As a working mom, you welcome shortcuts in the kitchen — anything to make it a little easier and faster to get a healthy meal on the table after a long day. Invest in the following kitchen staples to help you streamline your meal prep and simplify your time in the kitchen.
1. Quality Knives
It’s easy to get caught up in the hype of all of the latest kitchen gadgets and gizmos, but a simple chef’s knife is by far the most important tool in the kitchen. There are very few meals that you can prepare without slicing, dicing or chopping at least one of the ingredients. Quality means everything when it comes to knives, so if there is one kitchen purchase that is well worth splurging on, it is a good knife set, or at the very least, one finely crafted chef’s knife.
The top brands of knives are German or Japanese, with brands like Zwilling, J.A. Henckels, Wusthof, Shun and Miyabi offering an assortment of reliable top-quality products. Most home cooks will find that an eight-inch chef’s knife is an ideal size to perform all of your daily chopping and dicing. But remember, it doesn’t matter how well-crafted your knife is if you don’t keep it properly sharpened, so be sure to sharpen it regularly with a sharpening stone.
2. Stand Mixer
When it comes to small appliances, a stand mixer is a must-have. It makes baking projects a breeze and can even be used for making your our dough for bread or pizza. While stand mixers are heavy and require a little counter space for storage, they require much less effort to operate than hand-held mixers.
The gold standard in stand mixers is by Kitchen Aid. They make a variety of different models like the Artisan and Pro, available in a range of sizes and colors that all have a classic design aesthetic that looks great in any kitchen. Another advantage of choosing a Kitchen Aid stand mixer is that there are a variety of attachments that you can buy to expand the mixer’s functionality. Some attachment options include a food processor, a pasta maker, a food scale, a meat grinder, a spiralizer, a juicer, a grain mill and an ice cream maker.
3. Slow Cooker
A slow cooker is a mom’s best friend. Throw all of the ingredients for dinner into the slow cooker in the morning before work and then return to a warm meal that is ready to serve. While there are numerous options available at low price points, it’s worth splurging on a more expensive model to ensure even heating, a variety of settings and easy cleaning. The overall style of the design matters too; after all, it will be sitting on your countertop for eight hours nearly every time you use it.
4. Blender
Do not underestimate the value of a quality blender. From sauces and soups to smoothies, nut milk, juices and margaritas, you can use a blender to efficiently make so many different meals and treats. This is an investment piece that you’ll be using for years to come. Vitamix makes a real workhorse that is available in a few different sizes with a seven year manufacturer warranty.
When it comes to stocking your kitchen with the most useful staples, items that can be used to do a variety of tasks reign supreme. And as a working mom, you need all the help you can get to boost efficiency in the kitchen. By investing in quality knives, a stand mixer, a slow cooker and a powerful blender, you can make it easier to cook for your family.
