Some tools in my kitchen, including my dishwasher, are the real heroes of the Quarantimes. We are still cooking a lot, and trying new recipes – and thinking of new ways to reduce food waste, like this week’s win: I cubed all the ends of the sourdough bread that didn’t get eaten and tossed them in the freezer, and this weekend we made chicken and stuffing. April Thanksgiving deliciousness!
So aside from my cookbooks and subscriptions to recipe sites, I wanted to know what gadgets are the heroes of your kitchens!
Sarah: I love my electric kettle (I have tea almost every day now).
Cuisinart Electric Kettle, 1.7L, $98
Two things I’m a little surprised by how often we use: our odd size measuring spoons, and my citrus juicer (FOR GIN AND TONIC AND COOKING TOO!)
After watching a few episodes of America’s Test Kitchen: At Home this season, I’m tempted to get us a countertop salt cellar, too. (Anyone got suggestions?)
Claudia:I like having mine, although I got the one ATK doesn’t recommend (mine has no lid) because it’s just easier!!
I also got a fancy stainless-steel olive oil dispenser since I buy olive oil in bulk and that has been great as far as having the basics close by.
I love kitchen gadgets although I do try to adhere to the “no unitaskers” rule due to limited space! I can go on and on about my faves but I want to present to the bitchery the humble Kohler pot and dish scraper. More than 1,000 people on Amazon are not wrong in this case!
It’s handy to scrape dishes so no need to rinse them before loading the dishwasher (water is a huge issue in tinderbox California), the hard side scrapes stuck-on food in pots and pans, residue left by labels, and other annoying stuck-on things, and it’s handier than a spatula to scrape every little bit of batter or doughs out of bowls. We use it every day in a million different ways.
Sarah: We didn’t want to re-do our cabinets, so we got some sliding steel shelving for the interiors of three of them, and that changed our lives. Our cookie sheets and cutting boards slide out on racks and the larger appliances like the instant pot and the stand mixer are on tiered pull out shelves.
Shana: My current favorite tool is my immersion blender and this measurement cup.
I was already using my immersion blender to puree soups, vegetable etc. But I love a breakfast smoothie, and I was annoyed because I run my dishwasher every other day, which means sometimes my blender pitcher wasn’t available. Enter this cup, it lets me blend up smoothies, do a quick rinse or hand wash, and have smoothies every day.
Also, in a rush, I can just drink from the cup. Shhhh, don’t tell anyone
Sarah: I LOVE my immersion blender!! I have a really, really basic model, I think an earlier version of this $28 one, and it’s invaluable for some recipes.
I use it for making tomato soup and a bean and barley soup recipe consistently. (Grilled cheese and tomato soup needs to go back on my menu soon. Yum.)
Sarah: Aren’t they dreamy? It’s probably the wedding present that gets the most use in my household.
Catherine: My citrus zester changed my life. So much better than using the grater.
Kitchen Aid Zester/Grater, $13
Susan: I have a set of measuring cups that specifically do American cups, and that has been a GAME CHANGER in how many recipes I can do.
Sarah: Yeah…sorry about that.
What about you? What kitchen gadget or tool do you swear you cannot nosh without?(And what’s on the menu this week?)
Taking that bread idea! Brilliant.
Do off-set spatulas and a dough cutter/ruler count as gadgets? Because if so, those are mine!
If you like avocados, the OXO Avocado Slicer is indispensable. One end cuts the avocado, the center circle helps you safely remove the stone, the other end slices the avocado. It really is a game-changer in that you no longer run the risk of cutting your hands when you cut an avocado.
https://www.amazon.com/OXO-Good-Grips-Avocado-Slicer/dp/B0088LR592/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=avocado+slicer&qid=1619000218&sprefix=avocado&sr=8-3
OXO also makes a similarly good mango slicer/corer. And Simple Craft makes a great pineapple corer/slicer tool. Let the fruit salad binge begin!
All the immersion blender love has compelled me to add potato-leek soup components to my grocery list. Happy tummy thanks y’all in advance.
I felt like I had arrived when I got a bench scraper. It cuts! It transfers! It bulldozes excess flour and crumbly bits off the counter in one swoop! Mine is one sheet of stainless steel with a handle bent into it, so I never have to worry about it coming apart or getting gross in the joints.
