Spring has sprung here in North Carolina. I’d put every wide-smiled emoji right here if it weren’t for the pollen that comes with the sunshine and 70 degree weather, but it is what it is. Anywho, it’s warm enough to play on the porch so yesterday I dragged out a tub of water for some of my favorite preschooler games and some kitchen gadgets to play with as well.
As I watched Hailey take charge of the lemon squeezer (<– I have more than one and this one is the easiest for kids to squeeze!), it made me think of all the simple kitchen tools I have that have become so useful now that I have kids. My mind quickly started making a list of my favorites…
until I was distracted by Hailey’s decision to feed her sister straight lemon juice.
Ick!
Guess it wasn’t half bad because then she finished it off herself.
No scurvy over here …
Ok, back to it!
I was thinking how it’s customary to have a wedding registry for kitchen, home and bath goodies, then a baby registry later on for baby-specific needs. Makes sense, but really, we should be adding a few kitchen items to the baby registries as well because the following simple kitchen tools are things that every mom needs!
5 Simple Kitchen Tools Every Mom Needs
First up…
Stainless Steel Scraper and Pastry Cutter
This gem has many uses I don’t even know where to begin. We use is for classic uses like scrapping flour neatly off the counter tops but it also works great for scrapping dough (both pizza and play) off counter tops, easily dividing dough into sections for sibling and friends to play with, cutting sandwiches and more. This one also comes with a free bowl scraper, which is vital in ensuring not a single leftover lick of cookie dough goes to waste.
It’s safe and simple for kids to use and I swear my counter tops would be sticky and and grimy without it.
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Grill Press
I have a fancy Williams Sonoma grill press from our wedding registry but a less-expensive one like this will do just fine! I originally imagined using it to grill burgers, but now it’s a godsend for making grilled cheeses and other sandwiches for kids. It squishes them down to an ideal size for little hands and mouths and flattens out the fluffiness of over-sized buns.
I also use it when booking bacon to make sure all parts are crispy (toddlers are particular!) and to flatten out any other foods, like homemade black bean burgers or veggie patties. Love it!
Garlic Press
I really enjoy the flat version garlic press I have because it is simple for little hands to hold each side and wiggle back and forth over avocados, bananas and other soft foods. The girls giggle with delight when they get to help press dough into “dough worms” and squish other food for recipes we are making.
A more classic garlic press will work just fine, but do make sure it is easy to squeeze and has soft handles like this one.
Kid Knives
I’ve learned that kids really want to be in the action. Though they might be satisfied with peeling bananas for a bit, eventually they are going to want in on the real tasks, like cutting. Obviously you don’t want to hand them a real knife, but Curious Chef products make products that are effective, yet still safe (this affordable cutlery set comes with three knives!)
Hailey has used hers to cut tomato and onions while Kaitlyn sticks to the softer produce like bananas and avocados.
Electric Wine Bottle Opener
Ok, this one is totally for mom (and dad), but let’s be honest, we all know the kids are behind the need for this too. This little gem easily pops the cork out of any wine bottle in less than 10 seconds, a feat that I appreciate on a weekly basis.
Honorable mention:
A coffee frother.
This simple gadget can transform a simple cup of coffee into a Starbucks-like experience, thus saving hundreds of dollars a month (I totally made that last part up, though it may be applicable to some coffee lovers I know…). It also can transform simple hot chocolates into a fluffy wonderland of fun. And you didn’t think hot chocolate could be improved…
[Tweet “Forget teething toys, these simple kitchen tools should be on every mom’s baby registry!”]
Ok ladies and moms, did I miss anything?
Do you have any gadget or kitchen tool that makes your life so much easier?
Please share below!
Kate says
These tools do sound nice. Funnily enough though, I don’t even own one of these items.
My list would run like this: rice cooker, wooden kitchen utensils, Japanese cooking knifes (you will cut pumpkin like it’s butter), Nespresso machine, and Bodum French press.
Yes, two types of coffee makers are necessary in our household… 🙂
Have a great Easter weekend with your family!
