Kitchen Gadgets

[LuvtheCooper]

I just got through putting dinner together for tonight (Shepherd's Pie, YUMMY!!) and it made me think of my kitchen gadgets that I love.
I absolutely LOVE my potato ricer, it's not a must have by any means, but I love it and it made me wonder what other kitchen gadgets are out there that are just wonderful that I might not even know about.
So, tell me about that kitchen gadget that you just adore...tell me why I NEED one, please.

[MyLadies]

Cool question!

I guess my favorite is my French Press for coffee. I got tired of going thru automatic coffee makers every year (they seemed to break that often, if not sooner). (also the possibility of bats entering them scares me as well: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/off...sorry-her.html) The French Press is glass, so it gives off no plastick-y taste to the coffee, you just taste pure coffee. No electricity is used either (well except to boil the water, or gas to boil the water on the stove). No inner workings to break down. Just pure simple functionality.

So my vote is for my French Coffee Press.

Oh, .. yes, for all those reasons .. you need to get one. LOL..

[Wylie's Mom]

My Global Knives - yes, they are expensive, but SO worth every dang penny. Honestly, you could get away with having ONE good Global knife in your kitchen (or, 3 at most). I have the Santuko Knife, the paring knife, and the serrated knife. But it's the Santuko that is the DARLING of my kitchen - plus I LOVE the design.

[celstu1]

I have a mini blender like a bullet blender almost! Its awesome! I make guacamole, hummus, grated parm cheese, mixed drinks, protein shakes, salsa, grind whole bean coffee, etc! My stepfather is the king of kitchen gadgets, he cracks me up! Every year we try to find a gadget he does not have as a joke! haha I really want a slicer! For tomatoes and cucumbers and carrots, bread, really almost anything! It would make salad making so much easier!

What is a potato ricer? That sounds fun too!

[Betty'sMom]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

My Global Knives - yes, they are expensive, but SO worth every dang penny. Honestly, you could get away with having ONE good Global knife in your kitchen (or, 3 at most). I have the Santuko Knife, the paring knife, and the serrated knife. But it's the Santuko that is the DARLING of my kitchen - plus I LOVE the design.

I LOVE my knives!!!!!!!! To me, they are the most important utensils in the kitchen! I have a Henckel brand Santuko, chef knife, paring knife and serrated bread slicer. I also love a good quality cutting board. I never heard of Global knives! I MUST google!!!!!!!!

[AngelWorks]

Mind you I cook everything from scratch.

Not because I am special but because I enjoy as much stress as I can have in my life.

My must haves:

Kitchen Aide Pro Mixer

Micro plane graters

good knives

cast iron & good heavy gauge stainless cookware

silicone baking sheets

my cusinart mini chopper---- 15 years running and use it at least 6 times a week

On my wish list:

one of those mandoline slicer thingys

a dehydrator

yogurt maker

I just started making my own sprouts --- so easy!

[LuvtheCooper]

Originally Posted by MyLadies

Cool question!

I guess my favorite is my French Press for coffee. I got tired of going thru automatic coffee makers every year (they seemed to break that often, if not sooner). (also the possibility of bats entering them scares me as well: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/off...sorry-her.html) The French Press is glass, so it gives off no plastick-y taste to the coffee, you just taste pure coffee. No electricity is used either (well except to boil the water, or gas to boil the water on the stove). No inner workings to break down. Just pure simple functionality.

So my vote is for my French Coffee Press.

Oh, .. yes, for all those reasons .. you need to get one. LOL..

that is a good one! I personally don't drink coffee but my mother-in-law loves hers. My husband has a bean grinder he loves.

[LuvtheCooper]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

My Global Knives - yes, they are expensive, but SO worth every dang penny. Honestly, you could get away with having ONE good Global knife in your kitchen (or, 3 at most). I have the Santuko Knife, the paring knife, and the serrated knife. But it's the Santuko that is the DARLING of my kitchen - plus I LOVE the design.

I don't have the Global brand...but I do have really good J H Henckle knives ( I know I mispelled that ). I have the Santuko one too...but I really don't use it that much...wonder why
I googled the ones you were talking about, they look nice!!

