If you are gluten-free or have food allergies, cooking is a necessity. Here are my top picks to make your cooking easier. I have included some options for a variety of budgets.
Instant Pot
Aside from my pots and pans, the Instant Pot is my go-to kitchen appliance.
It replaces your slow cooker and cooks food quickly. Just put your meat in, and it is cooked in 15 minutes. I love it for cooking soups, winter squashes, and potatoes. Throw your rice in the pot, and it cooks without fearing it burning. Walmart has a basic version for a very affordable price of $59.99 and a premium version with more features for $149.99.
Cooking is exhausting, so I try to make the
most of my cooking time. I love to cook soups and stews in the winter because they make large quantities with minimum effort. I make double batches and then freeze them in portions for days when I don't have the energy to cook, or for meals I can easily take with me for travel or functions.
I love my Souper Cubes. I purchased them a long time ago and recently received some additional items from Souper Cubes to try. If you don't have any of them, I recommend the 1-Cup Tray. It is my most-used item. I have frozen everything from meats to pie in the cubes. I bag the frozen food and have it ready to go whenever I need it.
Immersion Blender & Mixer
A blender and a mixer are kitchen essentials, but often we don't have the space for both. I bought this handy combination immersion blender and mixer before Thanksgiving, and I love it. The immersion blender is so convenient for blending soups and sauces. It switches quickly over to the mixer or whisk attachments for baking. It takes up less space than two separate attachments.
Some small kitchen essentials
Sometimes, the little things make a big difference when you cook. Here are some smaller items that I use constantly in my kitchen
Meat Chopper This chopper breaks up the ground beef or chicken so you never have clumps in your sauce. It is only $5.99 at Walmart.
Adding flavor to your dishes is so vital in gluten-free cooking. I love a microplane to zest a lemon or grate some ginger into the pan. This can also be used to grate some chocolate over your latte. Microplane Zester & Cheese Grater is $15.50 at Walmart.
Toaster bags turn any toaster into a safe one for someone with Celiac Disease. These are must-haves for travel. They are easy to pack and fit most toasters.
Flexible cutting boards are an easy way to make cutting boards safe in shared kitchens. I like to pack one in a suitcase if I am traveling somewhere I will be cooking.
Check out my Amazon and Walmart stores for more recommendations. All links posted are affiliate links and are eligible for commission.