CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Five Kitchen Tools I’m Thankful For This Year

baking tips

Five Kitchen Tools I’m Thankful For This Year – These are the five kitchen tools I am thankful for this year.

Five kitchen tools I am thankful for this yearThere are so many things that I’m thankful for this year. My new husband, our new house, our new life together. And of course…all of you, my readers! I am having such a blast with this blog and it’s been so much fun to share my recipes with you and hear all about your experiences recreating them.

Six months ago, I was wishing I could share my passion of food with more people. And here I am, with almost 17,000 views for this month alone! I never thought I’d be here. I am so thankful to each and every one of you, because without you, I wouldn’t have had the strength to continue doing what I love.

Okay, enough with the mushy stuff…let’s talk about some other things I’m super thankful for this year: kitchen tools! A few months ago, I talked about important baking tools for beginners. But now, I want to talk about kitchen tools that help make my life so much easier. These will make some great gifts for the cooks and bakers in your life, if they don’t have them already. So let’s get started!

1. Wooden Spoons

variety of wooden kitchen utensils spread apart

I use these every single time that I cook or bake. Wooden spoons are perfect for stovetop cooking because they won’t scratch the bottom of your pots or pans (like metal will) and they won’t melt under extreme heat (like plastic will). This is the exact set I have. I love this set because it has spoons of every length. I use the really long ones to stir large pitchers of sangria and punches. The shorter ones I use to stir sauces or mix batters. And what’s even better, they last forever! I bought them in 2011 and they work just as good today.

2. Garlic Press

Using a garlic press to press garlic

This is my favorite new tool for 2016. Honestly, I am shocked that it took me this long to buy one. I hate mincing garlic. It takes me forever to get it the small size that I need for most recipes. No more! This press is so amazing because you just place a clove or two in the compartment and just press it and bam! The garlic is now the perfect mince. And it takes 1/10 the time! Love love love this tool. Here’s the one I have from OXO Grips.

3. Citrus Squeezer

green citrus squeezer

This tool is my one of my favorites for the same reasons as the garlic press: (1) it cuts out time and (2) requires much less effort. I hate squeezing lemons and limes with my hands. I just don’t have the strength to get all the juice out. And you better believe I am getting every drop of juice out of that piece of citrus. I could use my juicer but sometimes I only need to squeeze 1/2 a lemon directly into a sauce and I don’t want to wash the whole juicer just for that. Enter: citrus squeezer. This is the one I have from Bed, Bath, and Beyond. I love it because it’s sturdy, machine washable, and it has two sizes (one for lemon and one for lime). And it keeps the seeds from getting into your food. Love it!

4. Food Processor

food processor full of vegetables

I used to be resistant to using a food processor. But I just couldn’t deny how much easier it made many of my baking tasks. I use it to evenly crush cookies and crackers for pie crust, make sauces, and chop nuts. Have you ever tried to chop nuts by hand? Those dang nuts go everywhere and make it impossible to chop many at time. Now, I just throw them into the food processor, pulse 3 or 4 times and they’re ready to go! I don’t have a fancy shmancy food processor either. This one is super affordable and perfect for your average kitchen.

5. Cookie Scoop

metal cookie scoop

Last but not least…the cookie scoop. You have probably heard me talk about how much I love this scoop in many of my cookie recipes. And today is no different. This scoop is one of my favorite tools because it helps scoop even portions. This is so important for cookies because your cookies will not finish cooking at the same time if they are different sizes. But I don’t just use it for cookies. I use it for meatballs, ice cream, scooping into muffin tins, anything with a batter, really. It makes cooking and baking much less messy and produces perfect, even sizes. I cannot live without it! They no longer produce the cookie scoop I have, but here’s a similar one.

I hope you found this list helpful! Did you learn anything new? What tools are you thankful for this year? Let me know in the comments below!

Some of the links above are affiliate links, which pays me a small commission for products sold. But all the opinions are wholeheartedly my own. Thank you for supporting Certified Pastry Aficionado!

Comments

    • Sharon says

      Thanks so much! I never used them growing up but then saw them all over the Food Network shows and finally gave in. I’ve never looked back since!

      Reply

  4. Tiffany says

    These are excellent picks! Especially the garlic press. I kind of hate mincing garlic and having my hands smell like it for so long! Thanks for the picks 🙂

    Reply

  8. Amanda says

    Great selection. I need some quality wooden spoons…not the cheap dollar store variety. The citrus squeezer is great…love mine. I really need a good garlic press. I’d rather do it with a knife rather than clean my old one.

    Reply

    • Sharon says

      Thanks so much! This garlic press is amazing. So well-made and sturdy. And I can just throw it into the dishwasher so I don’t have to spend any time scrubbing it at all!

      Reply

  10. Savannah says

    I LOVE that you put wooden spoons on this list! They are my absolute favorite and I often choose them over plastic. I really do need to get a garlic press, I spend WAY too much time chopping it by hand. thanks for sharing <3

    Reply

  11. Dominique says

    I never thought I needed a food processor either! But now I have one I use it all the time! I love the look of your garlic mincer too – mine is so old and broken, I may need to invest in one of those!

    Reply

  12. Michelle says

    My best kitchen took this year is a new blender I bought and a garlic presser. Think I’m gonna buy a good processed next year.

    Reply

    • Sharon says

      Ahhh the blender! Such a good one! I wish I used mine more. I usually just pull it out for smoothies, shakes, and sorbets. But I hope to find more uses for it!

      Reply

  14. Just Jo says

    What a great idea for a post – I love the concept of Thanksgiving (even though I’m English). For months now I have been journalling three things I am grateful for every morning and evening and it is really changing my outlook on the world. I love your selection of kitchen goodies – those garlic presses are a great design aren’t they?

    Reply

    • Sharon says

      Aw I love that idea! It’s so important to remember what you’re thankful for. And yes, I love love love my garlic press!

      Reply

  18. Kate says

    Great kitchen gadgets. I’m definitely not grateful for my garlic mincer. But if I had a nice new one that actually worked – then I might be!

    Reply

  20. Taylor says

    I have to agree my garlic press is my favourite! And congrats on all those milestones, how exciting!!! I’m almost surprised you don’t have more pageviews – your photos are stunning and your blog is so professionally set up 🙂

    Reply

  23. GiGi Eats says

    My favorite kitchen tool that I am so very thankful for …. Is one that I am showcasing on Tuesday’s video – OH MAN, so so so pumped to show it off, it’s the best thing EVERRRRR!!

    Reply

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