We’re in the thick of Summer now, with swelling heat, sunny skies, and tasty treats ready to enjoy at every meal. To that end, I try to make the most of the longer evenings by spending more time outdoors for my meal prep—whether that be tending to the garden, manning the grill, or casting out the fishing line just a few more times before the sun goes down. Which got me thinking: which of Presto appliances serve multiple functions? After all, being able to tackle different aspects of meal prep with the same tool has saved me both time and stress before. Read on to take a look at some of the Presto tools I use with multi-purpose potential: some simple, some surprising, all incredibly handy to have around. Then at the end, we’ll put them all together for a Summer smorgasbord anyone can enjoy!
Dual Diligence
Let’s start off with an easy example, one with a name that alludes to its “twinning” personality. The DualDaddy deep fryer is a particular twist on the tried-and-true FryDaddy® formula for fast, efficient, portable deep-frying power. A special divider slots into the middle and runs the diameter of the pot, meaning you can fry two different foods at the same time, while keeping them completely separate. This really helps in times when I want to keep flavor profiles separate during frying. For example, I like making pre-seasoned steak fries, while my wife prefers more traditional unseasoned waffle fries. With the DualDaddy, we can prepare both in just a few minutes simultaneously! Another great option is using the two sides for totally different types of foods. Then, the included scoop helps lift and drain them once they’re done frying—all without mixing the flavors. So, I can make my favorite onion rings on one side and sweet potato fries for my son on the other. That’s what I’ll be making for my meal this time, but the uses don’t stop there. The internal divider can even be removed when I’m looking to make massive batches of fries, or larger foods like fried fish or chicken strips. It's the same fundamental fryer function, sure; and yet, adaptability with that removable divider makes all the difference in the flavor and volume output when frying. But enough about the DualDaddy—on to the next kitchen multi-tool!
A Smashing Success
A newer addition to my kitchen arsenal has changed up how I make burgers at home. I've traditionally been a fan of making thick, juicy burgers loaded to the brim with seasonings, but I’ve also been trying out smash burgers recently. Thanks to the Smashula® burger press and spatula, I’ve been frying these thin, stackable patties, at home on a cast-iron griddle. And let me tell you, they’re a huge hit with my kids! Smashula is both a burger press and spatula in one, meaning I can smash my ground beef into patties right on the griddle surface, then flip them with the same tool. It’s really nice having the wide, flared spatula for lifting and flipping patties on the griddle without losing the juices within. Plus, the Smashula works just as well as a standard grill spatula outdoors when I’m grilling my usual burgers. If I had a bit more time today, I’d do both for direct comparison—but alas, I’ve got enough going on in the kitchen at the moment! Either way, this tool gives me a new way to enjoy homemade burgers in the kitchen or on the grill. There’s even a built-in bottle opener for popping the cap off an ice-cold bottle of root beer while the patties sizzle. (Yes, root beer...for my kids, of course). But seriously, is there anything better than sipping a cold drink while standing over a hot grill? Hold that thought, because it’s on to the next multi-tasker of today’s meal.
Warming Up to the Idea
In case it wasn’t obvious with the fries and burgers, right now we’re building up to a classic burger night. Next up on our menu, we’re going to prepare a few toppings for our burgers. And our best bet for a fantastic slew of options to stack on our smash burgers comes in the form of the Griddle/Warmer Plus. This jumbo-sized griddle holds tons of toppings at a time, meaning we can prepare eggs over-easy for a nice hangover-style burger, or tender bacon strips for a bacon cheeseburger. The secret ingredient to this Presto appliance is its multi-function warming tray on the back side. While our eggs cook, we can flip it forward over the surface of the griddle to prevent the eggs from running, then flip it back over to lie flat and keep whatever we’ve finished cooking nice and warm for later enjoyment. We can even get our burger buns toasted up in style, whether brushed with butter or a nice garlic aioli spread! Overall, the Griddle/Warmer Plus adds extra panache to our platter, handling all these different ingredients at the same time for one savory spread.
Thinking Outside the Bowl
Lastly, we have a rather unique twist on a treat for once we're done with dinner. The Belgian Waffle Bowl Maker is perfect for more than just breakfast in the morning. This domed waffle maker funnels and bakes batter into a 4-inch bowl in mere minutes, perfect for some creative ways to chow down. Like, for example, pulling some fresh strawberries and blackberries from my home garden to make a sweet fruit salad, or as the perfect topping for some ice cream sundaes! Each waffle bowl has the capacity for a few scoops of your favorite ice cream or fruit. Or, let’s say you’re looking to try something fried and tasty for dinner, but not a smash burger—like those chicken strips we made up with the DualDaddy earlier? Just add a few pieces of fried chicken, some lettuce, and ranch dressing, along with some crumbled bacon from the Griddle/Warmer Plus, and we’ve got ourselves a walking chicken-bacon-ranch waffle taco!
The Ultimate Summer Spread
At last, everything comes together for our summer smorgasbord: a smash burger, stacked with fried onion rings, an over-easy egg, and bacon on a toasted bun, savory sweet potato fries, and a waffle-bowl sundae to round out the meal. Every dish is made with help from just a few cleverly designed Presto appliances. It's amazing what you can whip up when your kitchen tools pull double (or triple!) duty. Whether it's grilling, frying, pressing, or warming, these multi-purpose Presto favorites make summer meals simpler, tastier, and way more fun. Give them a try, and start building your own backyard burger bonanza today!