IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS, like the $7 apple corer that makes sweet work of baked apples, apple chips and any other apple or pear prep because it has just that little extra feature: a plunger to pop the core out of the coring tube. Brilliant!
In canning and freezing season, it’s having just the right funnel to fill the jars, the one that really fits. Year round, it’s having reusable bee’s-wax wraps that allow me to sharply reduce my use of plastic wrap (have you tried them yet?). Or a glass teapot so I can see how the brew is shaping up.
In my tiny kitchen, I don’t have room for many gadgets, so the ones I have really have to work, like the immersion blender that has all but retired my actual counter-hogging blender, or the super-durable electric kettle that signals the start to every day when I switch it on. The things that get the most use follow (disclosure: Amazon affiliate links), along with a couple of items, recommended by friends, that top my current wishlist. Like the dehydrator I wish I’d had as I shoved endless trays of apple slices into a 250F oven to dry this fall, a bumper apple year. At least I had the handy corer!
Two items I would add. Super Parchment Baking Liner (reusable and made in the USA), available from the Kitchen Supply Company. Cheese storage bags (extends shelf life of cheese much longer), available from Formaticum.com.
I have a 3-tier platic frame dehydrator that I seldom use anymore. If you’d like for yourself, Margaret, you can have it. Please email me (your sister knows me in person, so she can vouch for me.) –djs
Thanks, Deb, how sweet. I have an old one, too, but really want to (someday!) upgrade to the higher-powered and more efficient (and stainless) Excalibur.
This list has solved all of my Christmas shopping! Thank you.
Really enjoyed ( always do ) the kitchen gadget edition ! Bee’s wax wraps ? Can’t wait to get some !!! Great post !
Oh my gosh, I just added several of these wonderful recommendations to my Wish List! Thanks, Margaret!!!!
Thanks this is a wonderful wish list , gift list , setting up your first kitchen , and just replacing tired old usless equiptment.
My favorite is my “lemon squeezer”. It’s a hinged tool with 2 cups, one perforated, that take about 1/4 lemon and squeeze all the juice out of it. It’s great for squeezing citrus over whatever you’re cooking – and the seeds stay in the cup. I bought it in the supermarket for $7 or $8.
Great list. I hang o to stuff like my old apple corer that fits my hand nicely. I might splurge for the plunger type as it seems really easy. My re usable are my ancient tupperware for small stuff. The freezer keeps the lids in shape.
The plunger really is added value (and all for that tiny price…why didn’t I find this tool years ago?). :)
As a now-retired 30 year chef, kitchen tools are a fav subject! My A-#1 is a red (or black) plastic handled serrated round-tipped knife(sometimes called a ‘steak knife’ ), found in a display crock in kitchen stores,for very little $. They usually have no imprinted brand. It cuts most any and everything,and ‘peels’ carrots, celery,and onions… After it, a 9″ chef knife is all I need, for meats and bigger objects. Then it would be all my blue-top Sterilite containers for reusable refrig and freezer storage (much less $ than Tupperware, but hard to find now.) A good sturdy rubber spatula and a wooden paddle-like cooking ‘spoon’, a Cuisinart and a mini cuisinart and an electric juicer. The next tier down would be my Chinese bamboo-handled wire net scoop-strainers (for pastas),and my long metal handled flat skimmer-strainer.
As a gadget, I love my Unicorn one-handed pepper gun. In a tasteful Crafts gallery this summer, I discovered a line of cherry cooking spoons that I really like; some a paddle with a spoon bowl indented, some a good size spoon/scoop. I can’t find any labels, but they were all inexpensive.
Amazon was selling the Instant Pot IP-DUO60 7-in-1 for $78.50 two days ago (Black Friday at 4 p.m.) — best price I’ve seen. You may want to watch tomorrow (Cyber Monday) for a similar deal. I have two iPots because I like to cook rice and beans at the same time. Love them! Jill McKeever makes very instructional iPot videos.
Your site introduced me to Bees Wrap. So, I visited their website and ordered a starter pack. I love it! I never buy plastic wrap but sometimes miss the convenience. Bees Wrap solves that problem nicely. Thank you for passing along this eco friendly idea.
Glad you liked it, Jackie. I gave some to friends for Christmas, even, as stocking stuffers.