15 genius products that will transform your kitchen (and how you cook)
The kitchen’s going to be your new favourite spot
If Facebook relationship statuses were still a thing, then the one we have with our kitchen would be, ‘it’s complicated’. It’s a safe haven for many to unwind by whisking and sautéing their way through each step of a recipe. The sound of a tadka’s sizzle melting the last bit of stress you were holding between your shoulder blades. But for the hopeless chef, the kitchen can quickly turn into a war zone. Aprons can’t handle the sauce explosion. Sweat and tears make a salty mix on your face as you fail to pull off the quick onion dicing hack you saw people raving about on Instagram. And the worst is yet to come – the clean-up.
Researchers will say that their studies found cooking and baking to have a calming effect on people. Allowing you to explore your creativity, making you feel more capable and happy, triggering your brain’s reward system.
While our faces may say otherwise (resting bitch faces can’t be corrected, we tried), we’re happy for those who are blessed with the ability to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of cooking. But if you’re like the rest of us, you need the back-up of some genius kitchen products.
As Indians, jugaad runs in our blood, but there are some things for which you need to call in the cavalry. The genius kitchen products that we’ve found will transform your kitchen to make it a safe space rather than a stress factor in your life (we’re exhausted enough as it is).
Whether you’ve recently discovered the joys of cooking, want to give your kitchen a bit of an upgrade or are simply looking for genius kitchen products to make life a little easier, there’s something for you in our selection.
Upgrade how you cook with these 15 genius kitchen products
Heat-resistant over rack guard
Raise your hand if you’ve been personally victimised by your oven rack. Sure, oven mitts are great to get a handle on a hot tray or pan that you’ve had baking but firstly, they don’t always save the rest of your arms from the sizzling sting of the metal racks of the oven. And, how often do you really whip out the oven mitts? We can’t be the only ones who double up the bottom of our kurta and use that, right?
These heat-resistant (up to 446°F/230°C) silicone additions to your oven can act as a guard for any possible burns. They’re easy to install, pretty pliable and you can snip the edges according to the size of your oven rack.
Bag clip with spout
No more stale cereal for our midnight snacks (here are some more snack options). This nifty gadget from IKEA is a bag clip that’ll seal it up, and help you pour too.
A packet of chips, Chocos, granola, pretty much anything you’ve been straining yourself to wind up and clip — this solves your snacking woes with one clip.
OK, we may be sounding like munchies monsters right now but this can be used on pretty much any packet that needs easy access – coffee, flour, rice, sugar, and more.
No more sauce or oily messes on your counter top with these tongs that come with an inbuilt stand that keeps them propped up between uses.
Use them to cook or serve food, they can be pretty multipurpose. And the mix of metal and silicone makes these long-lasting and grippy. Though, only you can really save yourself (and your white tops) from splatter and stains.
Pot clip for utensils
More often than not there’s a dirty cutting board or small plate next to your stove that functions as the spot for your wooden spoons or ladles that you’re using to cook. While it’s not necessarily bad, why add another item to your growing pile of dishes in the basin?
Clip on this little attachment which features an arched slot to hold the handle of your spoon. This can be added to pretty much any pot or pan and is heat-resistant.
Stove knob cover
Can we have a moment of silence for the cold shiver that runs down your spine when you’re out somewhere and the thought of having left the stove on pops up in your head? Or maybe it was one of your kids meddling in the kitchen and accidentally turned the knob. You know, especially the old stoves where you need to be sure the dial is down and no gas is leaking.
With this addition, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that no bumping into or curious little hands will run the risk of burning the house down. They’re easy to install and require no special tools. They’re also heat resistant with child-proof locks. Ensure that you measure the dial size and the distance between each on your stove to ensure they’re a good fit.
Adjustable pot rack
Who doesn’t love a little DIY project to give ourselves a sense of accomplishment and a hit of happy hormones? Make this yours for the day and stack up your pots and pans in one spot. You can make this vertical storage in one corner of your countertop to give yourself more space in the drawers and cabinets.
