During colder seasons I do a lot of baking and cooking in the oven or Crockpot, since it’s less appealing to be outside grilling or making cold salads. Now that spring has sprung I’m feeling ready to spark up the grill and switch my casserole dish for an oversized bowl full of some kind of picnic salad. Whether I’m entertaining a group or just making a nice dinner for two, I don’t want to miss anything by spending hours in the kitchen. Plus, I want my guests (or just my hubby) to have everything they need to enjoy the fruits of my labor.
These are the latest kitchen gadgets to make their way onto my must-have list for summer 2015. Some save prep time while others just make eating easier. Add these tools to your own must-have list to please a crowd not just with your food, but convenience, too!
Save time on salads with this Prepworks Zip Slicer. Whether you’re making a fresh green salad with cherry tomatoes or a festive fruit salad with grapes, this slicer makes chopping a thing of the past and minimizes prep time.
When you’re running to the store the day of a barbecue or party, there’s just no way to marinate your meat overnight. Skip the soaking step and add tenderness with this one tool! I’m loving this Marinade Infusing Meat Tenderizer on so many levels — but mostly because it saves both time and the mess of marinading meats in a Tupperware or baggie.
I’ve tried everything from herb scissors to choppers, but never anything quite like this. Spice grinders are a tool I use for every seasoning I possibly can, so why not herbs, too? Quickly grind fresh herbs like parsley and thyme into pasta salad, onto chicken, or anything else with this Microplane Herb Mill.
Although I love to throw thick slices of onion on the grill, my hubby is really the one who likes them raw on burgers, in salads, or just about anything. No matter what I do, I always end up with teary eyes and smelly hands. This Norpro Onion Holder not only keeps my onion in place while I’m slicing, but saves my hands from a lingering odor. I have a feeling this tool would work great for other round produce like citrus and tomatoes, too.
As much as I’d like to forego plastic water bottles, it’s hard to top the convenience for entertaining. My biggest issue with offering guests plastic bottles is the worry that they’ll get too hot, allowing plastic particles to seep into otherwise clean water. I love the idea of these Water Bottle Stick Ice Cube Trays both for refreshing bottled drinks and keeping thin plastic from getting dangerously hot.
Our favorite side to make all summer long is fresh corn on the cobb. It’s healthy, easy, and quick to make, but the real issue arises when it’s time to eat! Having spent most of my life asking someone else to slice corn kernels off my cob, this gadget might just be my favorite yet. The Corn Kerneler takes eating corn on the cob to a whole new level. It makes corn easier to eat, plus it gets every morsel off the cob if you want to throw kernels into a nice salad or salsa.
I’m ready to whip-up some summertime fare for all of the upcoming holidays and barbecues with more time to spend out of the kitchen and enjoying the smell of the grill!
