The Total Kitchen Twosome

In this downward spiraling economy, it doesn’t seem prudent to be spending money on additional kitchen gadgets or appliances.  Unless you can reasonably justify that the outlay of money will, over the course of a couple of months, reward you with savings far outweighing the initial cost.  While a new food processor is a great kitchen accessory, it’s not really going to save you any money.  Time yes, money no.  Make your money work a little harder and invest in two appliances that will do double duty; a Crock Pot and a food sealer.

A Crock Pot, Slow Cooker or Dutch Oven is a great investment that saves both time and money.  This slow cooking method allows you to purchase less expensive cuts of meat, which will turn out tender and delicious.  If you’re a novice at this method of cooking, don’t worry, there are plenty of great recipes online and that will come with your Slow Cooker instruction manual.  Most people think of beef stew or pot roast when they think of Crock Pot cooking, but you’ll also find great recipes for chicken, pasta, vegetarian and desserts.  Most require little preparation time.  Just throw everything in the pot before you go to work, set the timer and come home to a perfectly prepared meal.

A vacuum food sealer is a must have for any family trying to save money on their grocery bill.  Having a food sealer allows you to take advantage of great sales and buying in bulk.  I love the quality of meat at the large warehouse chain stores but, with a smaller family, it wasn’t practical to buy such large quantities.  With the food sealer, I can get the great prices without worrying that I’ve wasted my money by throwing out meats because of freezer burn.  A food sealer also adds shelf life to produce and leftovers.  Before purchasing a food sealer, do your research.  You’ll want to choose one that has a crush-proof feature for your produce and is easy to use.  I recommend the FoodSaver brand, as they have proven reliability and several different models to accommodate any kitchen and lifestyle.

Saving money is not just about the total that rings up on the register at the checkout line, it’s also about preparation and storage of all your groceries.  With these two great little appliances, you can save money, reduce waste and serve fresh and delicious meals.