In all honesty, you do not have to be in the best kitchen. You just have to think harder on the things that you are planning to buy.

We are here with a list of things that will help you create the best kitchen you can afford. Here are things every frugal kitchen should have!

Frying pan

Let’s start with the basics. A frying pan is an all-rounder, you can use it for stir fry, stew, and other quick and easy meals.

Purchasing a non-stick pan also reduces your need for oil,  you also clean it easier. Although the theme of this article is frugal, you should consider buying a higher quality frying pan because this is going to be your best friend for years to come.

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Chef’s knife

Investing in a chef’s knife is also a good idea if you do not really have the budget for a decent kitchen. A chef knife is simple and very versatile so rather than purchasing a knife set, you should consider purchasing a more expensive chef’s knife instead.

Investing in a good quality chef knife can improve your cutting skills since it’s sturdier and the blades will last a considerable amount of time.

Purchasing cheap knife sets is a known trap since the blades get dull easier and the low quality of the knives results in many more accidents compared to a decent one. You’ll end up buying a lot of knives if you opt for a cheap, low quality kitchen knife.

Save more money with a chef’s knife.

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Spatulas and ladles

Of course, you’re not going to cook food with only your hands. You’ll also need spatulas and ladles to help you with your stir-fries, bacon, and eggs.

Considering you bought a non-stick frying pan, you should consider purchasing spatulas that are not made of metal. This way, you won’t scratch the surface of your non-stick frying pan and degrade its non-stick quality.

While it’s true you can cook using spoons and forks, it’ll be much easier and safer when you use spatulas and ladles. There’s a limit to what you can cook with only a spoon and a fork.

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Chopping board

Another essential kitchen item that is most often overlooked is a chopping board. Of course, you need a place to chop your meat and vegetables.

You don’t have to invest in something expensive. Look at the cheapest chopping board you can find and that will be good enough. As long as you’re gentle, the chopping board can last a considerable amount of time before you need to change it.

You do not have to worry about your chopping boards. These are cheap and replaceable but most of all, you really need them in your kitchen.

If you have some extra money to spare, you should also consider purchasing two chopping boards. One is for vegetables and the other is for meat. A frugal kitchen does not mean it should be an unsanitary one.

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Pots

If you still have enough money left, then you can consider buying a pot. Pots are also a versatile cooking tool you can use to cook all sorts of dishes. You can cook stew and create a considerable amount of soup for your family and guests.  You can also use it as storage when it’s not in use.

It’s also nice to have other cooking equipment ready when you need to cook a lot.

Frugal kitchens should have a couple of pots and pans on the ready but if you do not have the budget having one frying pan and a single pot would be good enough.

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There are a lot of things to consider when it comes to being frugal. Each and everybody has their own different budgets and each has its own idea of what frugal really means.  It is inevitable that we have different takes and outlook.

If you have more to spare, here are a few other things you can purchase for your own kitchen 

Colander

Colanders are used in various situations. You can use it to drain pasta as well as clean vegetables. You’d be surprised with all its many applications and how frequent you will use this on the daily. 

The plastic colander would be good enough but a metal one would be much better,  that way you can use it as a strainer for when you cook some oily dishes like fried chicken and french fries will be worth it.

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Can opener

In today’s time and age, cans can be opened fairly easily. Some cans come in their own can openers but a considerable amount of canned goods do not have this feature.

Sure you can use your knife to pry it open, but let’s be honest, a knife is not made for that kind of work. Worse, your knife might The can opener will definitely help you out moving forward,  they provide an easy, safe, clean, and consistent way of handling cans.

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Storage containers

Another kitchen stuff that’s often overlooked is storage containers. Storage containers can be an important part of your frugal kitchen. Aside from minimizing waste, these can also provide a way to organize your condiments so that you will have more space for other things.

Purchasing a couple of storage containers can be a life-saver. Having a designated place for your condiments is a luxury that you would definitely enjoy.

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Vegetable peeler

Peeling vegetables can be a daunting task. You can definitely use your knife to do the work,  but you will also be sacrificing a considerable amount of time doing so. Purchasing a vegetable peeler when you have the extra money can save you a lot of time when it comes to preparing your ingredients.

Vegetable peelers come at different price points,  however,  a cheap and simple vegetable peeler will work just as fine. 

Peeling vegetables is also one of the many causes of cuts. If you can’t control your knife when you are cutting vegetables, you can cause serious damage to your hands. The vegetable peeler is a better, cleaner, and more reliable alternative to consider.  It’s so safe that even your kid can do all the vegetable peeling.

SHOP VEGETABLE PEELERS

And there you have it -a list of things every frugal kitchen should have,  and some when you have money left to spare.

You might also like…

• 7 Things You’re Forgetting to Clean in Your Kitchen
• 5 Must-Try Baking Soda Hacks That Actually Work
• 5 Kitchen Organization Ideas That Will Save A Lot of Space
• How to Make A Small Kitchen Look Bigger

Don’t forget to save this to Pinterest for later!

