9 essential kitchen appliances and tools to help with Chinese New Year cooking
Hosting friends and family during Chinese New Year? Save time in the kitchen with these nifty tools.
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Snacks like pineapple tarts are an integral part of Chinese New Year gatherings. Preparing desserts and other ingredients in advance can go a long way towards reducing the amount of work done in the kitchen on Chinese New Year. Photo: Unsplash/Melanie Lim
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Cooking for large groups is no mean feat, especially for festive occasions like Chinese New Year. You may need to entertain multiple groups of visitors – some of whom may have special dietary requirements – over several days. Safe to say, this isn’t a task for the faint of heart, or a disorganised host.
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One of the keys to keeping guests happy and fed is planning your menu well ahead of time, so you know exactly what ingredients to buy. Pre-event preparation will also help minimise the frenzy on D-day. Dishes like dumplings and spring rolls can be made in advance and frozen. Chop your vegetables, marinate meat and prepare soup stocks and sauces.
On party day, multitask like a master. While one dish is cooking, start prepping your next. Look at dishes where leftovers can be repurposed or incorporated into meals. For instance, leftover meat and rice can be turned into a comforting bowl of porridge or fried rice the next day. Your tired body will thank you for it.
Now that your game plan is sorted, we’ve compiled a list of multi-purpose appliances and handy tools that will help you save time and host a feast for the ages.
LG Smart Inverter (25L) Microwave Oven (S$264; usual price:S$291)

A microwave is the unheralded MVP of any feast. It defrosts, reheats and cooks food quickly – perfect when you’re entertaining ravenous guests. With a power output of up to 1,200W, this model also has a nifty grilling feature that sears food without a hot stove.
LG's Smart Inverter technology offers precise temperature control during the cooking process, making it easier to reheat, cook or defrost dishes more evenly. The oven is also available at the LG Life’s Good Experience Zone at the Harvey Norman flagship store at Millenia Walk.

If the thought of chopping countless ingredients fills you with dread, you’ll thank us for this recommendation, which chops fruits and vegetables in one fell swoop. A grid of thin, stainless-steel blades produces consistently sized ingredients, which are collected in a container with a 2.5-cup capacity. Cleaning is a cinch with a removable grid that helps clean between the chopper blades, and it easily snaps back onto its non-slip base. Say goodbye to onion-induced tears and hello to effortless chopping.
Toyomi Combo Cooker Hotpot & BBQ Grill, White/Black (S$90.00)

A good host tries to anticipate their guests’ every need. A smart host gets their guests involved in the cooking (think DIY culinary fun) with this time-saving, versatile hotpot-and-grill combo.
The marble-coated removable grill pan and pot ensure even heat distribution, while separate controls for the grill and pot offer greater flexibility. The grill pan has an opening that collects oil drips in a tray below. All parts are removable, making clean-up a breeze. Its cool-touch design and hand-safe handle prioritises safety.
Cuisinart 14 Cup Food Processor (S$585.37)

Make short work of chopping, slicing and grating with the Cuisinart food processor. Its powerful 720-watt motor makes dips, purees, soups and sauces quickly. Apart from freeing you to focus on other cooking tasks, you’ll be impressed with its consistent textures. An extra large feed tube with small and large pusher bowl means you don’t need to chop ingredients finely. And its detachable disc stem ensures easy cleanup. The package includes a spatula, instruction manual and recipe booklet.
Braun MultiQuick 5 Vario Hand Blender with Whisk and Chopper (S$129.00)

An indispensable tool for those with limited kitchen space, this hand blender from Braun comes with a whisk attachment. The extra milling blade allows you to blend larger pieces of food, while its SplashControl Technology minimises spills. A powerful 1,000-watt motor quickly blends ingredients and its 21 variable speeds offer effortless control.
Easy-to-reach buttons and a straight cut design make it easy to switch between accessories and functions. Included with the blender and whisk are a 600ml BPA-free plastic beaker and 500ml chopper.
KitchenAid Mandoline Slicer (S$134.13)

If you need to julienne your ingredients like carrots and cucumbers, you’ll know how time-consuming it can be to slice strips of consistent thicknesses. This mandoline slicer takes the guesswork out of the equation as it’s designed to make precise, straight slices in five different thicknesses.
The cutlery-grade stainless steel slicing table and blades ensure durability and resistance to rusting, while the oversized food pusher protects your fingers while slicing. Each blade also comes with a protective sheath for safe storage.
Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Digital Air Fryer (S$285.00)

Become a multitasking maestro with this air fryer. Featuring two independent 3.8L baskets, this air fryer enables you to cook two different foods at the same time. Each basket accommodates 1.8kg of food, big enough to cook large portions for your guests.
With six different cooking functions, including air fry, roast, reheat, dehydrate, bake and max crisp, get an even, crips cook on items such as chicken wings and fries. You can even roast pieces of chicken or dehydrate fruits. Say goodbye to cooking in batches or compromising on portion sizes.
Odoroku Silicone Ice Cube Maker Trays (set of 2) (S$9.90; usual price: S$29.90)

Ice cube trays are a cool addition to any kitchen. Made from BPA-free silicone, this non-stick tray easily separates from the ice. While that may sound like a minor advantage, it can make a big difference when you’re rushing to serve cold drinks to thirsty guests. The flexible tray is less likely to crack or break than plastic moulds and makes six large ice cubes.

Whether you’re in the throes of prepping food for your guests or cooking a simple meal for the family, few things can be as frustrating as having pasta or vegetables drop into a dirty sink as you’re draining out water. The Snap ’N Strain Strainer helps make this a thing of the past thanks to its innovative clip-on design, which attaches securely to pots, pans, and bowls. This strainer is heat-resistant and dishwasher safe. It’s also compact, making it easy to store after cleaning.
These multifunctional cooking appliances and nifty slicing and dicing tools will help save your time in the kitchen this Chinese New Year. Plus, since you’re responsible for all the prep and labour, you now have some leverage to get your relatives to help with the washing up.
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