By Laura Rancie.
When it comes to preparing an array of fruits and vegetables, having specialised tools in your kitchen can make a task not only efficient but also enjoyable.
From effortlessly peeling pineapples to creating uniform apple wedges and achieving perfectly mashed potatoes, the right tools can streamline your food preparation process. In this article, we unveil a curated list of 10 essential fruit and vegetable tools that will not only save you time but also add a dash of convenience and flair to your kitchen endeavours.
Whether you're a Hatted-Chef or a home cook, these tools are bound to become indispensable companions in your food prep journey.
OXO Good Grips Strawberry Huller Avanti Pineapple Peeler
Strawberry Huller:
Yes – this does exist and here’s why I love it. In my kitchen, my children are allergic to the green stem of the strawberry and will chop the fruit in half just to remove the green leaves. A huller is perfect as it removes the bits you don’t want while leaving the entire fruit whole.
Pineapple Peel ‘n’ Core:
Behind that rough exterior, is a juicy sweet inside that’s worth taking the time to get to know.
A pineapple peel and core will help you core the hard interior part of the pineapple and leave you with perfectly symmetrical rings, ready for cooking or eating. It cores and slices at the same time, meaning little effort on your part to prep your pineapple, ready to load onto your homemade pizza.
Mango Cutter/Pitter:
Tired of wasting so much mango each time you bite into the juicy flesh? Mango cutters will separate the flesh from the seed in one simple motion. For us Aussies, a mango cutter is kind of a non-negotiable.
Nut Cracker:
Macadamia nuts are the hardest nuts in the world, so before you spend the next two days watching YouTube clips on how to crack open your macadamia nuts, we’ve done the hard work for you and discovered that an actual designated macadamia nut cracker does exist. It’s as easy as aligning, twisting and applying pressure. Depending on the type you get, it may also be suitable for other softer nuts such as walnuts and almonds.
Spiraliser:
There are dozens available. From attachments to your food processors to hand-held ones and even tabletop versions. In the end, it probably doesn’t matter which you get as long as it works for you. However, we do strongly believe a spiraliser will make a big difference in your food preparation and upping your kitchen game.
Julienne Peeler:
For the true salad lover, perfectly sliced carrot and zucchini are a must. A Julienne peeler helps you shred the vegetable quickly and evenly, which is important in presentation and even cooking. Think banh mi rolls and apple slaw, garnishes, pickling and food prep.
Garlic Cone Garlic Peeler:
All you need to do is pop your garlic bulb in the cone, then roll it and rub it gently to get rid of that papery peel the garlic has. Best of all, no stubborn odours are transferred making this tool a pretty handy one. Perfect for making garlic butter.
Potato Ricer:
Having gone most of my life without one, believe me when I tell you – this is a game changer! Gone are the days of using a hand masher over and over to end up with lumpy potatoes. A potato ricer will help you out with not only a smooth mash but also pumpkin, for a soup as well as sauces and baby food purees.
Apple Wedger:
Perfect for saving time in the mornings when prepping lunchboxes and simple enough for little fingers to do themselves. An apple wedger does the hard work for you, coring and cutting into 8 slices.
