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12 Useful Gadgets for Quick and Easy Summer Food Prep

May 30, 2018

Be prepared for handling all things food this summer with these twelve handy tools.  Whether you are cleaning and cutting fruits and vegetables, cooking outdoors, or entertaining, these tools will help you be fast and efficient giving you more time to enjoy the season.

SUMMER   |   Published May 30, 2018






The summer season, more than any other, is when people tend to eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables thanks to backyard gardens and farmer's markets with fresh produce.  There is nothing better than slicing into a a fresh-from-the-garden tomato for a BLT or biting into a juicy, ripe peach as an afternoon treat.


These warm months are also when we do a lot of outdoor cooking whether it be on the grill or over an open campfire.  Why warm up the house turning on the oven when you can just as easily prepare dinner outdoors?


I'm not typically a fan of kitchen gadgets because they tend to turn into clutter rather than be helpful tools.  But.....I've actually found a few over the years that have made all the summer food prep quick and easy whether it be preparing those fruits and vegetables for eating, entertaining friends, or cooking your meal outside.  And best of all, they can help you create a special treat or meal to enjoy in less time and with less stress.


Do you have any favorite kitchen tools that help you be more efficient in your food prep?



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12 USEFUL GADGETS FOR QUICK AND EASY SUMMER FOOD PREP




Kuhn Rikon Corn Zipper

CORN ZIPPER



If you prefer to eat your corn off of the cob rather than on, or like me, enjoy freezing the fresh vegetable for use later in the year when it isn't available, then this Corn Zipper is for you.  I bought one last year and have found that it is one of those must have gadgets that you never realized you needed!  It's curved blade slices off the kernels of corn right down to the cob quickly and efficiently.



KAI Watermelon Knife from Williams Sonoma


WATERMELON KNIFE



Watermelons have thick rinds that are almost impossible to slice through without a really heavy knife.  The serrated blade on the large watermelon knife has no problem, though.  As an added bonus, who doesn't love a tool that actually looks like what it is made to cut?!?!





Onyx Paddle Ice Pop Mold

POPSICLE MOLDS



Whether you are making a simple treat for your children or want a more grown up version for yourself, there are Popsicle molds to help you create exactly what's needed to cool off on a hot day and satisfying your taste buds.

(FYI:  I just saw a recipe in a magazine the other day for Popsicle made with just ordinary pink lemonade and mixed berries that I'm going to have to try.)







Mountain Pie Sandwich Maker from LL Bean

MOUNTAIN PIE SANDWICH IRON



My favorite sandwiches cooked over the open fire are filled with cheese and pepperoni, but there are so many options to prepare inside of a mountain pie iron.  They are great for making a snack or for a meal.





Marshmallow Roasting Sticks from Sur la Table

MARSHMALLOW ROASTING STICKS



I admit I am horrible at roasting marshmallows.  It never fails that I catch the whole thing on fire and burn it into a little black cube....not exactly what you want peeking out of your s'more.   But practice makes perfect and maybe these cute marshmallow roasting sticks will give me the confidence I need to do the job right.  And again....how cute are they with those little marshmallows forming the handle!?!?




Hot Dog Forks from LL Bean

HOT DOG FORK



We are big fans of hot dogs cooked over the campfire in my family and try to do it at least a couple times a year using the same hot dog forks  I can remember using as a kid.  The flavor you get from the open fire can never be replicated inside the house.



Iced Salad Bowl to keep summer salads cold

ICED SALAD BOWL



Hot summer days and macaroni salad made with mayonnaise is not a good combination.  The base of these salad bowls can be filled with ice and extend the amount of time that you can safely have the salad sitting on the table.




Strawberry huller from Williams Sonoma


STRAWBERRY HULLER



I haven't bought one of these strawberry hullers yet, but it is definitely on my list.  This gadget cleanly removes the center hull of the strawberry with just a simple twist.  Then the fruit can be sliced, chopped up, or filled with something yummy.




Cherry Pitter from Williams Sonoma


CHERRY PITTER



Again, this isn't a tool I have bought, but for anyone making cherry pies this summer using fresh fruit, I'm sure this cherry pitter is a gadget that could come in handy.  It supposedly doesn't tear the flesh of the fruit in the same way that a knife does and preserves the juice that is so important to a delicious pie.




Sun Tea Mason Jar from Pier1 Imports


SUN TEA JAR



There is always a pitcher of freshly brewed tea in my refrigerator in the summer that has been brewed in the sun.  I like to add sugar to mine as it sits outside in my sun tea jar and will often use flavored tea bags for a different taste.  You can learn more about how I make sun tea in this post.




Hearth & Home Mini Colander from Joanna Gaines


MINI COLANDER



There are all sorts of tiny fruits and vegetables that need to be properly washed and drained when they come into the house.  And why haul out a large colander to do it all when a mini (and might I say adorable) version will do the trick?


Cuisinart Digital Temperature Fork

DIGITAL TEMPERATURE FORK



To ensure that your meat is properly cooked and done as your guests and family prefer, you need a thermometer.  This temperature fork from Cuisinart has a built-in gauge that will even give you an audible alarm when your meat has reached the desired level of doneness.








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