The right tools can help you to save a lot of money in the kitchen. Check out our list of the top frugal kitchen gadgets to own, and see if there are any that could enhance your money-saving efforts:
1. Canning Kit
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Canning is a great way to preserve the fresh tastes of summer and to dodge the expense of canned fruits and vegetables and jam. Purchase a canning kit; and it will pay for itself in the first season.
2. Food Dehydrator
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Like dried fruits or jerky? Then, buy a food dehydrator and you can make your own from bargain-priced fruits and meats. It may take hours to dry, but it only takes a few minutes of hands-on time to get a batch going.
3. Waffle Maker
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Homemade waffles are cheaper and healthier than frozen waffles any day. Purchase a good quality waffle iron, like the cast iron waffle iron by Rome (it'll last a lifetime), and you'll never have to buy waffles again.
4. Yogurt Maker
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Yogurt is great for you, but those individual serving cups can be expensive. The solution? Purchase a yogurt maker, and you can whip up your own yogurt for little more than the price of the milk that goes into it.
5. Slow Cooker
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A slow cooker is the busy cook's best friend. Just plug it in in the morning; toss in the ingredients for dinner; and the food's ready to eat when you are.
6. Misto Oil Sprayer
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At $3-4 a can, cooking spray is a pricey buy. Fortunately, there's a low-cost alternative: The Misto Oil Sprayer. Just fill it with your choice of cooking oil; pump it up; and it's ready to go.
7. Bread Maker
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Like fresh bread, but hate paying a premium for it? Then, add a bread maker to your kitchen arsenal. All you have to do is toss in the ingredients, and it'll take care of the rest.
8. Ice Cream Maker
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Ice cream is a welcome treat, but when you buy it at the store someone else chooses the ingredients and price. Pick up an ice cream maker, and you'll have more control over both.
9. Stand Mixer
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A good quality stand mixer makes cooking from scratch a joy, whether you're mixing up batter for a batch of cookies or making dough for a homemade pizza.
My advice: opt for a work-horse like the Artisan from KitchenAid. It may cost more on the front end, but it'll outlast and outperform all the others.
10. Cast Iron Skillet
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A cast iron skillet just won't let you down. It heats evenly, goes from stovetop to oven with ease and lasts for generations.
