DiscussionsDiscussions in the Kitchen

I remember when my husband and I were registering for our wedding we had a 5 minute debate over if the Melon Baller was crazy thing suggest as a gift. I won (Happy wife, happy life right? [;)]) and I love using it… even though it only may be once or twice a year. Frivolous, maybe… Fantastic? Yes! 

Here are some of the latest gadgets I’ve seen and I want to know your thoughts. 

If you only had room in the drawer for one of these gadget, which one would it be?  Or do you use some of these already? 

I’m unsure if it’s my contacts but it looks like I’m sobbing like a baby when I’m trying to chop and dice onions. So, I find these Onion Glasses very tempting. I think these would be the gadget I invested in:

http://www.pillsburystore.com/p-471914-2740-onion-goggles_RSVP-International-Onion-Goggles-Pink.aspx

Green Bean Slicer

http://www.pillsburystore.com/p-272088-2740-BeanSlice-Green-Bean-Slicer_Chefn-Gadgets-BeanSlice-Green-Bean-Slicer-591-in.aspx

Grapefruiter Citrus Sectioning Tool

http://www.pillsburystore.com/p-229822-2740%202711%202691-Gadgets-Tools_Chefn-Grapefruiter-7-in.aspx

Frosting Deco Pen: A battery powered frosting pen? Yes.  

http://www.pillsburystore.com/p-292381-2740-Frosting-Deco-Pen_Kuhn-Rikon-Cooks-Tools-Frosting-Deco-Pen-95-in.aspx

Quick and Swift Tomato Slicer

http://www.pillsburystore.com/p-243479-2740-tomato-slicer_Amco-Tomato-Slicer-Red-2-pc.aspx

Have you picked up a gadget recently that you love? Tell us about it! 

My newest gadget is an extractor for lemons and limes. For the first time ever I had extra lemons and limes so I needed to juice them to freeze. I bought an extractor that is good for limes and lemons - has a double insert that works for one or the other fruit. Works like a charm and gets all the juice out ! Now I have lots of cubes of lemon juice and lime juice in my freezer. ( Put the juice in ice cube trays and then bagged them for future use.)

I totally love my Nicer Dicer.  It is so easy to use and dices everything the same size.  My foods, like Potato Salad tastes so much better. My omelets are a breeze.  I don't have to dice with a knife any longer.  It is perfect for a diabetic.  I am giving all my daughters one for Christmas.  It is the best gadget I have ever bought!!!!! I absolutely recommend it!!!

I bought this wacky wavy metal gadget at a yard sale for 25 cents.  It makes nice wavy fries and carrots and pickle slices... I think that's what it was intended for but it's not too sharp.  Collects lots of dust and I only use it twice a year.  Okay for the money I suppose.  [*-)]  I tried to sell that Majic Bullet my sister gave me three times at a yard sale but noone wants it.  Sure does take up a lot of space!  The garlic tube peeler was a total waste of money... Much prefer whacking with the blade of the knife.. ahh satisfaction.

I love my avocado slicer.  I don't use it very often, but it's so much easier than the knife method.

[:)]  Hi.  I love mine also, not frivolous.  Susan

My favorite new item is my dough whisk.  It's perfect for adding chocolate chunks to brownies or apples to muffins!  It does a great job of incorporating them thoroughly into the dough without tearing them up, and it doesn't put any unwanted air into your batters.  Don't know how I got along without it!

I have a chopping device from pampered chef that I love. I used to haul out the huge cusinart food processor when the family was size 7. Now for two people the chopper is the right size. I am glad I held on to it for 15+ years before actually starting to use it.

Potato Ricer

I found a great gadget in my Mom's cupboard that I recall she used to make "riced potatoes" with when we were kids - a long time go.  You put a cooked & peeled potato in the round section and squeeze until the potato squeezes out through little holes and looks very stringy.  It is really a fun thing to use for the grandchildren - the potatoes taste good and are something like they have never seen.

I have a "thing" like yours that I use to make German spaetzle, also for squeezing thru raspberries. But my main gadgets are my meat saw, my grinders and sharpening steel.

A friend gave me a Garlic Zoom - http://www.amazon.com/Chefn-GZM-CDU12-Garlic-Zoom/dp/B000ZM7CV8 - and I love it. I still get to whack the cloves, but a few swipes of this thing afterwards and I have all the minced garlic I need in a second or two. Love it!

Tony