The silicone pastry brush (for sealing dough edges, egg washes, putting a light, even glaze on danish) and clip-on candy thermometer (doughnut oil! fudge! marshmallow fluff, which has emboldened me to attempt Swiss buttercream soon!) are also getting a lot of use recently.
My digital scale is the best. No more fiddling with and having to wash measuring cups and spoons! I now get annoyed when recipes don’t include weight measures in their ingredients list.
@Sarah — I have a salt cellar like this one. Mine’s green, but it comes in other colors too. I like the depression glass style and that it has a separate lid.
https://www.amazon.com/HOME-X-Depression-Cellar-Kitchen-Wedding/dp/B07Y8M12RD
I found – at a discount store – a universal opening assist device. It looks kind of like a plier, with a large opening and a small one, both lined with a non-slip rubbery substance. On the outside there’s a little lever thing that can be used to start a pull tab or open a bottle that has an actual metal bottle cap. I’ve found it useful for all kinds of containers.
@Cathy: Oh, my gosh, that’s gorgeous. Thank you for the link!!
My favorite kitchen gadget is a magnet I got that says when the dishes in the dishwasher are clean or dirty.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GKNU8WQ/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&aaxitk=4zHV7R2JXSJS6piCr0tFrg&hsa_cr_id=8996427020301&pd_rd_plhdr=t&pd_rd_r=59b206b0-8101-4839-9478-b8c1b049fc99&pd_rd_w=Nhr2J&pd_rd_wg=OTtOh&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_mcd_asin_2_title
I have that kettle and use it multiple times daily! I bought it early last year as I kept getting teas from my tea subscription that wanted less than boiling tea, and my old Russel Hobbs I bought as an import from the UK only did boil. It is FANTASTIC and since I now WFH due to COVID, I’m drinking 3x the tea I used to, so it’s been a gamechanger.
In regard to the salt cellar – I once saw an episode of a show (Rachel Ray?) where she was cooking and had a guest. The host/cook asked the guest to add some salt from the open salt cellar and the guest dumped the entire thing in. oopsie
My digital scale. Totally changed my baking game. Was just way easier! It’s also helping me with my sourdough bread journey now! And I agree with Catherine. Pre microplane zester, i couldn’t imagine what the big deal about zest was!
Years ago I worked at a tea shop and purchased a Breville One-Touch water boiler/tea brewer. It’s boil the water to the correct temp for your tea then lower the basket in and brew for the correct time and it lifts up. Very cool! However, in the long run we have simply used it as a multi-temp water boiler. It gets used a dozen times daily and I’ve had it for at least 8 years.
Like @Varian Ross I have a magnet showing if the dishes are clean or dirty in the dishwasher. Mine has Peanut characters on it.
Another thing that is essential in my house where I have three adult children living with us for various reasons is a small whiteboard on the fridge. We can leave reminders or other important info there. For example, I have a daughter with a chronic illness and she lets us know if she’s had a bad night so we can help her take care of her dog, etc.
Lastly, we have an Amazon Echo Dot in the kitchen and anyone can leave their food wishes/needs on our shopping list. I resisted the change from written grocery lists, but now I can’t imagine going back. I just look around my kitchen saying,”Alexis, add catsup” “Alexis, add bread” and my shopping list is done in a couple of minutes. Plus we can play our favorite music while cook and clean up. 🙂
I also love my digital scale and immersion blender!
One thing we had to replace was our old can opener, but when we got a smooth edge version, I had no idea how much I would love it. Safer and easier to use all around!
https://www.target.com/p/oxo-smooth-edge-can-opener/-/A-13567823
Salt cellar: I have one like this (not exact) – I like it because I swivel the lid – it doesn’t come off – and it has a magnet to keep it closed.
https://smile.amazon.com/Home-Basics-Bamboo-Magnetic-Natural/dp/B06W2G8GNS/ref=sr_1_10?crid=MLXMY9VCXXT&dchild=1&keywords=bamboo+salt+box+with+magnetic+swivel+lid&qid=1619024436&sprefix=bamboo+swivel+lid%2Caps%2C183&sr=8-10
Due to an unsuspected health issue, I am now on a really strict diet that does not allow any fried food or cooking with oil, butter, etc. I got a Calphalon saute pan as a wedding present YEARS ago but was always afraid to use it for fear I’d mess it up. Well I am using the heck out of that thing now! It’s a revelation to be able to cook without any sort of lubrication and end up with lovely fresh-tasting veggies and still have easy cleanup! I’m planning to invest in more Calphalon as my new menu grows.
