Jah Gadgets

This is the first of a 3 part series that documents the stuff that I use in my kitchen. My kitchen is small and I'm pretty selective about what makes the cut, and I also do a ton of research on most things kitchen-related, particularly if the item costs more than 50 bucks or so. The result is that if a product makes this list, it's proven itself over many years and has been used hundreds of times.

We're starting off the series with gadgets. Things that don't quite meet the standard of essential tools, but are helpful accessories that I use every week to make meal prep faster and less stressful.

The Benriner Super Slicer

If you have been reading my tips at all, you know that I mention this thing all the time. Being able to thinly slice something quickly is actually really super useful. In my opinion, this is the best, sharpest mandolin slicer money can buy.

Microplane Rasp Grater

Fresh fruit zest, grated garlic and grated ginger are part of almost every week's meal plan. This is America's Test Kitchen top-rated pick. Yes, thats right. I read multiple reviews on rasp graters. So you don't have to.

Braun MultiQuick 5 Immersion Blender

I was a little hesitant buying one of these, but now that it's part of the team, I can't imagine not having one. I use this to blend hot soups in the pot, make quick smoothies, whisk and emulsify dressings, make whipped cream, dutch babies and much more. Clean up is so easy that it's a no brainer to pick this up instead of a standard whisk or blender.

Thermoworks Thermapen/Meater Pro

Two for one here. If you pick one get the Thermapen- every serious home cook needs a good instant read thermometer, and this is the best one to get. Use it for meats, breads, quick breads, burgers and more. The Meater is a bluetooth enabled thermometer that connects to an app and makes cooking a roast or poultry in the oven or grill a no-brainer.

OXO Good Grips 11-Pound Stainless Steel Kitchen Scale

I use this scale for every baking project not only because baking usually requires precise measurements, but also it allows for faster cleanup when you can skip measuring cups. I also use this to measure coffee beans every morning.

"Vintage" Manual Juicer

I use fresh juice in recipes almost every week, and this type of juicer is not only very retro-cool, but is also amazingly efficient at squeezing juice. Mine is legit old school and built like a serious working tool so I can't imagine anything ever going wrong with it. But if something did, I would go right to eBay and find another just like it.

Helen Chen’s 5-Inch and 7-Inch Strainer Basket

I use these to scoop hot pasta and vegetables out of boiling water quickly without the need to drain the pot or pull out a strainer. Sounds pretty minor until you have used one of these for a week or two.