The post 9 Things Every Frugal Kitchen Should Have appeared first on Scoop of Thoughts.

To help prevent your kitchen from further contamination, we’ve compiled a list of things and parts of the kitchen that you should take a look at when you clean the kitchen

Reusable grocery bags

While we praise you for using eco-friendly reusable grocery bags, we would also like to point out that you need to clean these more often than not. 

Tossing these in your washing machine every now and then will prevent further bacteria build-up. You see, after a couple of uses, the grocery bag, being made out of cloth, absorbs water from thawed frozen food products, and food packagings.

Some people let the bags hang under the sun to dry it out but it would be much better if you actually washed then dried them. This way, they won’t smell bad. It’ll also discourage you from ever using it again.

Cabinets and pantry

Most often, our overhead pantry houses different kinds of cockroaches and critters that you wouldn’t like to be near your food. This happens alarmingly often because our sight is constricted, and we open the pantry every now and then.

You should try and take out all the items in your pantry and search through the corners to see if there are any spider webs as well as cockroach eggs around.

This isn’t only limited in the pantry. It also applies to cabinets. So to make sure that they are always clean and pest free, try to give your cabinet and pantry corners a rub down once or twice a month. 

Constant cleaning will deter any critters from housing on your pantry and cabinets ever again. 

Can openers

A kitchen tool that’s often overlooked when it comes to cleaning are can openers. For a very versatile and useful tool, a can opener is really, really hard to clean. Those small cogs and blades make cleaning a nightmare.

Well, it’s time you face your fears because according to a study by the NSF international, can openers have been known to house E. coli, salmonella, mold, and yeast – all of which are super dangerous to your health.

You can breeze through cleaning a can opener using an unused toothbrush. The bristles allow for a deep and thorough clean. It would also help if you soak it in hot water before you start brushing.  This breaks down all the accumulated gunk and mold.

Sure, it may take a little bit of extra time to clean compared to other kitchen utensils, but considering your loved ones it should be a well and worth it endeavor.

If possible, also soak them in hot water after you use them. 

Dishwasher

When was the last time you thoroughly cleaned your dishwasher? This is a question that often stuns the majority of housewives. We honestly don’t blame them, why would you clean something whose purpose is to clean?

Well for starters, dishwashers clean a lot and some dishes will inevitably have leftovers stuck in them. Eventually, these leftovers will find itself in crevices and places where they shouldn’t be. Regardless, you wouldn’t want them to prolong in your dishwasher.

Related: 10 Dishwasher Hacks That’ll Make Your Life Easier

In some cases, you will actually taste these leftovers on your newly-dishwashed dishes. Eww.

You do not have to clean them that often, just having a general idea that you should is good enough. You can simplify the cleaning process by using lemon and a little bit of baking soda. 

Using baking soda also leaves your dishwasher shiny and looking brand new.

Kitchen gaskets

Another part of the kitchen that you should pay attention to is the different kinds of rubber in your appliances and utensils.

Start by looking through your blender gasket. This is the rubber ring located at the bottom of your blender.

Now, find your way through your spice rack. There, you will most likely find rubbers seals located on every container’s cover.

You should also take a look at your refrigerator gaskets. These are the rubber parts located at the back of the refrigerator door.

Now that you have a general idea of what we are talking about. These rubber gaskets are things you should consider when you clean the kitchen. They are very integral in keeping things sealed and airtight. Failing to maintain these rubbers will result in food going bad faster. 

Maintaining these kinds of gaskets is fairly simple. Just give them a decent rub down every now and again when you clean the kitchen. 

If they’re beyond cleaning, better change them.

You can buy new ones here:

• blender gasket
• refrigerator gasket

Refrigerator coil

One thing that you definitely have not cleaned in a while is your refrigerator coil. Refrigerator coils often hoard a lot of dust. Dust build-up results in your refrigerator not performing at its best. This makes it harder for it to cool and maintain its temperature.

Refrigerator coils that have not been maintained properly can result in a more expensive electric bill as well. 

Dedicating time for it every half a year will improve the performance of your refrigerator considerably. 

Knife Block

The knife block is one of those things that can go for years without ever being cleaned. Its thin slits make it difficult for us to really clean it thoroughly.

Having to clean your knife only to put it in a place where the blade is exposed to mold and unimaginable bacteria can be very disheartening.

If you have a knife block, consider cleaning it once in a while. If not, you can switch to using a magnetic knife strip instead.

Which parts of your kitchen have you forgotten to clean? Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments below! We’d love to hear from you.

You might also like…

• 5 Pricey Kitchen Gadgets That Are Totally Worth It
• 5 Kitchen Gift Ideas- Gift Guide for Busy Home Cooks
• How to Make A Small Kitchen Look Bigger
• 5 Kitchen Organization Ideas That Will Save A Lot of Space

Don’t forget to save this post to Pinterest for later!

