Kitchen gadgets to make life easier
Are you spending too much time in the kitchen at Christmas? We tested a variety of kitchen gadgets to find those that will make your life easier – and allow you more time to enjoy the festivities
Keep ‘em fresh
More environmentally friendly than clingfilm, these food huggers act as little ‘hats’ for halved fruit and vegetables, keeping them fresh and tasty. Just wash after each use and reuse again and again.
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A helping hand
Ever struggled to pour soup or gravy and wished you had an extra pair of hands? Meet your new best friend – the food bag holder stand.
It’ll keep your bags steady and open while you pour. ■ Bag Master food bag holder stand, £9.99, Lakeland
Reuse and refresh
Make your ingredients go further with these clever reusable food storage bags. Popping fruit or veg into one of these bags as soon as you buy them could extend their freshness for up to three more days.
■ 20 Stay-fresh bags,
£6.99, Lakeland
No more mess
Never splatter cake mix all over your kitchen again, with this anti-splatter cover. Easy to wash and even easier to fit on top of an electric whisk. The cover is handy if you’re baking with your grandchildren to stop mess getting everywhere!
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Easy peel
Cooking with garlic can often leave an unpleasant smell lingering on your hands. This simple gadget does all the peeling for you, leaving it ready to chop or add to food. Slip a garlic clove into the silicone tube and roll and your garlic will be peeled in seconds!
■ Joseph Joseph Duo Red Garlic Peeler,
£6, Dunelm
Spreadability
Butter can sometimes be really difficult to spread when it’s straight from the fridge, but this heated butter knife helps melt as it spreads!
■ SpreadTHAT! SelfHeated Butter Knife,
£19.99, Amazon
Safer slicing
This device holds food in place and guides the knife so your fingers remain a safe distance away from the blade.
Ideal if you struggle with grip or are nervous when it comes to using knives.
■ £5.34,
Chop, chop
Perfect if you don’t like the fiddly job of chopping garlic. Simply pop a garlic clove in with the blades and roll backwards and forwards for fast, freshly chopped garlic.
■ Chef ’n Garlic Zoom, £9, Dunelm
Rolled to perfection
Bake Off-style perfection just got easier as this smart adjustable rolling pin guarantees all your pastry, biscuits and pasta will be exactly the same thickness. ■ Joseph Joseph Multi-coloured Adjustable Rolling Pin,
£20, Debenhams
Ideal for little helpers
Make chopping vegetables quick and easy with this little gadget. There’s also little risk of cutting yourself so you could get the grandchildren to help you prepare dinner!
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Easy-peasy, lemon squeezy
Fishing out the pips from citrus juice can be a very fiddly task. This stainless steel juicer not only squeezes all the juice out easily but catches the pips as you squeeze.