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Is there anyone out there who doesn’t get swept up in the excitement of an exciting new kitchen appliance? I frequently remind myself that my current kitchen gadgets work perfectly well, so there’s no need to get new ones. And not only do I not need new kitchen appliances, but I also don’t have the storage space for them!
While those two arguments are usually enough to keep me from clicking that “Add To Cart” button, I’m not always able to resist the temptation. Needless to say, my kitchen cupboards are full of small appliances that perform a variety of tasks. I figure as long as I can find ways to use those appliances, they’re useful enough to keep around.
If you try to approach your kitchen appliances in the same way, then you’re in luck! Because today I’ll be sharing some creative uses for those small kitchen appliances that are tucked away in your kitchen cupboards. Hopefully these ideas serve as a reminder that any kitchen gadget can be useful and versatile if you’re willing to think outside the box! :-)
9 Unique Uses For Your Kitchen Appliances
1. Use Your Ice Cream Maker For Slushes
Your ice cream maker is capable of making all kinds of frozen treats, including cola slushes! Start by setting up your machine according to the directions, then pour a 12-ounce can of cola into the bowl and turn the machine on. Once a thick slush has formed (which should take about 10-15 minutes), scoop your cola slush into two glasses and serve!
2. Use Your Rice Cooker For Oatmeal
You can use your old rice cooker to make oatmeal and other hot cereals! This is not a time-saving measure though, and it will take twice as long to cook compared to other methods (if not more!) But you don’t have to stir or keep watch over it, so you can just turn it on and walk away, which frees you up to do other things.
The cooking instructions for
varies between rice cookers, so check the owner’s manual for details. (If you don’t have the manual anymore, you can often find them to download online! Just do a search for the brand and model number of your particular rice cooker.)
3. Use Your Blender For Dressings
Whether you have a regular blender or an immersion blender, you can use it to make condiments, dressings, and marinades! Using a blender is particularly useful for these sorts of things because it eliminates the need to mince garlic, shallots, and other aromatics. You can just give them a rough chop beforehand, and the blender blades will take care of the rest!
Related: How To Make Great Tasting Homemade Mayo In Seconds
4. Use Your Dishwasher For Cooking
You can use your dishwasher to cook foods, especially ones that should be cooked gently at low temperatures. Just make sure your item (whether it’s fruits, veggies, etc.) is sealed up tightly in ziplock bags, tin foil, or a jar, then place it on the top rack of your dishwasher. Run a wash cycle, and the food will be perfectly hot and ready to eat!
5. Use Your Coffee Maker For Instant Noodles
If you have access to a coffee maker, you can make all sorts of “instant” foods, like noodles, oatmeal and more. Just run water through the coffee maker with an empty basket, and you’ll have hot water in minutes. (This is a particularly useful tip to use at the office!)
6. Use Your Microplane For Mincing
Any time a recipe calls for something to be minced, just grab your microplane grater instead! Grating things like garlic and ginger is much quicker and easier than mincing, and the grated bits mix in easily to sauces and dressings.
7. Use Your Crockpot To Bake Bread
Apparently you can use your trusty old slow cooker to bake bread! I’ve never personally attempted it, but it seems like a pretty straightforward process. Check out this post from The Kitchen for tons of details, tips, and tricks for making bread in your slow cooker.
8. Use Your Popcorn Maker To Toast Nuts
Some recipes call for raw nuts while other call for toasted nuts, so I usually compromise by buying raw nuts and toasting them as needed. One really simple way to toast nuts at home is by using your popcorn maker!
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Just place a handful of nuts in the machine and turn it on for 5-10 seconds. Shake the machine to keep the nuts moving, and repeat the process until the nuts reach your desired level of toasting. (They toast surprisingly quickly, so keep an eye on them!)
9. Use Your Microwave To Warm Plates
Putting food on a warm plate can help keep it warm until the rest of your meal is ready to serve, and you can easily warm plates up using your microwave! Just “cook” them in your microwave for a minute or two, and you’ll have warm plates ready to go!
Do you use any of your kitchen appliances in non-traditional ways?
