Food Preparation Archives - Kitchen Gadgets Maven

Best Slow Cooker For Bone Broth

Bone broth is a versatile, nutritious base made simply by boiling marrow bones in water for a long time. To get the maximum nutritional punch, you add a teaspoon or so of apple cider vinegar and simmer the bones over low heat for around twenty-four hours.

To do this on the stovetop would mean someone staying awake all night to monitor the pot and top up the water. In addition, it would require a lot of electricity. That’s why a slow cooker is a much better tool to use when making this broth.

All you do is to add the bones, cover them in water, add a bit of apple cider vinegar and you are all set. Cook them on high for an hour and then switch down to low and leave it until the next day.

It’s not difficult to get right if you have a decent quality slow cooker. In this review, we’ll go through the top options on the market today.

Best Rice Cooker For Oatmeal

by Carolyn

Let’s be honest here; our kitchen counters would probably all be full if we were to lay out every appliance. While we love the smell of freshly-baked bread, that bread maker does take up a fair amount of space.

And then don’t we all have a few impulse purchases glaring reproachfully at us when we open the cupboard? Yes, cupcake maker, we’ve seen you watching us.

That’s why the idea of adding yet another appliance to a groaning countertop might not go down well with a lot of people. But give us a chance to explain – we’re not talking about a highly specialized item you will only use once in a blue moon.

A rice maker can cook your rice and oatmeal, lentils, quinoa and several other grains done to perfection. Some models allow you to steam food, so it is a lot more helpful than you might think at first. That means it could very well deserve a spot on your counter.

In this review, we are going to work things a little differently. We found that none of the other models we tried did quite as well as the Zojirushi when it came to cooking oatmeal. So, we’ve kept this review simple with just two models. You’ll quickly pick up where we are going here.

Best Rice Cooker For Jasmine Rice

by Carolyn

Rice is a staple in many countries. It is affordable and filling. Unfortunately, cooking it without burning it can take a lot of practice. Jasmine rice has a delicate taste and is perfect for use in Asian cuisine. However, it can be harder to get right than standard rice.

Which is why so many people make use of rice cookers to ensure that their Jasmine rice always comes out fluffy and perfect.

You may have considered getting one yourself. But with the number of models and makes out there, where do you start looking? We have reviewed countless models on the market to bring you the top three models. Ready to see who the winners are?

Best Pot for Boiling Milk

by Carolyn

Do you just hate those recipes that call for boiling milk? Who doesn’t? In theory, heating milk to boiling point is simple enough. In practice, however, it is simple for the milk to be burned or to boil over. That leaves you without your recipe ingredient and with a bit of a nasty mess to clean up.

Still, you can’t make things like homemade cheese, or yogurt without risking a few pints of milk, can you? So, how do you get this tricky task right? You start by using the right cookware. In this post, we will look at your best options in this area.

Best Pan For Searing Fish

by Carolyn

If you are like a lot of home cooks, you might avoid doing fish at home because it can be a bit tricky. This is a pity because once you get the hang of it, it becomes a quick and healthy meal for you. You’ll never need to buy cooked fish again.

The trick to getting this right is simple enough. You want to sear the outside properly, while just cooking the inside enough so that it is done. That way the outside is nice and crispy, and the inside stays moist and tasty.

Your first step to getting this process right is in using the right cookware. In this review, we look at the top three options when it comes to pans to sear fish in and see how they match up.

Best Inexpensive Air Fryers

by Carolyn

Air frying is becoming an alternative for those looking to fry, grill, or roast without traditional oils. Cooks that have had to give up fried foods for health reasons are surprised at the similar taste achieved with small quantities of alternative oils and heated air.

With less cleaning and preparation, air fryers provide the crisp texture and moist interiors usually found with grease-soaked food.

This review will compare the GoWISE USA 8-in-1 Air Fryer XL vs Secura Extra Large Capacity Hot Air Fryer side by side. Examining the features offered by both will help to determine which one is the best.

Best Food Processors For Vegans

by Carolyn

Using fresh and whole ingredients in your recipes not only improves their taste it also provides you with many health benefits.

Vegan recipes will often require vast amounts of chopping, kneading, and mixing preparation. While these steps can be done manually, it does take a lot of time.

Food processors are designed to save time by breaking down food items into a consistent and uniform blend. This side by side review compares the Cuisinart 14-cup vs Braun 12-cup food processors, highlighting features that will keep your vegan cooking fast and efficient.

Best Dutch Ovens For Baking Breads

by Carolyn

Hands up anyone who can remember a parent or grandparent who used to bake fresh bread. The smell is amazing and makes you salivate, but the taste is out of this world. Store-bought bread just cannot compare.

But, with our busy schedules, not everyone has the time that it takes to get that bread baked. If only there was a simpler way…

No, we don’t mean a bread machine – we are talking about a good old-fashioned Dutch oven.

A Dutch oven is great for bread because they provide even, low-heat cooking. In this post, we will look at the top options available on the market so that you can see for yourself how they measure up. We haven’t rated these on durability, because they are all quality brands.

If properly looked after, cast iron cookware can last a few lifetimes.

Best Cast Iron Griddle for Your Gas Stove

by Carolyn

How can you pick the best cast iron griddle to use with your gas stove?

All cast iron griddles are compatible with a gas stove. When you’re picking out the right one for you, you’ll need to decide what best suits your needs.

Best Blender for Kale Smoothies

by Carolyn

It’s no secret that kale is considered a superfood, packed full of nutrients and antioxidants. Nutritionists, doctors and health enthusiasts are all singing the praises of this incredibly healthy vegetable.

Unfortunately, the drawback of kale is that it is not that tasty by itself. Although you know it’s good for you, the only way to really enjoy it is to mix it up with other, tastier ingredients so it masks the distinctive kale taste.

One of the best ways of all is to blend it up into a kale smoothie along with other ingredients. There is an almost limitless number of recipes for kale smoothies – just look it up on Google! – from the ultra-healthy green smoothie to the slightly sweeter berry smoothie with kale.

These smoothies are the perfect way to get your morning off to a healthy start, or a great afternoon pick-me-up if you want a bit of an energy boost.

Whichever flavour you prefer, the key to a great experience is to get the best blender for the kale smoothie.

A good blender will make sure that the smoothie has a smooth, rich texture that locks in all of the nutrients. A bad blender can lead to the smoothie not blending all the ingredients properly, leading to the awkwardness of little kale pieces that taste bad and get stuck in your teeth!

You might be thinking that you already have a blender, so what’s the big deal about getting on for kale smoothies? In truth, the factors that make kale so healthy (such as being very high in fibre) also mean that it is hard to break down.

Many blenders – even good ones – struggle to blend kale properly. That’s why you really need to make sure you get the best blender for kale smoothies.

To help you make the right decision and start enjoying delicious, healthy kale smoothies, here are our picks for the best blenders for making kale smoothies.