7 Appliances that will save you time and money when cooking

While cooking can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience, especially when cooking with kids, it can at times prove to be time-consuming and costly. With so many different appliances available to help with cooking it can be challenging to know what products are worth buying and which need to be left on the shelf.  

To help with choosing the right products for your kitchen, here are seven great appliances that will save you both time and money.

7 Great kitchen appliances to save you time and money

1. Slow cooker

Slow cookers have made a comeback in recent years and for very good reason. This easy-to-use appliance is a great investment for any kitchen, especially with the ability to throw in ingredients and leave the slow cooker to its own devices. The slow cooker offers a high return of investment given you are not only cooking cost-effective meals but also freeing up time for other activities.

Check out these 10 great slow cooker recipes.

2. Countertop blender

For the health-conscious cook, a countertop blender is a must. Blend your smoothies, fresh sauces and endless healthy dips at a touch of a button. The strong blades and swift working of this appliance will cut your cooking time in half and provide lots of healthy creations. Best Reviews has recently pulled up a list of the top five countertop blenders to make it easy for you to choose a perfect blender for your cooking.  

3. Kettle

A kettle is of great value in any kitchen, especially with the average UK household using their kettle 1,500 times in the year. It can be used to steam vegetables or to simply make a cup of tea, and, when time is of the essence, waiting around for a kettle to boil is not an option.

For any tea lovers, the Sage Smart Kettle is a pricier yet clever kettle with its five-temperature setting. For more budget-friendly options, Good Housekeeping has provided a wonderful list of great kettles to choose from. Consider an Eco kettle to ensure you only boil the water you need, saving time and money in the long run.

4. Hand mixer

Long gone are the days of tiresome hand whisking to achieve the perfect soufflé or cream-filled recipe; nowadays a hand mixer will do all the hard work for you. If it is less-style-more-value-for- money you are looking for then Morphy Richard’s have a good selection for you.

Alternatively, a more expensive option is the Dualit 700, which is not only beautiful to look at but also comes with a few additional appliances such as a measuring jug and chopper bowl.  Speed up your baking with a hand mixer, and start to perfect those Bake Off recipes!

5. Microwave

If, like most households, the microwave is the most regularly used appliance in your kitchen then it is important to invest in the right one.  If however your microwave is used solely to heat up or defrost meals then a basic microwave will suffice. If it is for more complex usage - roasting and baking of food - then something more complex may be needed.  Be sure to look out for a more energy efficient microwave when shopping around.  

6. Food mixer

For the budding bakers out there, a good, solid and reliable mixer is worth investing in. There are several popular food mixers brands to choose from such as Kitchen Aid or Kenwood, or if these prove too pricey, choose a brand that has been heavily endorsed. Here are five of the best from BBC Good Food.

7. Fridge / freezer

The fridge and freezer – either as a standalone or combined - plays an important role in keeping food fresh and ready for cooking. Choosing the right size of fridge and freezer is especially important if you are storing lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, or keeping a freezer full of prepared foods or ready meals for instance.

Furthermore, when it comes to quality, it is an appliance you won’t want to skimp on as it will essentially become part of the furniture. Trusted Reviews have compiled a great list of the best fridge – freezer combos, but remember to check the efficiency rating of your fridge – freezer as these appliances are constantly running and can be a drain on your electricity if you don’t use them correctly.

What are your favourite kitchen appliances?

From the George Foreman grill to the Nutribullet, we’ve seen lots of new appliances hit the shelves over the years.  Which appliances are your favourite to cook with in the kitchen and which ones help you to cook smarter?  Let us know over on our Facebook and Twitter pages using #SmarterLiving.