5 Kitchen Gadgets Every Parent Needs To Have In Their Arsenal

I would be lying if I said I hadn't considered carrying a pizza cutter with me at all times; it's the perfect tool to have on hand when you need to cut lots of food for your child very quickly.

Having an immersion blender or a small personal blender (designed for making smoothies) on hand can be extremely useful. If you need to make a quick, last-minute sauce or purée (say, to hide extra vegetables in your child's dinner), this blender will do the job with far less mess than a traditional blender.

Though kitchen gadgets are generally more useful if they serve multiple purposes, any parent will tell you that a corn zipper is a must-have for parents of picky eaters; it can remove the kernels from an ear of corn in a matter of seconds.

Avoid nicks and cuts from peeling fruits and vegetables with a paring knife by investing in a good peeler. Choose one that has a comfortable grip. Peelers are great for making thin ribbons of vegetables, too; ribbons can be cut into long, noodle-like shapes and substituted for pasta. Peelers are also great for shaving thin slices of potatoes for homemade potato chips.

Not only does this pan prevent an epic battle over the coveted corner piece, but the divider portion can be used to quickly cut large sheets of homemade pasta into squares for ravioli or large pieces of shortbread cookie dough into small squares. It's also great for making individual portions of foods like frittatas so you can cook once and reheat portions as needed.

Kristie Collado is The Daily Meal's Cook Editor. Follow her on Twitter @KColladoCook.