The post 7 Things You’re Forgetting to Clean in Your Kitchen appeared first on Scoop of Thoughts.

KitchenAid stand mixer

If you have the budget and you definitely want to see your home cook become better, then there is no gift that rivals the Kitchenaid stand mixer. This versatile kitchen tool is a stand out when it comes to kitchen appliances.  they are sturdy, reliable, and can be used to simplify a lot of processes.

This also opens up your kitchen to a lot of experimentation as well as access to complicated dishes.

Want to make your own pasta? The KitchenAid has attachments to help you with that. 

Want to sell some cakes? The KitchenAid is robust and can handle commercial use.

This kitchen gadget is definitely a game-changer and your home cook will love you for it!

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Baking pans

There are different shapes and sizes of baking pans out there that you can give to your home cook that he or she will definitely appreciate.

From pizza pans to muffin, and donut pans, there’s wide selection to choose from. But why choose when you can buy them all? Right?

But honestly, the type of pan depends on you and what you like your home cook to bake and cook.  Either way, baking pans are a safe and easy choice when you are in a hurry to find the perfect kitchen gift. Just make sure that they fit the oven.

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Kitchen thermometer

There are a lot of kitchen thermometers out there, and although they are cheap you shouldn’t discount their worth in a kitchen.

Kitchen thermometers are a must for home cooks. They provide amazing temperature control. From knowing whether the meat is cooked right to identifying the best temperature for your oil, there are a lot of applications for a kitchen thermometer that will surely bring a smile to your home cook’s face.

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Instapot

Now if you want your home cook to sit back a little and relax, then an instant pot is one of the perfect kitchen gift ideas. Then, your home cook can pretty much make anything since an instant pot can stand as a pressure cook, a slow cooker, or a rice cooker, and many more!

Generally considered as a set it and forget it kind of kitchen appliance, the instapot can provide you with a breathtaking meal while saving time. You’ll have more time to watch a movie or spend time with your family. An instant pot will surely provide a refreshing experience for your home cook.

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Knife sharpener

Home cooks love their knives, it’s a cook’s best friend. That’s why it’s important to take care of them.

A dull knife will often result in accidents and cuts, which makes the cooking experience all the more undesirable. On the other hand, sharp knife can improve a cook’s preparation as well as minimize accidents.

Purchasing a knife sharpener is a loving way to show your home cook that you love and care for them. 

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You might also like…

• 5 Pricey Kitchen Gadgets That Are Totally Worth It
• 5 Gifts for the Cook Who Seemingly Has Everything
• 5 Kitchen Organization Ideas That Will Save A Lot of Space

Don’t forget to save to Pinterest for later!

The post 5 Kitchen Gift Ideas- Gift Guide for Busy Home Cooks appeared first on Scoop of Thoughts.

Well, we have scoured the internet and included our own reviews to bring you a list of pricey kitchen gadgets that are totally worth it.

KitchenAid stand mixer

Well, there’s a lot of debate going on about different kitchen gadgets around the internet. But for us, there is no kitchen gadget out there more worthy than the KitchenAid stand mixer!

If you are into baking, then the KitchenAid stand mixer is an important investment that you should think about. It comes with a flat beater, a dough hook, and a wire whisk making all your baking process easy.  It’s also super sturdy. You can bake all day and the KitchenAid will keep up to whatever beatings you can think of.

The KitchenAid also comes with different attachments that let you do different tasks not related to baking. It’s truly one of the most versatile kitchen gadgets that’s worth every penny.

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Related: 12 KitchenAid Hacks To Know That Will Make Your Life Easier

Dutch Oven

Well, dutch oven gas comes at various prices. It’s safer to actually buy more expensive dutch ovens. This workhorse can be used in a multitude of ways. You can use it on your countertop, your oven, and even on your grill. Plus, this versatile kitchen tool can last you a very long time and can also take whatever abuse.

We’re confident that this kitchen gadget will be your best friend in your cooking journey.

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Quality Knife

A lot of people fall prey in buying a set of knives when in all actuality you only need a really good one. Investing in an expensive and high-quality chef knife might save you from a lot of cuts and accidents along the way. 

You see, cheaper knives get dull easier which results in uneven cuts, as well as unwanted accidents. High-quality knives retain their sharpness for a considerable amount of time, this results in quality and fine cuts as well as minimal accidents.

Investing in a single knife provides you with an experience that cannot be gained using cheaper knives.

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A decent chopping board

Chopping boards are one of the most underappreciated kitchen gadgets in the kitchen. Sure, they can easily be damaged and are easily replaceable. However, investing in a good quality chopping board is something you never really knew you wanted.

A high-quality chopping board can last you a lifetime if maintained properly. Thus, saving you more money in the future.

These are built from sterner stuff which means there’s a pretty high chance that your food will not have bits and pieces of the chopping board on your food.

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Digital cooking thermometer

Finally, we have the digital cooking thermometer!

