Gadgets

Updated 12/27/11

Kitchen Gadgets helpful, but not absolutely essential. You will note I avoid  plastics and prefer Stainless Steel, Aluminum and glass where it isn’t prohibitively expensive.

Batter Bowl: 6 cup bowl. About 7.5" in diameter by 4" in height with handle. Glass – clear or milk glass.

Colander: Most will do nicely, but I’ve found the WEAR- EVER aluminum colander nicely done. Lighter then Stainless, convenient only 9” in diameter and without handles.

Cream whipper: ISI brand is very convent way to make desserts shine with a professional touch. Fluff cream rather then a nondescript dollop.

Fish Bone Tweezers: This is something new for me. Just been struggling along with a pair of tongs, but they are much better for cleaning bones from raw fish.

Grater/Zestor: Cuisipro 11.5-Inch Medium Grater, stainless steel ideal for hard cheeses and vegetables and zesting lemons & limes. I actually use an antique tin plated one and this is the closest to it.

Garlic Press: Zyliss Susi, made of aluminum It takes a clove of garlic – unpeeled in the chamber and presses out the garlic!

Grinder:  I've added a new "gadget", a Krups 203 Electric Coffee and Spice Grinder to grind dry spices. It does a good job is inexpensive and breaks down the spices to release their flavor.

 

Juicer:  I just use an old reamer style “Glass Citrus Juicer”

Measuring Cup: 1 Cup Glass the old stand Fire-King Crystal Cup – sturdy, easy to read you probably have one somewhere.

Measuring Spoons: Set of 4 Stainless Steel, round bottom bowl so powders don’t stick in the corners. The Farberware Pro does fine.

Meat Tenderizer: Used to pound meat to brake down the peptide bonds making it tender.
Also known as a meat mallet, they typically have small spikes on one face; and ribs on the other allowing it to be used to thin meat out. The one pictured here I made in a night school machine shop course. Winco makes a similar one AMT-4

Mortar and Pestle Set: A 3 ½ inch diameter in porcelain is ideal for crushing pepper corns and dried spices. Just slipped my mind ‘till I had to use it.

Potato Masher: Cutco, expensive but simply the best

Ricer: Not a known item today, but it is the only way to make mashed turnips, parsnips and other root vegetables that don’t come out water logged. I use an old fashioned cast Ricer as pictured, but you can buy a good Stainless one from Cuisipro.

Scissor Tongs: Echo chrome-plated steel good for corn, crab, sausages and many other items. Sturdy and will last a lifetime.

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Spoons: Spoons and a ladle are essential – again my favorites are those by Cutco

Tongs: 12” Stainless-Steel by Edlund (USA) with lock. Excellent for picking up most hot items a must to have on hand.

Vegetable peeler: The plain old swivel peeler, nickel plated with a carbon steel blade works fine.


Whisk:  12” Stainless Steel Balloon whisk with loose bails that don’t touch at the end with a smooth handle and no hook. The Williams–Sonoma fits the bill.

One last thought - If you think my aversion to plastics is unfounded, Stop in at a local Goodwill store and view the array of plastic items donated by their owners.

The most useless Kitchen gadgets

Add yours to the list in the comments area Thanks

I’m looking at this listing from the prospective that 1. A cook/chef should be adept at using a knife at least a large chef’s knife. With that in mind most gadgets that chop/dice/slice are rendered unnecessary. In most cases they require more clean-up time then just using the knife in the first place. Having said that – here goes.

1. Asparagus peeler – all it does is replace your finger when a vegetable peeler works better.

2. Egg Separator – The shell method is so easy to learn and one less thing to clog your drawer and just more washing. Go here to learn how: http://tipsonfood.blogspot.com/2010/09/separate-egg.html

3. Electric can opener: Excluding arthritic people it just takes up counter space. The Swing-A-Way by Amco is so much handier.

4. Shrimp Deveiner (plastic): All they do is mash the shrimp. A sharp paring knife will do a much better job.

5. George Foreman Type Grill: It’s unbelievable the number for them that are for sale at yard sales and at Goodwill.

6. Avocado slier: Another substitute for good knife handling

7. Garlic peeler: Why? Just use one of the rubber mat type bottle openers, or a Whack with the side of a knife.

8. Microwave? We have one, don’t cook in it – just soften butter in it

9. Garbage Disposal:  Had one when we bought the house. Took it out as I have done whenever we moved. They are bad for septic tanks, add nutrients to pollute waterways

10. Immersion Blender: My first mistake in Kitchen gadgets was listening to all of the accolades on the “net” about how wonderful the thing is, it is in the Top 10 most useful gadgets on many a list. Well I bought one! Wrong decision, big waste of money.

Summary: The immersion blender has been around for home use about 20 years. Also called a hand blender or stick blender they have a blade on the end of a shaft allowing it to blender in any container. Its primary purpose is pureeing small amounts of soups, sauces or smoothies. They have a tendency to splatter when placed in a liquid and turned on. They are also capable of chopping garlic, nuts and small portion of vegetable.

Unfortunately, I don’t like “smooth” soup, I don’t even make soup; and sauces are better handled with a whisk. The other major “use” is whipping cream –NOT! Use an ISI cream whipper with a N2O cartridge – it does it professionally and dispenses beautifully

If you want a cream soup, and purred soups, go for it. Otherwise save your hard earned cash.

Just in case the thought is I got the wrong one – It’s the top rated Cuisinart! Anyone need a slightly used blender?

SOLD IT TODAY - Thank God!

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