Kitchen essentials for the Busy Homeschool Mom

Hey All!  Homeschool moms are all about the kitchen right?  I mean, let’s face it, we practically live in there.  So why not make our lives easier?  Today I have gathered a list of 8 kitchen essentials for the homeschool mom.  These are items that I personally use, that make my life easier.  They help me get dinner on the table in a flash or at least take some of the stress off.  Then I can focus on the things that are really important, like how to teach fifth-grade math!

1).  Instant Pot

You would have to be under a rock to not heard of the Instant Pot by now.  These handy little appliances can pressure cook, slow cook, and even sauté.  You can make yogurt or even rice.  They make clean up a snap because there’s only one pot to deal with.  Plus the timer makes it easy to set it and forget it.  All of this without all the hissing and shaking of a traditional pressure cooker.

(Looking for recipes to try?  Check out my Cheeseburger Soup or my quick & easy blueberry oatmeal.)

2).  Slow Cooker

Yes, I still own a slow cooker, despite my love for the Instant Pot.  This is for two reasons.  One, it seems like my Instant Pot cooks a smidge faster than my slow cooker.  Because of this there are still some things that I prefer to cook in the slow cooker.  Second, there are times when I use both, especially during holidays when I want to have all my prep work out of the way.  I also own two different sizes so I always have the size I need.

3).  Coffee Pot (with timer)

If you are a coffee drinker this is a must!  If you aren’t a coffee drinker then I need to know your secret to staying awake all day long.  I love to have my coffee on a perking in the morning when I wake up.  It takes away the temptation to crawl back into my warm bed.  This is especially helpful in the winter when it is 20 degrees outside.

4).  Quality Cookware

I know they can be expensive, but finding an easy to clean, non-stick cookware is a life saver.  I especially like cookware that can go from the stove top to the oven.  Again I’m all for the easy clean-up.  Fewer dishes equals less mess.

5).  Extra Measuring Cups

I came across this little gem when I started eating healthy…..You can NEVER have enough measuring cups.  No matter how many you have you always need more.  Having an extra set means you won’t be washing them last-minute in the middle of a recipe.

6).  Blender with individual cups

My birthday gift last year was this blender with individual cups.  It’s a lifesaver.  I can grab a quick smoothie for breakfast or lunch and not have the huge mess of a blender.  I’ve always wanted a high-tech blender, but I can’t really afford the big name brands.  This one is pretty amazing for the price.

7).  Travel cup

You know the joke about the mom never getting a hot cup of coffee?  Yeah, it’s true.  However, I have found the solution!  It’s these handy little cups.  They are no spill and they keep drinks hot forever.  I also like super cold water so I actually have two, one for coffee and one for water.  I do recommend getting plain silver, as the coating seems to peel off on the colored ones.  They are still completely functional but not very pretty.

8).  A handy chopper

These little jewels are so inexpensive and save so much time if you are making something like soup. Mine gets used fairly often.  I do feel like it’s a little messy, but it’s worth the time it saves and they are usually dishwasher safe. Any of these will work, but I prefer the cheap manual ones.  It seems like the power ones often produce mush.

So there you go….My recommendations for 8 handy kitchen essentials.  These save me loads of time in the kitchen, which is important for any homeschool mom.  Do you have a favorite kitchen essential?  Please comment below and share with us!