A lot of people actually disregard thermometers when they are cooking. Some can live for years on end without ever needing them. However, if you are looking to better yourself as a  home cook, then a thermometer will set you apart from the rest.

 Digital thermometers can be used to read the temperature of whatever you are cooking.  This provides you with exceptional control. Trust us, this is something you would want in your kitchen.

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You might also like…

• 5 Slow Cooker Hacks That’ll Save You So Much Time
• 5 Ways to Use The Food Processor That You Never Thought Of
• 5 Must-Try Baking Soda Hacks That Actually Work
• 9 Pressure Cooker Hacks That’ll Make Cooking Faster & Easier

Don’t forget to save this to Pinterest for later!

The post 5 Pricey Kitchen Gadgets That Are Totally Worth It appeared first on Scoop of Thoughts.

Food would taste even yummier if you cooked it in an enormous kitchen that has a 9-foot ceiling with huge windows that let the sunlight inside.

Don’t feel bad when you have a small kitchen. It has its advantages over the big ones. You don’t have to spend an hour looking for something because everything is easy to reach and there are only a few spaces to look.

Physically increasing your current kitchen is not possible unless you renovate your house and knock off those walls. Thankfully, there are a few tips and tricks that enlarge the look and feel of a kitchen without removing any walls.

Any kitchen size can feel big with just a few tricks. Here we have outlined nine ways on how to design your kitchen to get a roomier feel and create more storage.

Get shallow cabinets

Think outside the box. Not all cabinets have to be at a depth of 24 inches. Others are at a 12 or 15-inch depth. These types of furniture are for the upper cabinets.

When you use a slimmer lower cabinet for one area, you get to enjoy some advantages. You get more floor space. A small space may not look that much, but it makes a big difference for a small and tight kitchen.

Reduce your hardware

Have your kitchen looking fresh and breezy by removing clutter and reducing hardware. 

Start by using integrated reach-in pulls and touch-activated latches in your cabinets to create clean lines that will make your kitchen appear bigger than ever.

It even decreases the small items to bump into when you cook. You can also avoid getting your clothing caught. 

You’ll have minor hassles and more space for you to move in when you prepare.

Related: 12 KitchenAid Hacks To Know That Will Make Your Life Easier

 Rethink the double sink

Often, people request a double sink. While a large one has its uses, it can take up a lot of space. 

If you are willing to compromise, go for a single sink instead of a double sink.

You’ll be reaping a lot of benefits from giving up your double sink. It will open more storage options and more counter space.

Especially for stock cabinet line that has limited size options, a single sink is the better option.

If you have a sink that’s in the middle of a window that has no room on both sides, it creates a dead zone on the space next to it. This part can’t be used to accommodate anything. 

On the other hand, if you have a smaller cabinet, it frees up more room on both sides. 

Thus, it gives more options for placing the other cabinets.

Install cabinet lighting

To light up a room and make it look big, you need good lighting. Often, only a ceiling fixture is put in the center of the kitchen which may not be enough to light up the whole room, you can get some Caravaggio pendant to do the trick.

Dark shadows around cabinets can virtually make a space look smaller than before. You can add lighting above, under, and inside the cabinet to make the room look brighter and bigger. 

Related: 5 Kitchen Organization Ideas That Will Save A Lot of Space

Choose a compact dishwasher

Compact dishwashers come with an 18-inch width size. Compared to the standard 24-inch full standard dishwashers, compact dishwashers are becoming popular.

It not only saves you more space, but it also fills up faster. Having to run on a full load more often means you don’t need to wait a day between washes to fill it up.

For a small family size, this compact dishwasher is a perfect choice.

Get a slimmer refrigerator

Put your fridge on a diet and choose a slimmer refrigerator. What people usually want is the large fridge that they can get, but the vast models with more than 36 inches end up full of clutter or are half empty.

If you are the type of person who does not cook often, or shop for fresh vegetables and meat frequently, it’s better to get yourself a slimmer fridge. This adjustment leaves more room for other essentials.

Related: 10 Fridge and Freezer Hacks That Are Beyond Genius

Have panel appliances

Get a lighter feel with fridges and dishwashers designed to have a door front of your choice. 

This look helps them blend into the kitchen cabinets which allows for a more fluid look. Overall, it results in a larger and airier kitchen appearance. Don’t worry, this upgrade is not expensive and will lead to a luxurious and sophisticated look.

Mirror your backsplash

When you’re out in the kitchen preparing dinner, you might feel like space is more cramped. To fix this, get yourself a mirror for the backsplash. It opens up the sightlines and makes the room appear bigger than usual.

A tinted glass gives a moodier and smart effect as it makes the reflection look subtle.

Related; 5 Slow Cooker Hacks That’ll Save You So Much Time

Use shelf uppers

For a small kitchen, having upper cabinets help in providing more space. Removing it isn’t a practical option. 

Open shelves on the wall create the perfect space to put tableware, storage bins and jars, and even cookbooks. These shelves give the room an airy feel. 

