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Hello Everyone,
A conversation with a friend got me to thinking about the many kitchen gadgets I have stuck in a drawer and never use. I tend to be a cooking minimalist in terms of needing/using very few cooking tools. For instance, I own a food processor but rarely get it out. I chop things by hand only because it's easier than pulling something out of the cupboard and having to wash it. I'm interested to hear from others. What is a kitchen tool you absolutely must have? What percentage of kitchen gadgets that you own do you actually use regularly?
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Re: Kitchen Gadgets
I'm with those folks who have a food processor they don't use because of cleanup. I have a juicer that I use rarely for the same reason. Cleaning that screen is SUCH a pain. My favorite kitchen tools are my 8" Culinary Institute of America knife that I absolutely STOLE off Ebay last year. Retailed for $100. I got it for $25. *takes a bow* My other favorite is my hand-cranked apple/tater peeler/corer/slicer that my ex bought for Christmas. Has come in way handy for apple butter-making.
Re: Kitchen Gadgets
I love my hand-crank kitchen toys: mixer (like Lovina's in Baking Book), cheese grater, meat slicer, and dough maker. I like being able to perform cooking tasks without being tied to the grid.
additionally, I love my treadle sewing machines. I collect them and the first thing I do when I get a "new" one is a motor-ectomy! all I need now is a safe non-electric iron, for quilting. hummmmm
blessings,
CarylAnne
Re: Kitchen Gadgets
Oooers. I wanna treadle sewing machine too---and lessons on its use. They're beautiful as well as being functional.
Re: Kitchen Gadgets
hi Meglet44, treadles are a lot of fun. so are hand cranks! here is a site that you may enjoy and find informative about people powered sewing machines.
www.treadleon.net
craigslist or ebay are places to find a nice treadle. or if you are like me, treadles.
I can't help it if i drive past and a treadle head machine jumps into my car. 
contently treadling, blessings, CarylAnne
Re: Kitchen Gadgets
I love my food processor and my stand mixer. I also have an electric juicer that I am fond of. I have rheumatoid arthritis and these
things have made it possible for me to continue cooking.
Re: Kitchen Gadgets
this may sound funny but my favorit kitchen gadget is my daughter she is such a help
Re: Kitchen Gadgets
I really like that one. My son, who will be 37 in April, always helped me. He still likes to cook.
Re: Kitchen Gadgets
that might be the best "gadget" of all
Re: Kitchen Gadgets
This isn't really a "gadget" but it's one of my favorite kitchen things...a medium-sized purple mixing bowl with a handle that a friend got me because she knows how much I love purple. During our recent kitchen remodel my husband actually threw out my favorite kitchen gadget...a small rolling pin that was perfect for rolling out dough on a small counter space. It had a short roller, about 2", on one end of a handle and a longer roller, about 5" on the other end. The short end had broken off but it was the longer end I loved anyway. He just saw it as as broken and threw it out. Needless to say, I was quite annoyed. My other favorite gadget is my banana slicer.
Re: Kitchen Gadgets
That sounds lids a pitza roller. I use my all the time.
I con't cook without my mother's 80 year old pairing knife.
Re: Kitchen Gadgets
I did use it for pizza dough mostly. I got it from a Pampered Chef party years ago...you know...you don't really want to go but you feel like you should and so you order the most inexpensive thing in the catalogue...but I LOVED it. I know I could easily order another one but I'm waiting to see if my husband puts one in my stocking because he knew I was pretty perturbed...
Re: Kitchen Gadgets
I have a mini-food processor that I just love! I went to the Kitchen Aid store in Greenville, OH last year, thinking I would like to have a big food processor. Tried to remove it from the box when I got home, and it was huge and heavier than heck. Plus, I had NOWHERE to store it! So, back in the box it went, and we had to drive all the way back to Greenville the next weekend to return it! Guess I'll just stick with my little one. It gets the job done and is easy to clean.
Re: Kitchen Gadgets
I love my Kitchen Aid mixer....in green of course!
Re: Kitchen Gadgets
Same here..but mine is blue!! Ialso have a rolling pin that my great grandfather hand made for my grandma when she and grandpa got married..in 1928!! It is the one that I use,it is weighted perfectly and has sentimental meaning as well.
Re: Kitchen Gadgets
I forgot one..I have a cast iron "combo pan" that I bought from Lehman's years ago. It is by far my favorite pan. It is deep with a tight-fitting lid that can also be used as a griddle. It makes absolutely the BEST roasts. I'd really miss it if it weren't here!!
Re: Kitchen Gadgets
I use a hand can opener. I have an electric one, but I need all the counter space I have, I just open the drawer and pull out the hand opener.
Re: Kitchen Gadgets
my garlic press- i use it all the time, a matter of fact i actually have 2
mortar &pestle- use this old kitchen "gadget" all the time instead of a food processor. i have a food processor too but i am too lazy to clean it, too many nooks and crannies for me.
coffee grinder-i use it for grinding seeds and spices, not coffee; i usually use the mortar, but if i am rushing i cheat with the grinder