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These Useful Kitchen Gadgets Are Ideal For Summer
We eat a lot of produce and do a lot of grilling during the summer, so I have a few useful kitchen gadgets that I tend to use more frequently during the warmer months. With that in mind, I thought that today I’d tell you about some of the most useful ones!
While coming up with the list below, I made an effort to feature summer kitchen gadgets that I either own and use, or could honestly say I would use if I did own them. I also set a price limit of about $15 for each item, because if you’re going to buy a seasonally specific kitchen tool, you probably don’t want to spend a lot of money on it!
Related: 7 Useful Egg Gadgets That Are Actually Worth Buying
So without further ado, here are my top 10 kitchen gadgets for summertime and outdoor cooking. They’re sure to make your summertime food prep quicker, easier, and more enjoyable! :-)
10 Useful & Affordable Summer Kitchen Gadgets
1. Hamburger Patty Maker
This is one of my favorite kitchen gadgets that I’ve bought recently. It’s called the Patty Caddy, and it makes it so easy to make your own burger patties.
Just divide your prepared and seasoned meat mixture into equal-sized portions, then add them to the the patty maker one at a time, layering the included discs between each portion. Then just put the plunger on top, press down, and voila — perfectly formed burger patties, ready for the grill.
Related: 11 Of The Most Useful Kitchen Tools You Can Get For Under $20
2. Watermelon Slicer
I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve cut a watermelon and ended up making a sticky, soupy mess of kitchen. This watermelon slicer all but eliminates the mess, because you can slice the watermelon while it’s still in the rind! (I haven’t been able to get perfectly cubed pieces yet using my watermelon slicer, but I’ll take oddly-shaped watermelon pieces over a messy kitchen any day!)
Related: 7 Useful Gadgets You’ll Want In Your Kitchen This Summer
3. Pineapple Corer
You can save a lot of money on pineapple by buying whole ones and cutting them yourself, and this pineapple corer/slicer makes it easy to do. Just slice the top off your pineapple, insert the corer, and press down and rotate. This nifty gadget removes the tough, fibrous core and slices the pineapple at the same time!
4. S’mores Maker
You don’t have to have a campfire to make s’mores — you can use this nifty little s’mores maker to make s’mores in your oven or on the grill. Just assemble them, lock them in the cage, and cook until the chocolate is melty and the marshmallows are gooey.
(Or for a super fast and mess-free way to make s’mores, try a microwave s’mores maker. Yum!)
Related: Campfire Foods: Easy Things To Cook Over A Fire
5. BBQ Digital Temperature Fork
I love outdoor cooking gadgets that do double duty, like this barbecue fork that doubles as a digital food thermometer! Use the fork to move, flip, and turn food on the grill, and use the thermometer function to check the temperature of your meats.
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Using a digital thermometer is without a doubt the easiest way to ensure your meat is perfectly cooked! We have a small digital thermometer that we’ve used for a couple of years now, but it’s small and easy to lose track of. I think this barbecue fork would be a great a solution, since it would be much harder to misplace!
6. Telescoping Roasting Sticks
These roasting sticks first caught my eye because of their fun colors, but I really fell in love with them when I read that they were extendable! They extend from 12 to 32 inches, so you can adjust the stick itself instead of moving closer to or away from the fire. Great for roasting marshmallows, hot dogs, or whatever else you like to roast, and everyone can claim their own favorite color. (I call dibs on the yellow one!)
7. Avocado Slicer
Avocados are a little tricky to slice, and when a sharp knife is involved, things can get ugly! (In fact, a few years back my daughter Britta cut herself with a kitchen knife and needed stitches, and the Urgent Care doctor asked her if she’d been trying to slice an avocado. She hadn’t been, but it goes to show how common avocado accidents are!)
This 3-in-1 avocado tool is much less sharp than a kitchen knife, yet does it all — the slicer edge slices through the tough skin, the round grabber tool pops out the pit, and the fanned section evenly slices the flesh. It’s an especially handy tool to have if you’re working with a lot of avocados, so guacamole lovers should take note! ;-)
8. Pineapple Ice Cube Mold
So perhaps this item doesn’t necessarily qualify as something that would make your life easier, per se… but it is really cute! :-) Pineapples are a symbol of friendship and hospitality in many places, so I love the idea of offering visitors a refreshing beverage filled with fun pineapple-shaped ice cubes.
9. Strawberry Huller
If you’re making filled strawberries, strawberry shortcake, or any recipe that uses a lot of strawberries, a strawberry huller is a must-have. It makes the work so much easier, and you’ll wonder how you ever lived without one! (I use mine when I’m making my favorite homemade strawberry ice cream — check out the recipe below!)
Related: Homemade Fresh Fruit Ice Cream
10. Fruit Infusion Lid For Mason Jars
During the summertime when so many fruits are in season, I love making fruit-infused water. This fruit infusion lid is perfect for that, and it fits right on the top of your favorite mason jar! Just pour some water into the jar, add some fruit, and pop the lid on. The lid allows the water through while keeping the fruit inside the jar.
Do you have any favorite summer kitchen gadgets or outdoor cooking gadgets?
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