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I'm not a fan of the heat that summer brings, but I love the food! Fresh fruit, outdoor BBQs, creative salads, and snacks that don’t require turning on the oven... YUM! Whether you're slicing watermelon, whipping up pasta salad, or hosting a backyard bash, having the right tools makes it all easier and more fun.
I’ve gathered my favorite Amazon summer kitchen essentials to keep things cool, clean, and convenient this season. Every item is practical, well-rated, and guaranteed to help you beat the heat in the kitchen.
1 - Crock-Pot Cook and Carry 6 Quart Manual Portable Slow Cooker and Food Warmer
This is the gold standard when it comes to a heat-free kitchen. Dips, main meals, desserts - this does it all. It's perfect for taking with you to the work potluck or neighborhood BBQ since this model has locks for the lid to keep it from sloshing out, or keeping kids and pets from sampling it. If you already have a slow cooker, then you'll want this next item to make it even easier...
2 - Slow Cooker Liners, Hotensil 13" x 21" 30 Count Cooking Bags Large Size Disposable Pot Liners, Fit 3 Qt to 8.5 Qt for Slot Cooker Cooking Trays
Zero mess? Take my money. Not only do these make clean up a breeze, by just pulling it out and throwing it away, but you can use them to cook two dishes at once. When I priced out a slow cooker that had two removable sections, it was more than $200! Just use two of these liners and you get the same result... but mess free!
3 -
OXO Good Grips GreenSaver Produce Keeper - Large & Good Grips Salad SpinnerI've had this exact spinner for at least a decade. I love it because I just take the lid off and the liner out and use the bowl to serve the salad in. It's a wonderful size - handling a full head of iceberg just fine. Prior to owning this I had heard about a "hack" that if you put your rinsed lettuce in a cotton towel and swing it around over your head, the centrifugal force of spinning it dries it off. It failed to mention that it also flings lettuce around the room at high velocity. My kids were pretty sure I had lost my mind along with half my salad. I've owned this ever since. I love that, for a few dollars more, it provides the container to store it in as well.
These are so clever! No more having to constantly swish your arms over the food or cover them with netting, these little fans do the job of keeping the pests away. No worrying about little hands getting hurt either, they are little more than slips of paper, so no harm done if it happens to connect with your fingers or the serving spoon.
Another item I've had at least a decade, and I love it so much! The colors make it fun to use and easy to find. The design - so cute! - and everyone knows exactly what you mean when you ask for the watermelon knife. This knife is longer than the width of most melons, and the big teeth make easy work of slicing through the skin. The cover for the blade is thick, and keeps your fingers safe when searching for it in the drawer. This with some cute summer dish towels or a cutting board would be a great gift.
How cute are these? Some people have a weakness for shoes, but I have a weakness for dish towels. Seriously, they're on my Christmas Wish List every year. They're the perfect way to spruce up your kitchen on a budget, and you can change them for every holiday or season without it breaking the bank. We use them for hand drying, baby spit wiping, and hot pot holding in a pinch.
I might get some eye rolling with this one, but hear me out. I use this all. the. time. It makes perfect hard boiled eggs. I know - you're saying "yeah, so does a pot of boiling water" - but I start them and don't have to time them, stop them, nothing... consider them done. It's the ultimate in boujee kitchen gadgets since it's so unnecessary, but I use it even more than my slow cooker. I've tried several different models, and what I especially like about this one is that it does a whole dozen of eggs at once instead of having to do it multiple times. The lid breaks down into pieces so it's easier to store than it looks. With this I'm always offering to bring the deviled eggs (try making them with dill relish so they're keto friendly). Also great for adding to salads or using for breakfast or a snack. I've found that the trick is to bring the eggs to room temperature first, place them pierced side up, and be really careful handling them afterwards as they are boiling lava hot straight out of the machine.
Pretty self-explanatory. Love it.
I love having pretty dishes to serve food in, and this one is pretty AND practical. Beautiful enough to use as home decor, but keeps salads cold and crispy. The versatility of it makes this a summer must have.
I visited my parents for an extended time (helping Mom through a surgery recovery) and these were used in heavy rotation for lunch and dinner at their house. They are a fantastic size for those times when you're eating light, and the pattern brightened up the table. The gentle rise of the bowl lip keeps sauces and salad dressings contained. They fit perfect in the microwave for a quick reheat and are easier to grab since the edge isn't flat like a plate. All around a winner in my book.
Bonus! -
Vitamix 5200 Blender, Professional-Grade, 64 oz Container, Self-Cleaning, BlackI tried really hard to narrow down my summer must haves to just ten, but I'd be remiss if I didn't give this a shout out. I love my Vitamix. My mom has had hers for at least 30+ years, I've had mine for at least fifteen. These things are workhorses. There are different models to choose from - but this one has a really nice handle that's comfortable to hold and clean. We use this for smoothies, milkshakes, salad dressings, nut butters, refried beans, soups, even to mince carrots for my husband's spaghetti sauce. The damper/plunger thingy (pretty sure that's the technical term for it. Lol.) is wonderful in making sure it blends completely without having to add more liquid. This isn't just a summer must have, this is a year round one.
What's a must have in your kitchen for summer? Let me know in the comments!
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