Top 10 Time-Saving Tools in the Kitchen

Sharpened Chef's or Santoku knife and a large chopping board or flexible mat set is the single most important item in your kitchen that will actually save you time and frustration.  What else should be in a typical home kitchen? What should we be using so that things are faster and easier?

Growing up in Tokyo, and living in a relatively small house even after moving to the US, I needed to be selective with my tools (and I love things that make things efficient and versatile. )

In addition to the regular things that most people have, my top 10 items I  can't live without are:

Bar mix (Immersion/Stick blender)- especially great for pureed soups. Stick right into the pan and puree.  No wait, no mess.
Toaster Oven (large enough to allow a round or square 10″ baking pan)  - No need to pre-heat, or even if you choose to do so, much quicker than a conventional oven.  Shortens baking/roasting time significantly and saves gas/electricity.
Microplane - grates everything, from hard Italian cheeses and chocolate to lemon zest.
Good vegetable peeler - OXO and Kuhn Rikon are my favorites - Good ones are so much easier to use. You can also use it to shave vegetables thin and add to salad, quick Japanese style stir-fry (kimpira) etc.
Oven-proof Skillet/pans (min 400F, including handles!) - saves time changing the pan to an oven-proof  dish etc.  Great for tarte tatin, frittata, etc.
Oven-proof dishes/plates - you can make single portions, stick right into the oven and eat from the same dish. A lot less dishes to wash.
Mesh colanders and strainers:  Drain water a lot more effectively and keeps the food inside - even angel-hair pasta.  Choose colanders that are elevated, so that the drained water (or God forbid, dirty sink) doesn't touch the food inside. I have many different sizes, stand alone, with a handle for different usages, etc. A mesh tea infuser with a handle is very handy for flouring meat.  (Saves a lot of flour!)
Spider strainer:  great for scooping up anything from water or oil: ravioli, short pasta, vegetables, fritters, etc. You can buy one for cheap at hardware/cookware stores in Chinatown.
Tongs:  for mixing salads, grabbing spaghetti, and of course for grilling. Make sure to test them before you buy. Some are much easier to use than others.
Food processor: Especially for pizza dough and slicing and chopping large amounts of vegetables. I recommend minimum 7 cup bowl. Best if it comes with small bowl, and slicer/shredder.  For smaller amounts or very fine work, I use Benriner slicer, instead.

Even though they are not the most extensive lists, you'll find them very versatile and practical, and help you save a lot of time and frustration in the kitchen!

Mari Suzuki, Cooking Optimization Expert teaches busy home cooks "the recipe for success" in the everyday kitchen. If you want to cut time in the kitchen by half, while doubling the variety at the same time -- all without compromise, find out how at "Secrets of a Kitchen Wizard" http://kitchenwizardmari.com

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