There was a time when blending tomatoes was back-breaking work, making toast bread in ten minutes was a luxury, and you only woke up to hot steaming coffee if you got up to make it yourself.
In came kitchen appliances to make cooking a joy, or at least more convenient for people who treat it more like a chore. If you are always on the lookout for kitchen appliances that will make your life easier, we have rounded up five must-have kitchen appliances.
These appliances are so essential, you are going to wonder how you ever got along without them.
Toaster Oven
If baked goods are your Achilles heel, then you need a toaster oven. Toaster ovens aren’t just for making toast - they can also be used to bake sumptuous pastries. Kitchen appliances are getting smarter every day, and if you love the idea of one appliance serving many purposes, a toaster oven is a great choice.
Toaster ovens are great at regulating temperature, so you don’t have to worry about ruining your baked goods. Also, if you are ever in a bind and don’t have access to your microwave, you can use your toaster oven for reheating your leftovers.
Turkey Fryer
With an appliance like this, you are going to wish Thanksgiving came every week. As the name implies, turkey fryers are used for frying turkey. They are often powered by electricity or propane, and for safety reasons, most people keep them outside the house.
The point of a turkey fryer is to shorten the time it takes to cook your turkey by deep-frying it. It also seals in the spices and aroma of the turkey. Despite the name, you can also use a turkey fryer to boil maple syrup or lobster.
Crock-Pot
Want to throw your potatoes in the pot and run to the store without worrying about it burning? A crock-pot is perfect for you. A crock-pot - also known as a slow cooker - is used to cook meals at a much slower rate. It simmers at a low temperature, so you can leave your meal unattended for 6 to 8 hours.
To prevent accidents and keep your meals from cooking forever, some crock-pots are designed to automatically shut off after 24 hours. Even if you don’t want to cook anything, you can use your crock-pot to keep your meal warm.
Juicer
Who doesn’t like freshly squeezed orange juice? There’s nothing like it. However, extracting orange juice isn’t the only thing you can use your juicer for. You can also use it to extract juice from herbs or vegetables that you like. It’s also used for crushing and grinding.
A juicer is such an essential kitchen appliance because you can find so many uses for it. It can also double as a food processor. If you don’t care much for store-bought juice and you are just dying to extract juice from all your favorite fruits, you need a juicer.
Convection Oven
It’s pretty rare to walk into a kitchen and not find a conventional oven, but a convection oven? That’s an appliance your kitchen needs. Unlike a conventional oven, a convection oven comes with a fan and an exhaust system. It blows hot air all around your food, making it cook quickly and easily.
Not only does a convection oven cook 25 percent faster, and gives your chicken that delicious, golden brown color, it also saves energy. It is perfect for all kinds of baking, especially cookies, pastries, and pies. It’s also great for toasting or dehydrating foods.
There’s seemingly a kitchen appliance for every purpose, all designed to make cooking as simple as possible. There’s no reason for you not to take advantage of them. These items aren’t a luxury for your kitchen, they are must-haves.