[LuvtheCooper]

Originally Posted by celstu1

I have a mini blender like a bullet blender almost! Its awesome! I make guacamole, hummus, grated parm cheese, mixed drinks, protein shakes, salsa, grind whole bean coffee, etc! My stepfather is the king of kitchen gadgets, he cracks me up! Every year we try to find a gadget he does not have as a joke! haha I really want a slicer! For tomatoes and cucumbers and carrots, bread, really almost anything! It would make salad making so much easier!

What is a potato ricer? That sounds fun too!

That is one thing I have had on my list to get, a submersible blender hand held thingy...is that what you are talking about?

A potato ricer is...well you put your cooked potato in it and it smooshes it through these little holes...perfect mashed potatoes, never a lump one...saw Paula Dean use one and had to have it. I love to watch Paula Dean.

[LuvtheCooper]

Originally Posted by AngelWorks

Mind you I cook everything from scratch.

Not because I am special but because I enjoy as much stress as I can have in my life.

My must haves:

Kitchen Aide Pro Mixer

Micro plane graters

good knives

cast iron & good heavy gauge stainless cookware

silicone baking sheets

my cusinart mini chopper---- 15 years running and use it at least 6 times a week

On my wish list:

one of those mandoline slicer thingys

a dehydrator

yogurt maker

I just started making my own sprouts --- so easy!

Wow, sounds like you are one dedicated cook!! The Kitchen Aid Mixer...you are so right, love it!! Also love my little mini Cuisinart...I use it all the time too. A yogurt maker looks cool, but I know that would be something I would buy and it would just take up space under my counter...along with the George Forman Grill, and my CrockPot that I use maybe twice a year.

[maxmom]

Originally Posted by LuvtheCooper

Wow, sounds like you are one dedicated cook!! The Kitchen Aid Mixer...you are so right, love it!! Also love my little mini Cuisinart...I use it all the time too. A yogurt maker looks cool, but I know that would be something I would buy and it would just take up space under my counter...along with the George Forman Grill, and my CrockPot that I use maybe twice a year.

I love my George Foreman, quick chicken breast, the kids use it for hamburgers.My wooden spoons!!!! I have tons,can't cook with out them.
I'm glad this thread started, I usually chop everything with a knife, but my neighbor gave me a food processor (Hamilton Beach) was on sale at Target last week, 6 cups,(24.99), other than to chop, how much do you use it?
I'm happy she got it for me, I've always wanted one, but I don't want it to be taking space in one my kitchen cabinets along with the crock pot, Mr.Juicer, the huge fryer, etc, etc.

[Gracie2006]

Its got to be my Zojirushi Rice Cooker! Cooks any kind of rice perfectly. No burning, no sticking. No boiling over or boiling dry. Just set it and leave it to do its thing. I have had mine for several years with no problems.

[moosie's mom]

Ok...I love, love, love kitchen gadgets!!! I think my all time favorite is my Pampered Chef "garlic press"

[AngelWorks]

Originally Posted by LuvtheCooper

Wow, sounds like you are one dedicated cook!! The Kitchen Aid Mixer...you are so right, love it!! Also love my little mini Cuisinart...I use it all the time too. A yogurt maker looks cool, but I know that would be something I would buy and it would just take up space under my counter...along with the George Forman Grill, and my CrockPot that I use maybe twice a year.

Honestly, my crockpot does one thing for me. when I have huge family dinners it keeps the smashed potatoes hot and fresh. For that one reason, it deserves a place in my kitchen.

[BubblPopElectrc]

Originally Posted by LuvtheCooper

Wow, sounds like you are one dedicated cook!! The Kitchen Aid Mixer...you are so right, love it!! Also love my little mini Cuisinart...I use it all the time too. A yogurt maker looks cool, but I know that would be something I would buy and it would just take up space under my counter...along with the George Forman Grill, and my CrockPot that I use maybe twice a year.

I love our George Forman Grill! We use it several times a week. We use it for chicken breasts, fish, as a panini press, etc.