Best Multi-Purpose Kitchen Gadgets

In this series we focus on tools and tips for getting organized, and maximizing your use of space in the kitchen. Today our focus is on the best multi-purpose kitchen gadgets. The number of kitchen tools that exist for the home chef are astounding, and likely taking up more than their fair share of space in your kitchen. I don’t know about you, but there are only so many kitchen tools and appliances that I can fit in my small kitchen. In this article, I will provide my best tips for eliminating some of those extra items by taking advantage of some of the best cooking tools that can serve multiple purposes.

My Favorites

• Best New Tool: Braun Immersion Blender
• Multi-Purpose Cooking: Instant Pot Duo Crisp
• Simple but Powerful: Meat Tenderizer
• Multi-Purpose Prep: KitchenAid Stand Mixer

Best New Gadget: Braun Immersion Blender

Honestly, this is my new favorite pick for the best multi-purpose kitchen gadgets. For a long time I thought that an immersion blender was just a specialty tool for ‘fancy’ chefs, and didn’t deserve a spot in my little kitchen. One day, after trying to make a homemade Mexican sauce and having to rotate batches through my blender, I finally bit the bullet and bought one. After a lot of research, I landed on the Braun Immersion Blender. I was attracted by the great reviews as one of the best handhold blenders, but also surprised to learn that the tool could do a lot more than just blend soups, sauces, and mashed potatoes directly in the pot (which is already a great thing).

The thing that takes up the most space in kitchen appliances is the motor, and between all of your different tools/appliances think about how many of those motors you currently have taking up countertop or cabinet space. The great thing about the Braun immersion blender is that the motor part is detachable, and can be used to power all kinds of great attachments and accessories^*. The basic mixing attachments replace my old hand mixer. The food-processor attachment replaces my bulky separate food processor for chopping vegetables (and even replaces my cheese grater). The blender attachment replaces my stand blender, although I have a tip for even more space savings. Skip the separate blender accessory, throw your ingredients in a large mixing bowl, and use the immersion blender in the bowl to accomplish the same thing. I love my OXO 5-Quart Plastic Mixing Bowl, and it works perfectly for this.

^*This buying guide from Braun can help you choose the best tool for you.

Multi-Purpose Cooking: Instant Pot Duo Crisp

The king of the multi-purpose kitchen gadgets; I can’t remember what life was like before I had this. I do remember periodically wrestling my old rice cooker out of the cabinet, and while that experience remains largely the same, the Instant Pot can do so many more things. Continuing my minimalist theme, I chose to get the Instant Pot Duo Crisp which combines a pressure cooker and small air fryer in one device which makes it the best multi cooker for my small kitchen. The air-fryer lid is still pretty bulky, but at least I’m not storing two full separate appliances.

I don’t really cook instant-pot recipes much, but for rice, marinated pork tenderloin, shredded pork, or any recipe that calls for cooked/shredded chicken the instant pot is my tool of choice. It is also my go-to for perfectly steaming vegetables al dente; add one cup of water, pressure cook on high for zero minutes and quick release immediately. I also remove the pot and place it on the stove to cool if we are not eating immediately in order to prevent the vegetables from continuing to cook. It is important to keep the vegetables out of the water, and I like my collapsible steamer basket which I can drop directly in the bottom of the pot. It is dishwasher safe, and folds up nice and small for storing.

Simple but Powerful: Meat Tenderizer

I never would have thought that my cooking would require me to grind my own spices, but then I ran into Indian recipes. Who knew that I would ever purchase black mustard seeds, much less have a need to smash them into powder. Ever bought whole cardamom pods? Another Indian recipe later, now I have; but wait, now the next recipe wants me to remove the seeds from the pod and smash them into powder?! While I am sure that I would benefit from a mortar & pestle set, who has room to store that? Instead, I have the flat side of my trusty meat tenderizer hammer and a zip-lock bag, and I smash away. It also worked well for breaking open the cardamom pods (just like hard nuts).

Multi-Purpose Prep: KitchenAid Stand Mixer

With the right attachment, my KitchenAid Stand Mixer could probably solve world peace. It is undeniably a one of the best multi-purpose kitchen gadgets, but at what cost? This thing is huge, and it is heavy. This is not the type of appliance that you put away in the cabinet (won’t fit) or basement (may need to hire movers). Nope if you are set on having this in your minimalist kitchen, then you are going to have to be willing to give up some of your precious counter space. For someone like me who doesn’t bake very much, it is a tough sell.  Why is it then that I still devote 10% of my usable kitchen space to this beast? Yes, I actually measured.

It turns out, even a part-time baker like myself makes pancakes from time-to-time. And you never can predict when you will need to make banana bread because your significant other mistakenly specifies 5 bunches of bananas instead of 5 bananas in her weekly grocery order (yes, this happened). Every time I need to do some real mixing, I know that I could do it by hand in one of my OXO mixing bowls but it is hard not to appreciate the sheer efficiency of the KitchenAid Stand Mixer.

Being a minimalist with a small kitchen, I tried to lean into the many accessories available. I tried this food-processor attachment, I like it as the best of my cheese graters, but as far as vegetable choppers I find my Braun Immersion Blender to be easier to use and to clean. My cooking level has not yet escalated to me attempting homemade pasta, but that attachment does look like a great option.  I am especially intrigued by these ravioli cutters. It can even work as a kitchen grinder if you are motivated enough to grind your own meat. By all appearances the KitchenAid Stand Mixer is completely impractical for a small kitchen, yet somehow I still have it on my countertop. It is easy to see why it is one of the best rated appliances. Shop deals and buy it on Black Friday like I did.

Summary

That’s it for now on my favorite multi-purpose kitchen instruments that help me fit everything I need in my small kitchen. I own and use all of the tools and appliances listed above (but unfortunately not yet all of the accessories). I have gotten tremendous value from these items, and I hope they are helpful to you as well. Stay tuned for more posts articles from our Small Kitchen Ideas series.