A few shelves provide the window a space to breathe since the room looks less stuffed. It’s not even necessary to have shelf uppers but removing the doors from a cabinet gives the room a breezy look. You can choose to put back the doors later if you want.

Have glass doors on cabinets

If you don’t want to remove the cabinet doors, you can opt for the glass door cabinet to lighten the upper shelves.

Make the look much airier without having to change the storage by switching the cabinet doors to glass inserts. You can display your beautiful collection of drinkware.

All in all, these are nine ways to give your small kitchen a new look and make it look big.

You might also like…

• 5 Ways to Use The Food Processor That You Never Thought Of
• 9 Pressure Cooker Hacks That’ll Make Cooking Faster & Easier
• 10 Habits of People Who Always Have a Clean Home
• 10 Dishwasher Hacks That’ll Make Your Life Easier

Don’t forget to save this to Pinterest for later!

The post How to Make A Small Kitchen Look Bigger appeared first on Scoop of Thoughts.

However, did you know that there are a handful of KitchenAid hacks that you might not have heard of?

Well, welcome to Scoop of Thoughts where we share KitchenAid hacks that will definitely make your life easier.

There are different kinds of KitchenAid hacks. Some improve the way you handle the kitchen tool, like making small adjustments to help it work efficiently while some provide extra measures that help you in the long run. 

Whichever the case, we have listed them all!

But before we delve into that, here are our most recommended KitchenAid mixers to buy!

1. KitchenAid 5-Quart Artisan Tilt-Head Stand Mixer with Pouring Shield – Best Overall

2. KitchenAid 4.5-Quart Classic Series Tilt-Head Stand Mixer – Best on a Budget

3. KitchenAid Professional 5 Plus Series Stand Mixer – Best For Making Bread

4. KitchenAid 6-Quart Professional 600 Series Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer – Best For Professionals

Making The KitchenAid More Efficient

Here are some KitchenAid hacks that will make your cooking process more efficient.

Using a towel

Cleaning up flour off the floor and all over the place is an exhausting task to even think about. You can use a towel and place it on top of the KitchenAid to prevent any unwanted puffs that will leave your floor messy.

Shaky situations

There are many times where your Kitchenaid shakes to the point of worry. This might be due to a heavy portion placed in, uneven surface, or max settings. 

Regardless, all you need to do is to place a chopping board or a kitchen towel underneath it to prevent it from shaking too much!

Storage

When talking about the kitchen, you can never have enough storage. The same goes for storing KitchenAid attachments. They come in different shapes and sizes and are really a pain to store. They can also be a pain to find whenever you need them. 

You can keep them tucked away in the KitchenAid bowl. Simply line the bowl with a cloth and store them. Viola a simple, easy way to store those attachments and accessories.

Dust problems

The main problem for people who don’t bake a cake daily is the accumulation of dust on there KitchenAid. Dust is the main problem that they have to deal with every now and then. 

Somehow the glossy design attracts all the dust, and nobody wants dust in their bread. Well, a surefire way to never deal with dust again is by simply placing a cloth over your KitchenAid. Like something your granny used to do.

This method prevents dust from accumulating on the outside as well as on the inside thus preventing any slow damage to your KitchenAid.

KitchenAid Hacks You Will Surely Love Trying

Now, onto some of the KitchenAid hacks that require using it. Here, you might find amazing ideas you have not thought of before.

Shredding

Pinching, and separating meat for pulled pork or even chicken can be such a chore. But not with the KitchenAid, it isn’t.

Yes, you definitely read that right, what once was a task that took a considerable amount of time and effort now can be done hands-free in just minutes.

Who else is excited for more frequent taco nights?

Oh, you can also use it for jackfruits and just about anything that needs a decent shredding really.

The KitchenAid flat beater add on is perfect for this!

Mashing

You can also use the KitchenAid for sweat-free mashed dishes. Simply pop in your choice of potatoes or cauliflower and let the KitchenAid do the heavy lifting.

While mashing with the KitchenAid, you can put in the butter and condiments. Saves you time and energy without any setbacks. That’s a win.

Chilling your batter and bowl

Another quite intimidating task is whipping cream. You have to get this right otherwise you end up with soggy, wet cream. Well, chilling or freezing your batter and bowl might offer you some space for errors.

It’s a lifesaver in desperate times of need and it is a KitchenAid hack that is surprisingly used even by professionals.

Making ice cream

Who doesn’t love ice cream? Well if you are looking for an enjoyable time with your kids, you can use the KitchenAid to make ice cream. With its strength to mash and shred, you can pretty much reduce the labor into good clean fun, putting the ingredients in while the mixer does its thing.

What more, you can also simply pop out the mixing bowl and place it in your freezer for a couple of hours and eat it then and there.

For recipes, this book is filled with ice cream recipes that’ll make you drool!

Add-ons

For a considerable amount of money, you can purchase a handful of add-on for your KitchenAid. These add-ons range from juicers to pasta slicers. All of which makes the KitchenAid a more prominent part of the kitchen.

