Kitchen gadgets can be the ultimate shortcut to a delicious meal. However, if you received one of these popular appliances for the holidays and it’s been collecting dust ever since, you’re far from alone.
It can be difficult to figure out the best way to use these gadgets and which meals they make the most sense for.
Let’s go over two of the popular small appliances and some of the best ways you can put them to use.
Instant pot
At its most basic, an instant pot is a pressure cooker, however, the gadget advertises itself as an all-in-one device for sautéing, slow cooking and even steaming veggies and meat.
One of the biggest benefits of cooking with an instant pot is that meals can be ready to serve in less than an hour, making it especially useful for those nights after a long day at work or school. Unlike a traditional pressure cooker, instant pots come with a lockable lid, eliminating the potential for a kitchen mishap.
Serving up a juicy pork tenderloin is a great way to start your instant pot adventure. To make things as simple — and delicious — as possible, we recommend opting for a pre-marinated loin with options like Texas Smokehouse BBQ or Savory Brown Sugar Dry Rub. Once you’ve picked your flavor, follow these steps:
- Place the trivet in your instant pot, adding one cup of water and the pork loin.
- Lock the lid and use the pressure cook setting on high for 15 minutes.
- Allow pressure to naturally release for 15 minutes, then quick-release any remaining pressure.
- Let the meat rest for five minutes before slicing against the grain.
Serve with a side of veggies, a salad or fresh bread to make a complete meal in no time.
Air fryer
An air fryer is a small countertop convection oven that mimics the taste and texture of frying without the mess or the oil. Instead, it uses hot air to produce a crisp layer, giving your food a perfect crunch.
Not sure what you can cook in your air fryer? In truth, anything you can bake can also be fried up using this gadget, including pork loins, bacon and ham. For example, if you’re looking to cook a tenderloin, you only need to place it in your air fryer for about 16 minutes.
To take full advantage of your air fryer’s unique crisping capabilities, we’d start with using it to make the perfect base for a BLT. All you’ll need is a pound of your favorite bacon. From there, just follow these instructions:
- Place your bacon strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry regular cut bacon at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about seven to nine minutes or until it’s reached your desired crispiness.
- Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate then serve.
Pair with some fresh lettuce and tomato and any additional toppings to create an out-of-this-world sandwich.
Start cooking with your new appliance
When it comes to these popular kitchen gadgets, there’s no true number one. The best appliance will be the one you can envision yourself using the most. As you start to get more confident using your new instant pot or air fryer, always feel free to get creative and explore more recipes.