I am also a big fan of my electric kettle! I can gauge the heat level for different types of tea and it’s ready in a snap. I use it every morning and multiple other times most days.
Need to get a new carafe for my iced tea maker, now that I am back to brewing my own iced tea.
My husband and I eat a low sodium diet for health reasons. We get a lot of use from our Dash, Pinch, Smidgen measuring spoons.
https://www.amazon.com/Mrs-Andersons-Baking-Measuring-Smidgen/dp/B000H0UAUI/ref=mp_s_a_1_11_mod_primary_new?dchild=1&keywords=smidgen+pinch+dash&qid=1619028255&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sr=8-11
I love my KitchenAid electric kettle: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NV60R3U/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I have been getting a ton of use out of mini tongs and also mini spatulas. And as always, I love a Danish dough whisk.
Y’all, I am a late convert to the air fryer. It roasts veggies. It toasts bread. It *reheats leftover fries.* (That last is what sold me on it.) I use it literally every day, and I love it so much.
I’m also a big fan of my vintage Pyrex fridge storage containers. I’m so much more likely to eat my sliced apples or grapes if they’ve already been washed and sliced and are easily viewable in those pretty, nearly indestructible containers.
Lazy Susans in the fridge and pantry. No more forgetting about stuff in the back row and I don’t have to try to read labels in low light areas.
I have a salt cellare like Bagels and I love it because I only need one hand.
Also, an air fryer convert who is excited about my new accessories: parchment paper w/holes, small pan and pot, and rack to increase cooking area.
But I would trade it all for a dishwasher…not really, but I do dream.
Came back to add toaster tongs. Mine have silicone hands on the grabby end because I’m a child, but there are adult formats available, too. Handy (snerk) for fishing out petite breadstuffs that don’t pop up above the rim of the toaster, especially when there are people in the house who can’t be trusted to carefully stick a fork into an electrical appliance.
I gifted myself a Ninja Foodi indoor grill/air fryer. I use it 3-4 times a week. It cooks everything to perfection. I made fajitas last week. Got the meat grilling then added peppers and onions the last few minutes. Everything goes in the dishwasher. I can’t say enough good things about it. At Costco for $179.00.
Am I the only person who finds salt cellars kinda gross?
So many great gadgets-and we actually own a lot of them. I’m guessing my Kitchen Aid mixer is more of an appliance than a gadget, along with the InstaPot.
I do love my immersion blender-got it many years ago. I used to make shakes with it, then I realized that healthy soups are so easy to make, and the immersion blender is very handy for that. Oh-a good cookie press is a wonder to have, because I am all about the Spritz cookie!
Bon Apetit (sigh) videos sold me on the salt cellar thing, but I was weirded out by the open container and reaching in with my bare fingers. So I got a cellar with a lid and cute little bamboo spoons for scoops.
Cellar: Bee House Salt Box – Jeans Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MHXBVQK
Spoons: BambooMN Brand – Carbonized Brown… https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004FW32BI
My absolute fave kitchen gadget is my oven thermometer. My cakes started coming out raw and sunken all of a sudden this past March, and my bread wasn’t browning properly, so I bought the thermometer and found out that all the issues were because my oven takes 30-45 minutes to heat up, and its dial is a lying minx that is almost always off by about 20 degrees C. But now that I know all this, I’ve adjusted my baking to suit the temperamental appliance and I’m back to evenly-baked breads and cakes. Woo! (I’m adding the link for the thermometer, in case anyone else has a tricky oven, as is so often the case in rental houses! https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01685ZUS2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
For anyone weirded out by salt cellars — I keep a dessert spoon in mine so I don’t reach in with dirty hands and change the spoon often! Works a charm. Mine is a “salt pig” from Le Creuset.
I need that scraper!
My shares are in the small appliance family. We are currently renovating our kitchen and had pledged that we would not be doing a whole lot of takeout. Two things that have been essentials are both from Cuisinart. The first is a combo toaster, air fryer & convection oven that has been a workhorse. From good old toast to open face sandwiches to roasting cauliflower, I love it. There’s also the two burner hot plate that has been great for basic food prep & heating up soup.
PS – I took my seat on the Instant Pot bandwagon this week. It’s going to be fun getting acquainted with it.