Kitchen Tools/Gadgets...

Arborealus · Post by **Arborealus** » February 21, 2004, 6:17 pm

While we are talking knives what other kitchen gadgets do you find indispensible...

Things I woud hate to be without:

Vegetable Peeler/Corer
Zester
Box grater
Wooden spoon
Wooden spatula
Meat Tenderizer/Mallet
Fine Tined Meat Fork
Stainless (Scissor Type) Tongs
Set of graduated Stainless Whisks
Set of graduated Stainless Ladles
Set of graduated Stainless Measuring Spoons
Set of graduated Stainless Measuring Cups
Large Stainless Spoon
Large Stainless Slotted Spoon
Stainless Spatula
Stainless Slotted Spatula
Pump Up Oil Sprayer
Dough Cutter/Potato Masher
Pocket Meat Thermometer
Meat Injector
Basting Brush
Chinoise
Stainless Colander
Fluid Handled Ice Cream Scoop (sounds like a luxury but damn it makes perfect scoops every time)
2 Cup graduated Pyrex Meauring Cup with a nesting juicer
8 Cup graduated Pyrex Spouted Mixing Bowl
2, 2.5 liter Pyrex Mixing Bowls
3 Quart Copper Bowl
Heavy Duty Blender
Tiered Cooling Rack
Tea Ball
Flour Sifter
Rolling Pin (dunno how I forgot that...

)

Screwpull Wine Opener - really, if you haven't yet, try one of these! very fine gauge helix will not cork the wine. I have had one for 20 years or so now. the pocket model has a knife for the lead and a standard bottle opener built in as well.

Braun 1 handed Pulse Blender with Seperate Nut Chopper - I use this some for pureeing sauces in pan, bringing cream to soft peak quickly
but as much for the chopper which is good for a fast pesto or jerk, crushing crackers etc to a powder for battering (I love to use one of the salty/sweet chex mixes to make crumbs for battering)

By the way Army Surplus Stores are often a good source for the stainless utensils a good number of my utensils are WWII USMC Issue (thanks Grandad...

)

Arundel Pajo · Post by **Arundel Pajo** » February 21, 2004, 6:33 pm

Hmm... what do I find indispensable in the kitchen...

variety of of wooden cutting boards. one nice one, and two cheapies
box grater
prep bowls
colander
sieve
stick blender, for blending soups in the pot
standing mixer
salt mill and pepper mill....freshly ground salt and pepper is *so* much better
candy thermometer
kitchen torch
cooling racks
spices...lots and lots and lots of spices...
decent pots and pans - I'm spoiled to these now, after years of cooking on crap. All-Clad, Calphalon (higher-end calphalon), and Cuisinart are teh win! ...gotta be oven-proof, too...
Rabbit-style corkscrew
food processor
rice cooker (makes rice cooking automatic and lets me focus on other things)
George Foreman mini-grill... c'mon, admit it...who doesn't love these?
wooden spoons
a big-ass stock pot
ramekins
double-boiler
a good wire wisk
pressure cooker
mortar and pestle

Arborealus · Post by **Arborealus** » February 21, 2004, 6:37 pm

Lets put the actual cook ware on it's own thread...

I really prefer the screwpull to the vinters...which may be heresy to traditionalists/oenologists much easier and intuitive...

laneela · Post by **laneela** » February 21, 2004, 6:57 pm

I won't go and name everything I couldn't live without though for the most part, my list is similar to both of yours. The one thing missing that I would cry for 15 days straight if I were to lose is my garlic press.

Arborealus · Post by **Arborealus** » February 21, 2004, 7:15 pm

laneela wrote:I won't go and name everything I couldn't live without though for the most part, my list is similar to both of yours. The one thing missing that I would cry for 15 days straight if I were to lose is my garlic press.

I have 2...Very seldom use them though unless I just want a super silky sauce that I'm not going to run through a Chinoise...

Pherr the Dorf · Post by **Pherr the Dorf** » February 22, 2004, 2:45 am

Arborealus wrote:Lets put the actual cook ware on it's own thread...

I really prefer the screwpull to the vinters...which may be heresy to traditionalists/oenologists much easier and intuitive...

I am a Vitners fan, but I own older bottles of wine, once you learn you'll never go back, broken corks suck ass!

laneela · Post by **laneela** » February 23, 2004, 10:47 pm

Arborealus wrote:
laneela wrote:I won't go and name everything I couldn't live without though for the most part, my list is similar to both of yours. The one thing missing that I would cry for 15 days straight if I were to lose is my garlic press.
I have 2...Very seldom use them though unless I just want a super silky sauce that I'm not going to run through a Chinoise...

Being Cuban, I make a lot of hispanic dishes which require a hell lot of garlic (minced or pressed). I tend to use my press at least 3 nights a week.

Sirensa · Post by **Sirensa** » February 24, 2004, 1:38 pm

I never realized how much I love my garlic press until it snapped in the middle of me pressing some garlic.

That night of hand mincing was torture!

Arundel Pajo · Post by **Arundel Pajo** » February 24, 2004, 3:05 pm

*shrug* I dunno... I prefer to hand mince. I have two garlic presses and seldom use either of them, really.

I'm strange that way, I guess.

Laliana · Post by **Laliana** » February 24, 2004, 3:35 pm

Arundel Pajo wrote:*shrug* I dunno... I prefer to hand mince. I have two garlic presses and seldom use either of them, really.

I'm strange that way, I guess.

Me too!

My box grater
My corkscrew....as old as Arbor's (the same one I used back in the days of waiting tables)
Tongs

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » February 24, 2004, 9:07 pm

I stopped using garlic presses only because I like to manipulate how the garlic is presented. Slap it with the side of yer blade, remove paper, and do what ya will with it..dice, mince, etc...

I

my RONCO Rotisserre. I have had it for 4 years and am convinced it makes the best fucking chicken in the world.

Swiiter · Post by **Swiiter** » March 5, 2004, 3:37 pm

Fuzzy Logic Rice Cooker. Man I love it, perfect rice every time. I'm half japanese, so I make sticky rice at least 4 times a week to go with the meals I cook.

Pherr the Dorf · Post by **Pherr the Dorf** » March 6, 2004, 5:19 am

Pan whisk, it's a funky shaped little gadget that wisks light years beter then a standard baloon whisk