The holidays are over, the decorations stored away for next year, and so on. Even if Santa brought everything you asked for, there are probably some little items that you can buy for yourself. Consider these items an investment in your gluten-free lifestyle; after all, we prepare more of our own food than most people and anything that makes our job easier is like a gift to ourselves. These items are small, inexpensive, and easily found in kitchen stores, discount stores, or online.
[1] Lettuce Knife: Usually reserved for cutting lettuce, this serrated plastic knife cuts pizza, brownies, cake, etc. in nonstick pans without scratching the surface. They’re sturdy, dishwasher-safe, and don’t take up much space.
[2] Kitchen Shears: Heavy-duty scissors that snip herbs, cut up whole tomatoes in the can, cut pizza, trim pie crust, cut parchment paper into circles… the list is endless. They’re sturdier than sewing scissors and should be dishwasher-safe. I store them at different locations in my kitchen so they’re always handy.
[3] Microplane: A special kind of grater for Parmesan cheese, lemon or orange zest, and the like. Originally a woodworker’s rasp, someone got the bright idea of using it in the kitchen and it has transformed graters. They come in several shapes and sizes; I prefer ones with a handle. Be sure to store your microplane in its plastic holder because it will grate anything it touches, including your fingers.
[4] Measuring Cups: We all have the standard-sized measuring cups (1-cup, 1/2-cup, 1/3-cup, 1/4-cup) for measuring dry ingredients, but you’ll save tons of time with cups in the non-standard sizes, such as 2-cup, 3/4-cup, 2/3-cup, and 2-tablespoons (sometimes sold as coffee-measures). When a recipe calls for 2 cups of flour, you measure once with the 2-cup measure, rather than twice with the 1-cup measure; same with the 2/3-cup. If a recipe calls for 2 tablespoons, using the 2-tablespoon cup means measuring once, rather than twice with a 1-tablespoon measuring spoon. This also allows for more accurate measurement of dry ingredients because we risk mistakes each time we fill a measuring cup. Measuring once rather than twice cuts the risk by 50 percent. Look for measuring spoons in odd-sizes like 2/3-teaspoon, 1/8-teaspoon, too.
[5] Oven thermometer: Place this thermometer in your oven and read it when your oven is fully preheated to make sure it’s actually baking at the temperature shown on the oven’s temperature indicator. Improperly-calibrated ovens can be a prime source of baking failures because they’re either baking too hot or not hot enough.
Well, that’s my list. What other small, but incredibly convenient gadgets are saving YOU time in the kitchen?
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