Brittany Dixon says
I’m going to take your comment as a sign to move ahead with my itch to get a French press! I’ve wanted one for a while. Also, I’ve heard great things about a rice cooker but don’t feel like I eat enough rice to justify it. Thoughts??
Kate says
We do indeed eat rice quite often – lots of Japanese food and curry.
But our rice cooker (Zojirushi) also has several other cooking options like steaming. There even is a cake menu. I have only used the rice menu so far, but I’m itching to give the steaming function a try.
Personally, the rice cooker is totally worth it because you can program it. Coming home from work to rice that is already cooked? Yes, please! 🙂
Totally get the French press. But make sure you buy one that can be put in the dish washer, so you don’t have to clean the filter by hand.
Let me know how you decide. 🙂
Elizabeth says
Fun! I don’t have most of these & am tempted to buy all of them! Lately I have been overwhelmed by the mess that we make in the kitchen. Do paper plates count? I use them all the time & feel so much happier : ) I love cooking but hate cleaning up the mess & feel like our kitchen table & chairs are always sticky.
lauren says
We love those kids knives! I saw them on one of your lists and got them at christmas time. I’ve got to share that ikea has a suitable milk/drink frother…it’s around $2, which makes it a NEED for anyone who goes there.
The gadget that makes our kitchen work easier is definitely our “learning tower”. Hubby made a folding one from Ana White’s plans and we’ve used it so much in the last year. Also, a dishwasher safe cutting board makes life easier and I love those little 2oz measuring cups from oxo. Also great for making drinks! And if I’m cooking sans toddler, I use my food scale a lot too to save on washing multiple measuring cups.
Alyssa @ renaissancerunnergirl says
I want that scraper for myself, I make enough experimental baking messes that it would so come in handy!
Emily L says
I’m so glad you shared this today! I saw you using the garlic press the other day, and I wondered what kind it was. Thank you!
Cassie says
I am definitely looking into Curious Chef things!
Megan says
Believe it or not, my four year old loves peeling things! Carrots are his fave, and he has figured out how to hold them with the tip against the cutting board, and then peel and turn (away from him, of course)! He is so proud! Oh, another must-have gadget is an apple slicer. We go from full apple to eight cored, even pieces in about three seconds flat.
Samantha says
A salad chopper is frequently used in our house! I purchased the bowl with a chopper at Bed Bath and Beyond a few months back and it chops salads into small, uniform pieces. I don’t worry about kids choking on chunks of carrot as much, and our three young girls are more likely to eat their salad. I wish I would have purchased one sooner!
Ali says
Rice cooker is a must for us even though maybe only used 2-3x a month. It cooks it Perfectly and I don’t have to watch it and it has a steamer basket to go on top to do our fave, brocolli.
I also love my salad spinner (also doubles well as a paint art spinner thing– what’s that technical word?) The girls love using it and it makes my weekend salad prep quicker, which I appreciate.
We too recently got a French press and it’s especially nice for making more than 1 cup of coffee. It takes a bit of time but for the weekend then hubby has a solid 2-3 cups all made at once without pulling out the whole coffee machine and while adding variety to coffee consumption after the “weekday coffee” rut.
Lastly is the waffle maker – love making waffles on the weekend and freezing these homemade gems for the week!
Heather says
We love our Curious Chef knives, which we found through your blog! Thank you! We’re gluten-free, so we don’t have all the same needs as you…but our top kid-related kitchen items would be an Instant Pot (we use this daily to whip up kid food and family meald alike — it actually has a rice cooker option, so you don’t have to buy a separate one! Honestly couldn’t live without it), one of those cheap-o egg slicers (daughter loves slicing hard boiled eggs herself), and a fancy electric citrus juicer (comes in handy with our grapefruit tree, and the LO loves to help!). Oh and we love our “Little Helper Broom Set” by Shylling! The one year old and three year old fight over it daily. Totally genius way to make cleaning fun 😉
Heather says
Should be Schylling. Darn autocorrect 😉