My birthday is usually the first day of fall, so you could say I was essentially born for the season. I love everything about it—like the smell of hay at a pumpkin patch, to the satisfying crunch of a freshly picked apple, the vibrant colors of the changing leaves and, most importantly, the comforting scents of recipes crafted in my kitchen. Wafting warm spices, bubbling casseroles adorned with golden layers of cheese and the bakery-fresh aroma of browning flour and rising bread are joyous hallmarks of the season for me.
Despite my motivation to get in the kitchen rising at a consistent rate, the amount of time I have to prepare these feasts never seems to line up. Because of that, I am constantly reaching for those reliable, time-saving kitchen gadgets to bring my recipe dreams come true. I know I’m not the only one, which is why I rounded up some of my absolute favorite fall staples to help cut minutes from meal prep and cook time.
The Best Time-Saving Fall Kitchen Gadgets on Amazon
Microplane Classic Zester Grater
Amazon
Spices, aromatics and cheese—oh my! Put the knife and box grater down, because this Microplane can do it all, and perfectly, at that. I use this year-round, but especially so in the fall to make quick work of grating garlic and ginger for soups, dressings and curries. It’s also ideal for fresh nutmeg and citrus zest, which are applicable for anything like homemade apple pie or baked mac and cheese. Last but not least. I use the fine grater to get the snow-like mountain of Parmigiano Reggiano and Pecorino Romano for pasta!
OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Potato Ricer
Amazon
Perhaps you’re digging up home-grown potatoes this fall, and you have more than you know what to do with. Or, you’re like me, and the second there’s a chill, you want everything potato! That’s where this ricer comes in. It’s my secret tool for two potato-based recipes: mashed potatoes and gnocchi. This thing does all of the work for you. All you have to do is put soft pieces of potato in and press; you’ll get a light-as-air texture ready to be made into melt-in-your-mouth mashed potatoes or gnocchi without any tedious, time sucking work. This tool is also effective for ingredients like sweet potatoes, squash or cauliflower.
GIR Silicone Ladle
Amazon
Who knew a ladle could be so clever? When I bought this, it was part of a set of GIR silicone kitchen tools, and it’s quickly become one of my favorite pieces. I love the lofty size: It holds up to 3/4 cup of liquid and comes with measurement markings to easily gauge how much I’m scooping. I appreciate that it is heat-resistant up to 425°F. The lip extends slightly over the edge of the interior and is flexible, so it’s extremely easy to ladle up everything. It bends and contorts, scooping and scraping at the same time. Because of that, I’ve been able to dole out sauces, soups and other recipes into dishes or storage containers faster than ever.
Earlywood Handmade Kitchen Cooking Utensil
Amazon
Handmade in Montana, this cooking utensil is well worth it. I own multiple Earlywood products, many of which I’ve been using for over two years! They’ve become my most-used kitchen tool because they’re versatile for many dishes, but especially so when I’m cooking more in the fall. They can stir, scrape, toss and flip, so they’re a go-to for many of my favorite fall dishes, like casseroles and stews. Because of they’re high-quality construction, it’s so much easier to prepare recipes at every step of the way, no matter if I’m searing or sautèing the base vegetables or stirring the final product.
OXO Good Grips V-Blade Mandoline Slicer
Amazon
Every holiday party, from Halloween to Thanksgiving and Christmas, I whizz up something that involves a mandoline. Whether it’s a well-composed salad or a layered eggplant parmesan, this slicer is the only reason I can prepare vegetables quickly and effectively. The blade is sharp enough to cut through squash, potatoes and oblong produce like eggplant. I love slicing apples and pears thinly for salads, and it works just as well on cheese. Plus, it comes with multiple blades. The julienne blade quickly shreds carrots or cuts fries, and the ridged blade creates a waffle-like cut for potatoes.
ThermoPro Digital Candy Thermometer with Pot Clip
Amazon
Many find themselves taking on additional kitchen projects come fall and winter, and I’m no different. Whenever I take on a new project, I like to be as precise as possible. Enter my candy thermometer. This is my lifeline for many different baking and confectionery tasks. I use it for cooking sugar, making jam, probing bread dough, whipping up custards and making buttercreams. It clips right into your cookware, making for a hands-free way to monitor the progress of your recipe. Since the thermometer does most of the work, I can step away and multitask. This process saves me time and the headache of wasted ingredients, since I know everything will be more precise.
Escali Primo Digital Food Scale
Amazon
Speaking of precision and accuracy, this kitchen scale is my prized possession for achieving those goals. Because it uses weight instead of volume, you can ensure you have the exact amount you need, right down to the gram. One other perk? It cuts time in every way. When I use the scale, I can quickly measure ingredients right into the bowl. I no longer have to fuss around finding the right measuring cup. It also cuts cleaning time.
OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Bench Scraper & Chopper
Amazon
Apart from this being an absolute necessity for making bread, this bench scraper is my fall recipe best friend. I find that I am chopping or prepping a ton of produce for soups, stews, sauces and casseroles—all of the warming, comforting recipes I love this time of year. I use my bench scraper to help me pick up all the chopped ingredients and place them into my pot. It’s that simple, but it’s a tip that has probably collectively saved me hours of active cook time over the years.
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro
Amazon
I look at my Breville air fryer toaster oven as an investment-worthy tool. I use this thing every day, multiple times a day. It’s so functional, I can make a wide range of recipes in it. I use it for toast every morning, but it’s also right there for when I’m craving those Halloween graphic-stamped sugar cookies from the freezer aisle. It can bake, broil and roast anything and everything and does it faster and better than my conventional oven ever could.
