What are your favorite kitchen gadgets?

I have quite a few kitchen gadgets. Among my favorites is my "alligator". You put a 1/2 or 1/4 onion in it and it PERFECTLY dices the onion. My hubby gave this to me a few years ago and I use it a few times a week. Another favorite is my microplane grater...perfect for zesting the citrus from my yard. What are your favorites??

My favorite kitchen tool has still got to be my food processor.  It is the first tool that got used with almost every recipe I made.  I am now on my third processor and have had two mini ones.  Can't cook without it.

Good Cooking!!

Rita

 

 

 

I have a food processor too but rarely use it. I really should. I have all the fancy blades. I've recently decided that I'm not buying shredded cheese anymore, I'm buying blocks and shredding my own. My food processor would make that task so much easier. Thanks, Rita...you've inspired me to get it out!

Ellen

Hands down my VitaMix. Tho I suppose is that is more an appliance than a gadget.

 

I will second the MicroPlanes tho! Gadgets on my to die for list: The Rosle meat pounder I saw at Sur la Table. It basically looks like a large heavy solid metal spatula that could pound a whole half chicken breast at a time, but comes in at a whopping $40 which I haven't been able to justify yet on a meat pounder.

 

I am in love with my Boos block cutting board as well if that counts as a gadget.

 

My newest found "off use" gadget. A tea ball-plain old little mesh stainless thing designed to hold tea leaves. (They make larger versions which I believe are called rice balls and designed for rice.) Instead of using cheesecloth to hold spices and herbs like allspice berries, cinnamon sticks and so on, just put them in the tea ball, throw the ball in the pan.

 

I have a food processor but it ranks in there as a "cabinet sitter"-it sits in the cabinet until it gets pulled out maybe a half dozen times a year. I can do most of the things it can quicker and with more precision, and the things I can't, my VitaMix can. (VitaMix rocks at whipping cream by the way which was a discovery I made a few weeks ago!) And fewer washable pieces. ;-) That said, I typically only cook for 2, if I had to prepare larger quantities my opinion on the food processor may be different. Williams Sonoma has an ultimately drool worthy die cast Cuisinart 16 cup right now-at an equally as drool worthy price of $300 smackeroos!

My favorite is my mini food processor. It is great for chopping an onion finely and limits the tears. I keep it in a drawer so it is easy access. I'd say I use it about 5 times a week. I agree about the microplane. That is a great one too. One that I do not see mentioned is another favorite of mine by Chef'n. It is called a Garlic Zoom. It is a self enclosed garlic mincer with "wheels". I love how it minces garlic! And you feel like you are a kid rolling your Matchbox cars! Easy to use and easy to clean.

Oddly enough, my favorite kitchen gadget is an old wooden spoon/spatula type of thingy. 

It is flat, shaped like a banana and has slicing "blades" (not even as sharp as plastic can be) - but my daughters love to slice a banana, drizzle it with a bit of chocolate syrup and eat for dessert.

"Secret Santa" gave it to me at work the year I was pregnant and eating at least one banana (for the potassium to ward off leg cramps) every day.

What a fun question!  I love kitchen gadgets!  I have a weakness for them!  I love to go to places like Tuesday Morning or TJ Maxx and browse their sections because you can frequently find them at discounted prices.  Especially with this economy, I have made a new rule for myself that I will only purchase discounted items. Fortunately you can find many gadgets through store sales, yardsales, etc.

 

I have several gadgets that I use weekly, but my top ones are:

My Vidalia onion chopper.  buffetfan, it sounds like your alligator is similar to one of these.  I LOVE it!!  I had one of the imitation ones at first and hated it.  Someone told me to get the "real" one and I found one at a good price on ebay (she had received two as gifts and put one up for auction-it was brand new!).I decided to go for it and  I now use it regularly!  I probably could keep it out on my counter, it is used so much. During the summer months, I buy bulk peppers and vidalia onions and chop and freeze them for use throughout the winter for my recipes - right now I have over a gallon of frozen viadia's in my freezer! LOL! I also use it for making salads (chopping the veggies), soups, etc.  LOVE IT!

 

I also use my old Weight Watcher's electronic scale several times weekly.  I LOVE that thing, too!  It is perfect for all kind of food measuring - and even helps with an occasional science fair project or two, too! LOL!  Once again, it was a purchase made based on a friend recommendation and now I couldn't do without it.  I buy food in bulk and freeze them in serving sizes - this helps me weigh out the portions. I use it for general cooking, too.  Another one of those "I will cry when it dies" gadget.

 

I have some other favorites - a favorite spoon that is heat reisistant to 500 degrees (a Tuesday Morning purchase for 75% off!); a favorite mixing bowl; etc.  And whereas this doesn't fall into the gadget category, I also just recently switched over to Corelle - again, buying dishes on clearance price at a Corelle store - and LOVE those things!  I wish I had purchased some years ago!  I used stoneware prior to this and never realized just how heavy those dishes were!  I am loving my Corelle, too! 

One of my favorites, though it doesn't get used real often is my Black and Decker Lids Off.  Great for oopening those glass jars that are screwed on so tight, like pickle jars. Great for arthritis patients (although I don't happen to be one), but I don't have the strength I used to have many years ago.  (I'm 84). Just set the jar on it and push down and Presto, it's open.