Meal planning is a big way of saving a significant amount of time when it comes to getting food on the table for your family throughout the week, but you can free up even more time in your schedule by using the right kitchen tools that will save you hours.
How many times have you lost a whole evening cooking what was supposed to be a “quick” meal while listening to your kids ask repeatedly when dinner will be ready? That’s what we want to avoid!
Here is a look at three kitchen tools that I absolutely cannot live without. They have saved me countless hours in the kitchen, and I’m pretty sure they will make your life easier, too!
1. Slow cooker
If you love the idea of coming home and having a hot meal magically waiting for you, a slow cooker is pretty much the closest you can get. Yes, you do need to put in a little bit of work ahead of time, but it’s nice to have dinner ready to go when you walk in the door at the end of a long day.
A slow cooker is also incredibly useful when it comes to meal planning because it allows you to cook large batches of food at one time so you can divide and save them to eat again another day. What I really love about slow cookers is the fact that they are so easy to use, which means they are ideal for novice cooks and new mums who are just starting to get into meal planning. You can easily create healthy and flavourful meals with very little effort in one after you get into the slow cooking groove. Some instantly pick up the skill, while others take longer (I fall into the latter group!), but it is definitely worth the trial and error.
I’ve had several slow cookers over the years, but the one I have right now is my absolute favourite. The Crock-Pot Duraceramic 6L Sauté features a ceramic coating that is toxin-free, so I feel comfortable serving food I’ve prepared in it to the whole family. Plus, it can go on all types of hobs and in the oven. It can be popped in the dishwasher when you’re finished, and it looks gorgeous on my countertop – what more could you ask for?
2. Food processor
Every time I hear someone complain that cooking takes too long, I always ask them if they have a food processor. I know that not everyone finds cooking as enjoyable as I do, but for many people, it’s simply a matter of spending too much time on tasks like chopping and shredding that can easily be handled by a food processor.
Although there is a bit of an investment involved, it can pay off in spades because it means you never have to chop an onion by hand while wiping away tears or pray that your fingers survive dicing up a bunch of potatoes. I have a Ninja food processor that can not only handle chopping and dicing, but it also has shredder blades in different sizes so I can quickly grate cheese for enchiladas or shred carrots and what not. It can make smoothies in record time and is great for whipping up dips like hummus and pesto.
In short, this handy tool has saved me a ridiculous amount of time in the kitchen and has probably saved me from a few kitchen accidents as well.
3. Food vacuuming system
Another tool I consider indispensable for meal prepping is a food vacuuming system. A lot of people think of these as simply a way to save your leftovers, and while they are excellent for that purpose, they are also useful for chopping your veg in advance and keeping them fresh for longer. Food vacuuming is also great for batch cooking and preserving as you can make an extra batch of food, pop it into a container, vacuum and store it in the fridge. Food can stay fresh up to 5 times as long, which is pretty incredible!
You can get a full-fledged Foodsaver vacuum sealer system or even a handheld model and enjoy the benefits of longer-lasting food. I consider it a great complement to my slow cooker because I can make extra sides as I go to be served with my slow cooker meal, and some more for the next day.
Here’s where you can find more information on the specific tools I use and love:
Slow cooker:
Crockpot Duraceramic 6L Saute
*use code MAMAMANUAL15 for 15% off the Duraceramic range, or MAMAMANUAL10 for 10% off on the rest!*
Food processor:
The one I use seems to be unavailable online right now, but you can take a look at it here: Ninja Food Processor
Food vacuuming system:
FoodSaver Vacuum Handholder
*use MAMAMANUAL10 for 10% off the entire FoodSaver range!*
PS: Slow cooking help
If you’re struggling with watery meals, or tasteless food, or simply want to get more out of your slow cooker, you have to take a look at my online slow cooking course, ‘Slow cooking, fast batching’.
It will also teach you how to batch cook using your slow cooker, as well as turn any oven/stovetop recipe to a slow cooker one 🙌🏼
If you are looking for some serious kitchen tools that will save you hours, it’s hard to go wrong with this list!
I hope this helps!
Love,
Nakita xxx
Leave a Comment