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Gadgets Galore: Some You Gotta Have and Some You Can Forget

by Nancy Miller

aerial view of various kitchen gadgets laid out on a white surface

Gadgets have a way of taking over your kitchen. But some are definite time savers and many make your life much easier. So, what are super cool kitchen helpers and what are just plain nonsense and a waste of space?

I WANT THAT! I NEED THAT!

When a recent recipe called for two teaspoons of thyme, I let out a distinctive ugh because I hate peeling the leaves from the stems. After finally doing it, I realized my kitchen was lacking a smart little device I should have bought a long time ago. An herb stripping tool. I wouldn’t stop what you’re doing, since you’re reading this article, but as soon as you can, jump in the car and go to a kitchen supply store and get one for yourself. Feel free to send your hugs and kisses to me.

Knives are dangerous things, especially when they’re not sharp. Contrary to what many people think, a dull knife is much more of a hazard than a sharp one. It may take you a few tries to get the hang of a sharpening steel, but once you do, you’ll be on your way to chopping and slicing like a true chef. Having said that, here’s advice to live by (well, at least cook by): invest in good quality knives. They work better and last longer than the cheap stuff.

Do the edges of your pie crusts brown before the rest of the crust? No? Well, you know a secret I don’t. But if you share my crust edge problem, the solution is a pie crust shield. It easily slips over the top of the pie plate, so that your lattice crust looks pretty as a picture.

Chefs have an innate sense that tells them when meat is cooked to perfection. For the rest of us, a meat thermometer is crucial. No more underdone, no more overdone. All done just like you want.

Whether you’re making a sauce, a dessert or just adding a bit of flavor to whatever you’re whipping up, squeezing lemons isn’t much fun. And you usually end up with seeds in the juice. A citrus juicer is quick and easy, giving you juice without the seeds.

Spuds can be down right dirty. Scrubbing them is a pain. Unless you have a potato brush. Not rocket science, to be sure, but it’s sure a handy helper.

The person who invited the microplane grater comes close to the top of all-time-great inventors. Use it for zesting oranges, grating cheese, almost anything you would usually let the box grater do.

When a recipe, especially for baking, calls for an ingredient in ounces, it’s best not to guess. Too little or too much could ruin the recipe. A digital food scale takes the guess work out of measuring. You’ll use it more often than you think you would.

Wrap your fish herbs in cheese cloth and tie it with kitchen twine and you’ll have a bouquet garni all ready to flavor lots of dishes. (Or, buy the small cheesecloth packets that come with their own tie.) When you’re finished cooking, you won’t have to poke around to remove the herb stems. Just pluck out the little packet and voila!

Whisks are utilitarian not only for whisking eggs but for many things for which you might normally use a spoon. And, the very act of whisking makes you feel like you’re in Julia Child’s kitchen!

THINGS TO THROW AWAY, GIVE AWAY OR DON’T BUY IN THE FIRST PLACE

Count the number of people who like to chop or slice garlic and you won’t get far. If you’re not one of them, the answer is not a garlic press. It’s not very efficient. Garlic gets stuck to it and it can be hard to clean. And there’s something about hand chopped or sliced garlic that just tastes better!

Avocado, egg and apple slicers take up drawer space. Are you really so busy you don’t have time to slice an egg or avocado? Probably not. And apple wedges have a way of sticking in the slicer. Get out a good knife and slice away.

We’re including the fish turner because we think it’s just so silly. Other than being able to say, “Oh, let me get the fish turner for that salmon” to someone you want to impress with your gadget collection, the turner is a waste of money. A versatile silicone turner is better and makes more sense.

Fancy ceramic measuring spoons are rarely accurate and they break. Stainless steel is your friend.

BEST ADVICE EVER

It may not be a gadget or an appliance, but the smartest of smart cooks know that the best thing they can have in the kitchen is someone to clean up the mess!