If you have a certain affinity to a kind of dish, purchasing a KitchenAid add-ons would be well worth it.

Purchasing bundles allow you to go beyond just mixing.

Unkitcheny Stuff

Well, there are people who use the KitchenAid for its rightful purpose while there are some who go far beyond even our own expectations. Here are some of the weirder, non-edible stuff you can do with a KitchenAid.

Making playdough

Another fun activity you can do with your kids is creating their own playdough. It requires mixing as well as mashing, so using the KitchenAid seems suited for the job.

Mixing the ingredients, again, leaves you with less work and more play. It’s pretty convenient.

Watch the video below on how to make playdough using KitchenAid.

Mixing your own personal detergent

Not wanting chemicals in your clothes is a pretty understandable concern, even more so when children are involved.

People have started creating their own personal, natural detergents using their KitchenAid which is amazing. You can use the grinder attachment to grind bars of soap into flakes for a laundry soap.

You can also check out this recipe for making your own personal detergent.

There you have it. KitchenAid hacks that make your life easier. We hope you also loved our bonus segment which solidifies how much of a boss a KitchenAid is in the kitchen. 

You might also like…

• 5 Slow Cooker Hacks That’ll Save You So Much Time
• 9 Pressure Cooker Hacks That’ll Make Cooking Faster & Easier
• 10 Dishwasher Hacks That’ll Make Your Life Easier
• 5 Must-Try Baking Soda Hacks That Actually Work

Don’t forget to save this to Pinterest for later!

The post 12 KitchenAid Hacks To Know That Will Make Your Life Easier appeared first on Scoop of Thoughts.

They also argue the fact that slow cookers are, well, slow. Unable to cater to the busy lives of people on the grind. Let’s talk about that later. 

For now, slow cookers have had a hard time selling because of this. But we’re here to share with you slow cooker hacks that will save you so much time!

But before anything else, here are the best slow cookers just for you!

1. Crock-Pot 6-Quart Cook & Carry Programmable Slow Cooker – Best Overall Slow Cooker

2. All-Clad Ceramic 4-Quart Slow Cooker – Best High End Slow Cooker

3. Breville Fast Slow Pro 6-Quart Multi-Cooker – Best Programmable Slow Cooker

4. Procter Silex Portable Oval Slow Cooker – Best Mini Slow Cooker

Prepare early

Breakfast is a bummer, especially after night time crunches and nights out. The best thing you will be able to prepare is cold cereal.

With a slow cooker, you can prepare dishes and have them overnight. Nothing feels better than breakfast in bed prepared by past day you. You don’t have to worry about cooking breakfast if you wake up late, too.

Just heat things up and you’ve got yourself an awesome breakfast!

Allow multitasking and flexibility

Slow cookers are a star for dishes that you can set and forget. They also bring out the best in a lot of dishes when prepared and used properly. 

While the time constraints are a bit of a disappointment to some, others find joy in them. Housewives would often insert cooking on a slow cooker on their time when they feel like sitting down and being lazy or when they’re multitasking.

Imagine being able to prepare dinner in the morning and have so much time to binge on that Netflix series you enjoy. Let the slow cooker do the work for you and by the time dinner comes, you present your loving family with a dish served by stars.

Keep food warm

You can use a slow cooker to keep food warm during the whole ordeal of a party. You can also place tortillas on the lid of the slow cooker to keep it warm because whatever you have on that slow cooker will surely go well with it.

Cleaning is a breeze with slow cooker liners

Cleaning can be a complicated process when it comes to slow cookers. They are big, and might not fit in your dishwasher. But you can skip all that with slow cooker liners. This way you can enjoy all the delicious goodness without the mess.

Pre-preparation

You can also prepare the ingredients beforehand. Portioning them by packs and using them when you feel like letting the slow cooker do the work saves you a lot of time in the long run.

Slow cookers can be a hassle when you are just starting out. However, this kitchen appliance can bring you joy and time. The time you can spend with your family or time you can have for your self. 

True, there might be very few ways you can utilize it when time is of the essence. However, that is not why the slow cooker is loved. A lot of people love this magical cooking tool because it rewards you for waiting. Better yet it rewards you for spending time on different, more important matters.

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So today, we are listing down different peculiar ways on how to use a food processor!

But before that, here are the best food processors to get for yourself and try these hacks on!

1. Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor – Best to Buy of 2020 

2. Hamilton Beach 8-Cup Food Processor – Best Affordable Food Processor

3. Cuisinart 3-Cup Mini Food Processor – Best Small Food Processor

4. The Breville 16-Cup Food Processor – Best High-End Food Processor

5. Ninja Master Prep Blender/Food Processor – Best Values Food Processor

Create crumbs and breading mixes

Non-oven, no-bake cakes have been a trend recently and the food processor has always been a must from the start of it all.

You can use it to turn fruits into delicious icings or filings as well as crush crackers that will serve as the cake’s base.