The best part is that you can adjust the height of each rack to accommodate the size of your pots or pans. Place all the eight tiers that this comes with on one side for pans and push it up against a wall. You could even place it on its side horizontally and use it as a rack for lids, cutting boards and more.
Collapsible whisk
More than helping us figure out why the pressure cooker ki seeti hasn’t gone off yet, we require the most assistance while trying to open the drawer with a rogue whisk jammed against the top. So when we discovered collapsible whisks in our search for genius kitchen products we’ll admit we almost shed a tear out of gratefulness for its creator.
You get two essential whisks in one. A flat whisk can be used for sauces and gravies. Give it a twirl and you’ve got yourselves a balloon whisk at the ready. The traditional metal wires of the whisk are covered in silicone to make them more durable and suited for non-stick cookware. Another turn back to flat and you can store this whisk with ease.
Peeler with container
While peeling, slicing and dicing vegetables for a meal, you end up with a messy salad of its own on your countertop as various peels start piling up.
Get rid of the mess and clean-ups with a peeler which has an attached container which collects the peels as you go. Empty it out directly in the wet waste bin once you’re done, instead of dirtying another plate for scraps or cluttering your chopping board.
Adjustable measuring spoon
You may have inherited your grandmother’s measuring cups all clumped together on one ring, and they are helpful for large measurements. But for messy and chaotic cooks, such an adjustable measuring spoon will make keeping up with a recipe super easy while not letting your masala burn as you dig out yet another teaspoon from the drawer.
A simple slide on the handle will adjust the volume. Whether you’re using wet or dry ingredients, the range of this adjustable measuring spoon is 1ml to 15 ml and 1/4 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon.
Silicone food covers
No list of genius kitchen products will ever be complete without the mention of food covers. They can be washed and reused as lids on dishes, glasses and even cut vegetables and fruits to keep them fresh longer.
Stretch them out over any surface for an air-tight seal. The scalloped edges can make anything look like a pretty little flower.
Bottle and glass washer with double-sided brush
If you like to Speedy Gonzales your way through your dishes, then this is going to be your new favourite addition to the kitchen.
This is probably the easiest way to clean your glasses, jars and bottles. With suction cups at the bottom, stick this device onto any surface. With a sponge head, brush inside and another one on the side, all you have to do is soap up your glass and give it a couple of spins on this and then rinse.
Garlic press
We’re garlic girls at heart but the tedium of peeling and chopping has made us deny ourselves this pleasure on more than one occasion.
Every mom has her own garlic peeling hack (here are some cooking secrets from professionals), you can follow that up with this rocking garlic press which will crush and mince the garlic for you in a matter of seconds. All you need to do is apply some pressure and rock the handle back and forth and voila! Do we smell garlic bread somewhere?
Magnetic knife rack
We’ve always had eyes for racks like these in fancy cooking shows and films. There’s something about having a knife rack out in the open that says, “yes, I am an adult with a real job. I will definitely not be dropping any of these on my own foot by accident.”
This is going to add a MasterChef vibe to your kitchen instantly, making storage simpler and access to your utensils convenient. Pop on any utensil really, not just your knives. There is a strong chance that we’d use it to keep track of our house and car keys as well.
Bamboo reusable kitchen towel roll
20 sheets, 100 times reusable after a wash and also made using eco-friendly materials? Sign us up.
The bamboo kitchen rolls by Beco are going to become a staple in your kitchens very soon given their durability and effectiveness. You can use these to clean pretty much anywhere – the countertop, bathroom, the coffee table, even your pet’s litter (though you’ll want to designate this one as the official litter cleaner).
Multipurpose organiser
When they tagged this multipurpose, they weren’t kidding. This metal organiser has multiple storage compartments for a variety of kitchen essentials. Stack your bottles on top and use the tumblers for cutlery.
The main attraction is the centre of this box which comes with six containers to store your spices and daily essentials like rice and dal for easy access, while a door will keep those containers held safely inside and sealed from outside contaminants. We love the tiny spoons that come with it that you can use for the spices and then slide back into their storage slots, which are also very well ventilated for drainage after you wash them.
This is the ultimate space saver. It makes a great gift too for friends who have smaller kitchen spaces.