Previously I wrote about how to buy produce and prepping produce when you get it home. Today I’m going to delve into some of the devices that can speed things up further.
There are all sorts of devices and gadgets that will help save time with preparation. While I’m all about gadgets at Hectic Manor, honestly you don’t need that much. My recommendation would be to start with the bare bones and build from there. If you find yourself performing a particular kind of prep all the time and you discover a gadget you know you’ll use…take the plunge. I would strongly recommend against getting a gadget you think you might use. Those are the sorts of things that clutter up the back of cabinets and end up littering garage sales tables. My Pasta Maker is an example of just such a gadget. Of course, I won’t get rid of it because someday I’m going to make homemade pasta from scratch. Or Hectic Wife will put it in my casket when I’m dead and buried! She’s just not a gadget fan like I am.
Time Saving Devices
If you’ve got to have more than that, get a good cutting board. Or two. Don’t get glass, while they’re pretty…they’re going to dull your knife in no time. Personally I use a lot of plastic boards, but my kids have made wooden ones (thank you wood shop!) and I use those too. You don’ need to spend a fortune, but having a superior knife and a cutting board is all you must have to do preparation right.
Of course, there are other time-saving devices. If you have a colander, it makes washing your produce a lot easier. And clear containers for storage are a huge plus so you can look inside without having to open them. It’s also helpful to have a pair of kitchen shears. At the very least, a pair of scissors dedicated to food usage (so you don’t get bits of wrapping paper in your snipped chives). Don’t laugh…my chives looked like they were full of glitter one year when I didn’t realize my shears had been used for an emergency birthday present wrapping session. I’m not sure I’m every going to live that one down!
While I personally don’t use one, I know a lot of people who would forego the Progressive and get a Mandolin. These are used to make thin slices, so you can slice your potatoes really thin (for potato chips, for instance). You can also use a Mandolin to slice cabbage for coleslaw. I’ve even seen recipes that slice apples on the Mandolin and then either bake them or dry them (either in a dehydrator or in the oven). Don’t worry, as a true Gadgeteer, I have not one, but two Mandolins…so I’m sure I’ll be writing about them in the future.
The last thing I would consider adding to the tool collection would be a salad spinner. This device allows you to wash your greens and other salad items and then remove the water. While you can simulate the process with a colander, I’ve found that a salad spinner does a better job. It’s a nifty addition to your kitchen toolbox.
Make Your Time Count
Remember my onion story? I wasted a lot of time chopping every night of the week. Now that I’m doing that in a batch, I do a better job cooking. Why? Because I’ve got the ingredients right at hand and the temptation to just order out or make a frozen pizza is significantly reduced.
I’ve also learned that if you cut your produce into smaller pieces it cooks faster. Slice those onions paper thing. Practically shave the carrots. Don’t worry if you can’t master the thin-slicing skill right away. It takes practice, but fortunately you’re going to eat every night, and if you’re cheap like I am…oops, I mean frugal like I am…you’ll be able to practice your knife skills daily.
If you’re cutting onions, there are a couple of tricks to keep from crying. I mean, we’ve got lots of TV shows for that (This Is Us anybody?). There are three tricks that I’ve used to avoid the weeping. First, cut the root end off the onion and discard it. I have it on good authority this is where the tear-inducing chemical resides. Secondly, start cold water running in your sink and cut the onions as close to the water. This certainly works for me with most onions. It’s the trick I use the most often. Lastly, put the onions in the freezer for a while before you cut them. You don’t actually want to freeze them, so 10 minutes will suffice. This works somewhat like the cold water trick. In either case, lop off the root end first…that has more science stuff behind it. Oh, there’s a fourth trick…but you’ll look like an idiot doing it. Grab a slice of bread and put it partway into your mouth. Let some hang out so that it’s right beneath your nose. Supposedly this absorbs the gases that irritate your eyes. Of course, as soon as I heard about this I had to give it a try and it worked. But my family thought I had gone crazy. Well, crazier! Probably not recommended if other people are around. Just sayin’.
If you’re prepping any citrus (oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, etc.), roll them around on the countertop while applying pressure with your hands. Then peel them as you normally would. This has been a lifesaver for me over the years. The skin peels off so much easier when I do this.
If you’re prepping strawberries, after you wash them, grab a drinking straw. Put a strawberry on the countertop (or even better, over the open end of a soda bottle. Then press the straw through the bottom of the strawberry until it breaks through near the leaves. This is called the hull, by the way. It’s what grandma meant by hulling the strawberries…I’m sure she’ll be impressed with your high-tech solution!
As somebody from Northern Illinois, much too close to Iowa, we had a lot of corn growing up. I was great at shucking (you know, ripping the leaves and stem off), but I stunk at removing the kernels from the cob prior to cooking. There’s only so much corn-on-the-cob you can eat…and it’s a pain to freeze it with the cob. After nearly 50 years of struggling to cut the kernels from the cob, a friend of mine told me you can use a Bundt pan to shear the corn. Every time I hear Bundt Pan I think of the scene from My Big Fat Greek Wedding…if you don’t know what I’m talking about go watch the movie! Anyway, shuck the corn. Then take the denuded ear and put the pointy end into the hole in the Bundt pan. Push downward with just enough force to break the kernels from the cob. If your corn is sufficiently ripe, the kernels will be freed and automatically collected into the pan. If you can’t get the kernels to pull away, you may still have to use a knife to cut them free, but the pan will act as a stand so the cob will be easier to handle.
Wrap-Up
Like so many other things in life, buying fresh produce is great…but to get the most out of it you have to put in some time. Hopefully you found several ideas and gadgets that will make your kitchen life easier. I’m sure there are tons more! I’d love to hear from you in the comments. What tips and tricks do you use to get the most out of your fresh produce dollars?
And as always, make it a great day in the kitchen!
Links From The Post