Crushing crackers into finely even crumbs has been an undiscovered forte of the food processor until recently. Now, restaurants rely on them for prep as well as creating breading mixes that adore all their fried dishes.

Shred and grate

Cheese grater has been a staple kitchen device used for cheese and sometimes only cheese. There are some larger grates used for carrots and potatoes. But often people revert back to the trusty old trusty knife.

Not picking into graters but food processors can definitely do the work that your grater can if not even better!

Need something for pasta? Food processors got you.

Pizza? Foor processors got you.

Need a quick way to prepare cheese during a get-together? Food processors can do it without getting your hands smothered in cheese and in a fraction of the time as well.

Mince nuts

Nuts can be an amazing part of your diet. A trail mix packed as a snack provides the most nutrition out of all the snacks you can find at your local grocery store. However, a lot of people only use it in that particular way.

Another quick tip on how to use a food processor properly is learning and understanding the power these props can go. Needless to say, food processors can mince the living hell out of any nuts out there. 

With that in mind, you can start making different kinds of food with it on your own. Peanut butter, cookies, cake, and a whole lot more. You can even use it in your dishes like pistachio-crusted lambs or a nice delicate ingredient to a dish that you want to make.

Make salsa

No doubt the best when it comes to mixing and creating dipping sauces. Food processors can mix, cut, chop and blend fresh flavors into sauce bases pretty well. 

Need pesto for your pasta? No problem just chunk a few cloves of garlic and a whole lot of basil in there and let it do its magic.

You get the idea.

Create dough

At this point, we might have a harder time looking for things a food processor can’t do. Well, you might be surprised at how many people use this as an alternate mixer for creating dough. From pasta to loaf bread and intricate bread that are infused with herbs or nuts, your food processor can do it! 

There is no doubt this amazing kitchen device can do wonders, leveling up your kitchen and opening to new possibilities 

And there you have it, how to use a food processor and different ways to use it!

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We have happily compiled a few of these baking soda hacks and we would be happy to share this morsel of knowledge with you.

But first, here are the best baking soda to buy to try these hacks with!

1. Arm & Hammer Pure Baking Soda

2. Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda) (2 lb.) by Pure Organic Ingredients – Eco Friendly

3. Baking Soda (1 Gallon) by Earthborn Elements

Unclog the clogged

Now, before you start taking it the wrong way and proceeding to never use baking sodas in your pastry dishes ever again. Baking sodas actually are a better alternative to decongesting a clogged sink.

A baking soda paired with boiling water as well as vinegar helps you unclog a toilet or a sink super easily without having to resort to chemical-based cleaning liquids that can harm you or those you love.

Microwave magic

Putting dishes that have that certain smell into a microwave can be a conflict on its own. This minimizes a microwave’s potential as well as deprives you of a warm, hearty meal.

Well, if you have baking soda in your pantry, then you have nothing to fear. Baking sodas have properties that help eliminate those unwanted stenches. You can add two tablespoons of baking soda in a microwave-proof bowl, add water and have it spin around your microwave for a few seconds.

Doing this also loosens gunk and will be easier to clean after.

Essential for outdoors

Baking sodas can be an alternative for an indefinite amount of essentials. Experienced outdoorsmen actually prioritize procuring this amongst everything else. Here are a few reasons why baking powder should be essential to your outdoor activities.

• Toothpaste – it can be a nice alternative to toothpaste as well as mouthwash
• Shampoo – it can also substitute as a shampoo when you need it
• Insect Bites – mixed with water to create a paste, baking sodas can be a nice quick way to treat insect bites
• Deodorant – although it comes with no scent at all, baking sodas can also serve as a non-scented deodorant

As you can see, baking sodas can pretty much be the go-to for all your essential needs. Providing you with a considerable amount of storage space for times when you really need it.

Cleaning Cheat

Baking soda is also very sought after material when it comes to cleaning the household. You can use it to bring out the shine on those silver spoons as well as faucets and marble.

You can also use it to clean hairbrushes and eliminate any unwanted scent from carpets and floor mats.

Laundry

You can also employ the power of baking sodas in your laundry. 

Want a gentler, non-chemical way to clean baby clothes? Baking soda. 

Want your white apparel to look brand new? Baking soda.

Baking soda offers a nice alternative to bleach which corrodes clothes and makes them more susceptible to tearing. It’s also great for clothes to help soak up a sweat faster.

It also can be used to bring out the shine in your kicks and eliminates the athlete’s foot.

Want more baking soda hacks? Here’s ten more!

And there you have it – baking soda hacks that will definitely up your knowledge. Tell us, what do you primarily use baking sodas for? Have you tried the baking soda hacks listed above? Which is your favorite?

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In this article, we are going to tackle some of the more popular pressure cooker hacks as well as other procedures that make cooking efficiently. 

But before we get into that, here are the best pressure cookers to buy!

1. Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus – Best Overall Pressure Cooker

2. Breville: the Fast Slow Pro Multi Function Cooker – Best Foodie Buy

3. Fissler Vitaquick Pressure Cooker with Glass Lid Set – Best Quality Pressure Cooker

4. PressurePro 4 Qt Pressure Cooker – Best Small Pressure Cooker

Plan ahead

What separates a good cook from an amazing cook is the ability or interest in preparing and understanding the procedures as well as the time you need in cooking a certain dish. Having ingredients on hand also makes the process more efficient.

By learning the time it takes for produce to be fully cooked and tender you will surely save a whole lot of time.

Being prepared is not a pressure cooker hack, it narrowly falls into the category of common sense. Learning the strengths and weaknesses of a certain pot increases your chances of bringing out the best dish.

Create the best combinations

Pressure cookers can be a nice wingman to dishes that don’t usually require them. You can utilize the time-saving perks of the pressure cooker into your everyday dishes. Here are some examples:

Using a decent sized pressure cooker, you can season and broil your baby back ribs to fall-off-the-bone state and finish it off on the grill. This hastens the procedure as well as eliminates the hustle and bustle of your oven. 

You can also use a pressure cooker alongside a fryer for that quick and easy fried chicken. This ensures that there will be no undercooked chicken in your serving, saving you from embarrassment and salmonella.

Pressure cookers can help you bring out a lot of difficult and time-consuming dishes easily in half the time. Learning to integrate the pressure cooker will turn your hectic cooking sessions into a breeze.

Cook porridge

Lastly on our list of pressure cooker hacks is cooking porridge. Simply add chopped ginger and instead of water add broth of your choice. 

Then, put in the meat or dressed chicken portions and let it boil for a good 10 minutes. This will give you tender meat and hot rice porridge that can warm up any lazy day.

Try this chicken congee recipe:

Create delicious dips

For the true culinary connoisseur, a fine dip does not come in a bottle from your local grocery store. No, it is made with finely diced spice accompanied by a medley of fruits and vegetables. Cooked to perfection and blended into a fine. One of a kind sauce that knows no equal.

Using a pressure cooker, you can most definitely create the meanest and most delectable sauces your guests would love. 

You can pretty much list all the sauces, from salsa to barbecue sauce. And you can do them all using just only the pressure cooker. Adding a few fruits and/or vegetables on a pressure cooker really breaks them down to a level you can easily work with.

You can also create genuine fillings and fruit-based icings for cakes and cookies.  If you have that creative and curious drive, you will surely find comfort on the rewards you will reap from this expedition.

Cook pasta

Now, on to more minimal pressure cooker hacks that you will surely love. Spaghetti has been around for as long as people remember. And so does the preparation and cooking procedures for it.

But, did you know that you can cook spaghetti directly alongside the sauce?

Start with your sauce base, build around it, and use the pressure cooker to its fullest. After you can add the pasta and leave it there for 5 – 8 minutes depending on the pasta. Let the pressure cooker cool down. What awaits you at the other side of the lid is an astonishing, mouthwatering dish that is fit for a king.

Check out this video on cooking spaghetti in a pressure cooker:

Caramelize

One surefire way to wow your audience is bringing out a dish that has a depth of flavor as well as in color. Learning to caramelize vegetables as well as searing meat before letting the pressure do the heavy lifting can do wonders for your dish.

Searing meat gives you that appetizing color and caramelizing vegetables and spices help it break down easier which means more time for the flavor to spread and incorporate with one another. Other vegetables provide the dish with a darker, rich color that’s as pleasing to the eyes as it is to the tongue.

Cook bread

We have grown with the mentality that you cannot cook bread without a decent oven. For a considerable amount of time, the world seems to agree. As time passes and technology progresses. We finally got to the point where you can use a pressure cooker to fully cook bread. 

We are not joking! Go ahead and try it with any recipe you want. Be it sour bread or even your run off the mill loaf you. You will absolutely be surprised.

You can try this recipe below: 

Defrost 

We all, at some point in our lives, forgot to defrost produce. Whether that be beef, pork, or even fish. We can all agree that the most difficult meat to defrost is the chicken. 

A chicken would definitely take half a day to fully thaw and that is not efficient at all. Nevertheless, you can close your eyes, put it in the pressure cooker along with water and a few seasonings. And let all your problems *swish* *swish* *swish* away.

Of course, if you have the time, you would definitely do it the right way. But having this as one of the best pressure cooker hacks at the back of your mind might come in handy in times where desperation fills your kitchen.

Cook rice

Ever heard of cooking minute rice in just 58 seconds? Well, that might be loosely true with a pressure cooker. Simply add your rice with equal portions of water and rice and bring it to a boil. 

Let it cool down after and then put it in a low and slow fire. After a few minutes, you’d be surprised at how fast this process is compared to doing it using a different kind of pot.

Here’s how to do it:

And that’s it for our list of pressure cooker hacks. Which hacks have you tried and which ones do you want to try?

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