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There are so many “must-have” products on the market these days that it seems almost downright impossible to distinguish between the good, the bad, and the totally unnecessary. Most things that seem like a total “I-really-need-this-in-my-life” item end up being nothing more than overpriced, overrated, and underused space-taker-uppers.
With Age Comes Wisdom
Over the last several years I have really come to embrace the less is more approach in life, striving towards embracing a bit more of a minimalistic lifestyle, which has really encouraged me to rethink wants vs. needs. However, some things have earned their stars and These 5 kitchen essentials are right up at the top of my list of “must-have’s!”
5 Kitchen Essentials Every Busy Mom Needs
- 8-quart InstaPot – Santa gave me this for Christmas a couple of years ago, and I can tell you, it has become my saving grace. This amazing gadget is the cornerstone of so many of our meals from easy peasy mashed potatoes too our favorite chicken and rice soup. It is incredibly versatile and in today’s busy world, the fact that it can speed cook some meals completely hands-free is downright amazing. One thing I have not had great luck with is the slow cook feature. I have gone back to a traditional crockpot for my slow cooker recipes, as the InstaPot has failed me a few too many times.
- 6-quart pioneer woman crockpot – I have a confession, I have a huge affinity for all things pioneer woman. I love the bright vintage pop of color that her design brings into my kitchen, and I find them to be reasonably priced. There is just something about the nostalgia of a slow cooker. It takes me back to when I was a kid and one of the most delicious smells wafting from the slow cooker was beef barley stew, my ultimate favorite beef stew recipe ever! Like the InstaPot I find that the crockpot is so versatile as well and is most definitely a must-have in every kitchen.
- Good Quality cast iron skillet – If you are one of those lucky few who got your grandmother’s cast iron, I envy you!! I recently read that it would take somewhere along the lines of 45 years of frying bacon daily to season your inexpensive cast iron to perfection. (we are talking like slide your eggs around the pan perfection.) I decided a while back that I would be converting my cookware back to more traditional and less toxic materials, so I purchased the Cast Iron pan from pioneer woman as my first piece. This pan really is a great quality for the price tag. I season my pan regularly and keep it oiled, I also keep washing to a minimum with very little soap, and guess what? I can finally cook eggs in it without them sticking!! I love that this pan has two handles, the size is perfect for our family of 4 and the pan seems to be heavy and appears well made. If you are looking for an inexpensive yet quality piece of cast iron to dip your toes into the world of cast iron cooking I highly recommend!
- Le Creuset 8 quart enameled cast iron dutch oven – I own an older version of this oval dutch oven in the marseille color and it is seriously one of the most fabulous pieces of cookware I have ever used. My one complaint with it is that it is soooooo heavy, it actually kind of bows my oven racks a little bit. I have used this to make everything from lasagna to oven chili to roasted chicken and everything in between and it never fails. I am always amazed at how perfectly and evenly done my food comes out with this amazing baking dish and I love that it is charming enough that it can easily double as a serving dish as well! The price is most definitely a little on the hefty side, however, this is one piece of kitchenware that you will be able to pass down for generations to come!
- George Foreman Grill – years ago before we got married we had a plain jane classic George Foreman that we used quite a lot. The plates where not removable and I remember cleaning it being a pain in the hinny. Somewhere along life’s trail, it got lost and a little forgotten. It sprung back into my memory right before Christmas this last year and was my request from one of my sisters. She purchased me the George Foreman 5 serving grill with removable plates and I had forgotten how handy and FAST these little buggers are. We are without a BBQ right now and sometimes I just don’t feel up to using my cast iron to grill burgers or steaks and outcomes this handy little bugger. It speeds up dinner and I love that I don’t have grease splatter to clean up afterward!!
What are some of your favorite kitchen essentials?
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That’s a good list, but not just for mums ! I love my cast iron skillet, dutch oven and grill pan ! I use them for stew, deep frying, high heat saute, and even baking bread ! I have never tried an Instapot, but I assume it is similar to pressure cooker. Another essential in my kitchen is stainless steel pot/pan – quick to heat up, for stir-frying asian style ! =)
I have been considering adding a good quality stainless steel pot/pan to my kitchen but I remember the horror of having to wash it when I was a kid and it has kept me on the fence with purchasing! HA!