The best €15 we’ve ever spent in the kitchen

While we love to invest in quality items for the kitchens, there have been some budget buys along the way that have proven to be some of the best additions yet! The Easy Food editors and photography and styling team spill their secrets on the absolute must-haves that didn’t break the bank!

Pauline Smyth, Food Stylist

“I bought this Miracle Thaw years ago for €10, and it’s still one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. It speeds up anything you need to thaw in a hurry — it’s perfect for when you forgot to take something out to thaw overnight.”

Non-stick kitchen fast defrosting tray (www.gearbest.com) — €8

Caroline Gray, Editor

“For the amount of spoons and scrapers I have in the kitchen, a flat wooden spatula is the one I reach for nine times out of 10. It probably cost less than a fiver, but it’s been one of the best investments I’ve made. It’s a solid, durable wood, and the flat brim means it’s perfect for scraping every last morsel from pans — ideal when you’re getting all the browned goodness from the bottom of a pan to make a sauce.”

RÖRT spoon (IKEA) — €1.25

Agnieszka Wypych, Photographer

“The best thing I ever purchased for the kitchen was this peeler from IKEA. This specific one is so easy to handle: the metal part covering the sharp part on one side makes it safe to use. It’s idiot-proof — there’s no way you could actually cut yourself on this! It’s a real time-saver, especially if you’re making a lot of juices or, like me, eat a lot of potatoes! I think that people who think that it’s a waste of money to buy one as a knife will do the same job need to be enlightened!”

VÄRDEFULL peeler (IKEA) — €5

Siomha Guiney, Food Stylist

“This small and simple knife is called a tomato knife as it is particularly ideal for slicing ripe tomatoes without squashing them, but it is just an excellent all-round small knife to add to your collection. I love it for so many jobs and it stays sharp for years. I wouldn’t be without it and highly recommend the €6.75 investment.”

Victorinox tomato knife (www.nisbets.ie) — €6.75

Shannon Peare, Food Stylist

“For the amount of baking I do, it’s important to have the right tools. This extra-long spatula is perfect for getting down to the bottom of your mixing bowls, which makes all the difference when you need that last bit of icing! I bought mine in Lidl, but they’re available in baking shops or many kitchen shops.”

16” spatula (www.nisbets.ie) — €17.20

Jocelyn Doyle, Deputy Editor

“I use and eat an insane amount of garlic, but hate fiddling around peeling the skins from the cloves. This grater set makes it incredibly quick and easy — it’s my favourite kitchen find in years. Simply rolling a clove in the rubber tube removes the skin, and the grating plate quickly turns the garlic into a smooth purée ready for cooking. You can use the plate for grating ginger, hard cheese or dark chocolate, too.”

Ginger and garlic grater (www.gingerandgarlicgrater.co.uk) — €13.75/£12