooking time.

Did you know that there’s an interesting history behind this popular meal? When Italian immigrants living in the United States began to earn more money from their work, meat became a staple. At the time, spaghetti was one of the very few Italian ingredients available in the States. Therefore, these immigrants decided to put the two together and it became a permanent feature on dinner tables. Many years later, spaghetti and meatballs became a staple in many American homes. To make it even more nourishing, you have the option to add on tomatoes, beans, celery or artichokes. Other edible add-ons will be based on your preference or individual preferences of the family.

Dinner can be a bonding period for families worldwide. However, to get the most of this bonding time, you can go big on some of these simple dinner ideas to maximize moments spent together with family. You can also get creative by adding on other ingredients per your preferences. So, the next time you're making a meal, hopefully, these mentioned here will feature on your table.

You might also like:

Chicken Enchiladas Recipe

Chicken Enchiladas Recipe

 

PIN ME!