If you’re a millennial, chances are you’re no stranger to food delivery apps or ordering takeout meals at least a few times a week. With hectic schedules that expect the most out of us and limited time to unwind, let alone prepare a bunch of meals, it’s no surprise that the young professionals of 2021 rely heavily on someone else to cook their meals for them.
Alas, this ends up with lots of money being spent and less than optimal choices when it comes to healthy meals, which is why so many young professionals are now choosing to explore the art of cooking during lockdown.
If you’re looking to broaden your culinary horizons, you’ve come to the right place. Today, we have a look at 6 essential kitchen appliances for every modern maker, so sit back, relax and read on to find out more. Who knows, you may just say goodbye to takeout after this!
- A Kickass Blender
Even if you abhor smoothies, a quality blender is an absolute necessity in any modern kitchen. If on the other hand you love smoothies, well…you’ve hit the jackpot. Blenders are amongst the most essential endowments of innovation to a kitchen and offer a wide variety of uses including blending soups, curry pastes, sauces, pesto, milkshakes, homemade nut milks and uh, well, smoothies. A blender also saves you a heap of time when it comes to food preparation. For instance, you’ll be able to easily whip up a batch of fresh cauliflower rice in less time than it takes you to open a frozen bag and chuck its contents into a frying pan. When you’re looking to buy a blender, be sure to choose one that has various speed settings, ample motor power and extra attachments that help you make the most of your purchase.
- Stand Mixer
It seems like almost everyone had a brief romantic fling with baking during the early stages of the pandemic — hello sourdough obsession! Even if you weren’t too interested in the magic of bubbly sourdough starters or the infamous atrocity that was the Tik Tok Cloud Bread, a stand mixer is a worthy investment for anyone who is looking to delve into the world of baking.
Aside from whipping up mean cakes, souffles and other baked goods, a quality stand mixer can also create silky pasta doughs, dinner rolls and even grind meat or make ice cream depending on what additional attachments you choose to purchase.
- Slow Cooker
Okay, so if you’re a super lazy individual (no shade), then a slow cooker is probably going to be your new best friend. Slow cookers are a fantastic purchase due to several benefits such as hands-off cooking, conservation of energy, and bringing out the flavour in most foods. One of the biggest selling points of course is that you can chuck a bunch of your favourite ingredients into your slow cooker in the morning, turn it on, go about your day and be rewarded with a piping hot meal at the end of the day. Yup, barely any work on your part!
Some slow cooker classics include braised lamb shanks, tender pulled pork and duck ragu; these dishes take minimal prep but offer maximum taste. Oh, you can also make desserts such as rice pudding, cinnamon rolls and chocolate cake in there too, if you need a few more reasons to commit to a slow cooker!
- The Mighty Air Fryer
Air Fryers are the new Kim Kardashian of the cooking world and you probably already have at least a dozen friends and family members raving about how the air fryer has changed their lives. One of the biggest advantages of an air fryer is its ability to whip up frozen foods such as nuggets, spring rolls, chips and more in a way that is slightly healthier than deep-frying. Cooking with an air fryer can reduce calories by around 70% and doesn’t require pre-heating or turning the oven on for a small batch of food (yay savings!). They also come in a variety of different sizes from 1.5L mini air fryers to 7.3L XXL versions that are perfect for families and entertaining.
- Coffee Machine
Stop wasting hundreds of dollars a month buying coffee from a cafe — instead, invest in a high quality coffee maker that you will be able to use for years to come. Depending on your budget and addiction level, you can choose to invest in something super fancy like an expensive espresso machine or opt for something as simple as a coffee pod machine that requires little to no prep work or cleaning. Regardless of what you choose, a coffee maker is a worthy investment for any young professional who relies on their morning cup of joe to survive a long and arduous day.
- Cast Iron Frying Pan
A cast iron frying pan is one of the most versatile tools in a cook’s kitchen. Cast-iron is some seriously heavy-duty stuff that will last you forever and beyond, and can be used for sautéing, pan-frying, searing, baking, braising, broiling, roasting, and so much more. A quality cast iron pan may be slightly costly, but the trade off is worth it considering its longevity and exceptional ability to conduct heat evenly. Cast iron cookware should never be washed with soap which is wonderful, wonderful news for anyone who isn’t the biggest fan of washing the dishes. To wash, simply rinse in super hot water while scrubbing with a stiff brush. Be sure to towel dry your pan immediately to prevent rusting and that’s all there is to it!
Modern cooking is all about convenience, time saving and shortcuts that allow us to whip up mouth watering meals even when time is a rare commodity. We hope that this article has inspired you to head out to your local cookware store (or online store if you’re in lockdown) to purchase some new appliances that are sure to help you broaden your culinary horizons and make cooking a quick and achievable task no matter how full your days can feel.