Kitchen gadgets and appliances can make life a little easier and cooking a little faster. Some kitchen gadgets are rather useless, like the banana slicer, and some appliances just cost you way more money in the long run than they’re actually worth, like the pod coffee makers that are all the rage now.
There are several kitchen gadgets and appliances, however, that can save you a bit of money in the long run. Can you figure out which ones they are? Here’s a little hint…
Think you know what they all are? Some are pretty obvious, but not all. See how well you did!
1. Coffee Maker
I hate to be Captain Obvious here, but a coffee pot is probably the biggest money saver of all the kitchen gadgets and appliances that can save you money. If you’re a big coffee drinker, that is. And I am. A big coffee drinker. And I love my coffee pot! It sure beats going out every day and buying a cup or six of coffee. If you only drink a cup or two of coffee each day, skip the expensive pod coffee maker and get a single cup coffee pot instead. They’re generally less expensive and don’t require special (and costly) coffee pods.
2. Slow Cooker
Of all the kitchen gadgets and appliances I have, my slow cooker is probably one of my favorites. Not only does it save me a boatload of time, but it also saves me money by allowing me to buy the cheaper cuts of meat, which often become tender and tasty after several hours in my slow cooker.
3. Pressure Canner
In the number three spot, we have the canner. Both traditional canners and pressure canners are a must in my kitchen. They can save you money in the long run by enabling you to make your own canned vegetables, fruits, and even meats. You can preserve extra garden vegetables to use during the winter, or you can stock up on vegetables during grocery store sales and not worry about them going bad before you use them.
4. Food Dehydrator
Food dehydrators can also be handy little kitchen gadgets. These can help you preserve vegetables, fruits, herbs, and even certain meats by removing all of the moisture from them. I would recommend a food dehydrator to anyone who frequently buys items like dried fruit, sun dried tomatoes, jerky, or trail mix.
5. Waffle Maker
Do you and your family eat a lot of frozen waffles? We do, so I finally broke down and bought a waffle maker. It’s saved a ton of money, since making waffles from scratch is so much cheaper than buying the frozen ones. I usually make up a very large batch and freeze them. They can be reheated in the toaster, oven, or toaster oven, just like regular frozen waffles.
6. Oil Mister
Oil sprays like Pam are definitely handy, but they can get expensive, especially if you use a lot of it. The solution? An oil mister. You can use just about any type of oil in these handy little kitchen gadgets. It eliminates the need to buy commercial oil misters and reduces the amount of regular oil you use during cooking.
7. Vacuum Sealer
I hate throwing away freezer burnt foods, which is why I invested in a vacuum sealer. With this kitchen gadget, I can seal single or family sized portions of meats, vegetables, or freezer meals and not have to worry about throwing them out in a few weeks because of nasty freezer burn.
8. Yogurt Maker
If your family eats a lot of yogurt, you might want to consider buying a yogurt maker. All you need to make a few batches of homemade yogurt are a couple of simple ingredients, like milk and spoonful of yogurt. The yogurt maker keeps the mixture at the constant warm temperature needed for the bacteria to grow and magically create the homemade yogurt. You can also create all sorts of different flavors with the addition of ingredients like fresh fruit and vanilla.
9. Meat Grinder
Ground beef can be a great inexpensive ingredient for meals when you’re on a budget, but if you make your own with a meat grinder, you could spend even less. A meat grinder allows you to buy cheaper cuts of meat and make your own ground beef. You can also use a meat grinder to make ground turkey, ground chicken, ground pork, and sausage. If your family hints, it might also help cut down on the expense of having your deer processed.
