My Three Most Favorite Kitchen Gadgets
For kitchen gadgets, 
everybody has their favorites -- for me, I like to keep my meals simple; lots of salads, soups, easy to prepare rice and fish dishes, and the like. For these kinds of meals, you don't need a lot of kitchen gadgets, just good ones. These three tools I use frequently. If you have your favorites -- that you can't get along without -- note them in the comments section; don't be shy.
Measuring cups -- gotta' have them. These Stainless Steel Measuring Cups ($43.96) -- from Sur La Table -- are ideal for the home chef, professional baker, or cooking enthusiast. Made from non-rusting stainless steel alloys, the set of 8 cups (sized from 1/4 to 2 cups) offers highly accurate measurements for your food prep, and is dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.
For larger amounts of liquids, of course, measurin
g is a lot easier with a glass measuring cup, like this one; the exasperating thing, for me, was having to hold the cup to eye level to see what amount of fluid I had to add or subtract to get what I needed. Enter the Pyrex Read-From-Above Measuring Cup ($4-8). I appreciate the oversized graphics that make for simple measurement of water, milk, juices, and the like. The handle is perfectly formed to grip with a wet hand, the non-porous glass won't retain food odors or absorb stains, and the cup is dishwasher, freezer, oven, and microwave-safe. Your choice of sizes from 1-4 cups, and comes with a 2 year (limited) warranty.
Finally, my go-to utensil f
or an entire range of foods, both in prep and at the table. The Sur La Table Bamboo Turner ($7) -- a generously sized, 12" long spatula, so you can keep your hands out of the ingredients bowl. This non-stick food turner is slotted so that it quickly drains unwanted liquids while you're switching cooking sides, or serving salads or vegetables. I like bamboo because it is a highly sustainable resource, harder than maple wood, and won't scratch my non-stick cooking surfaces.
More kitchen gadgets that you'll appreciate, here:
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everybody has their favorites -- for me, I like to keep my meals simple; lots of salads, soups, easy to prepare rice and fish dishes, and the like. For these kinds of meals, you don't need a lot of kitchen gadgets, just good ones. These three tools I use frequently. If you have your favorites -- that you can't get along without -- note them in the comments section; don't be shy.Measuring cups -- gotta' have them. These Stainless Steel Measuring Cups ($43.96) -- from Sur La Table -- are ideal for the home chef, professional baker, or cooking enthusiast. Made from non-rusting stainless steel alloys, the set of 8 cups (sized from 1/4 to 2 cups) offers highly accurate measurements for your food prep, and is dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.
For larger amounts of liquids, of course, measurin
g is a lot easier with a glass measuring cup, like this one; the exasperating thing, for me, was having to hold the cup to eye level to see what amount of fluid I had to add or subtract to get what I needed. Enter the Pyrex Read-From-Above Measuring Cup ($4-8). I appreciate the oversized graphics that make for simple measurement of water, milk, juices, and the like. The handle is perfectly formed to grip with a wet hand, the non-porous glass won't retain food odors or absorb stains, and the cup is dishwasher, freezer, oven, and microwave-safe. Your choice of sizes from 1-4 cups, and comes with a 2 year (limited) warranty.Finally, my go-to utensil f
or an entire range of foods, both in prep and at the table. The Sur La Table Bamboo Turner ($7) -- a generously sized, 12" long spatula, so you can keep your hands out of the ingredients bowl. This non-stick food turner is slotted so that it quickly drains unwanted liquids while you're switching cooking sides, or serving salads or vegetables. I like bamboo because it is a highly sustainable resource, harder than maple wood, and won't scratch my non-stick cooking surfaces.More kitchen gadgets that you'll appreciate, here:
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Coffee Grinders
Kitchen Cookware
Digital Cooking Tools
Breville Juicers
Comments page 1 of 1
Highest Rank
THOMAS A said 10-15-2011 @8:38AM
I'D RATHER SPEND THE MONEY ON FOOD THAN THESE OVER PRICED TOYS
replyHighest Rank
Bob said 10-15-2011 @9:25AM
My best kitchen gadgit is my wife ! !
Highest Rank
DictionMary said 10-15-2011 @9:25AM
Agreed. $43 for a set measuring cups? I've bought sets for less than $2 that I still use to this day and I've had them for years! That is just ridiculous.
I admit, I do like the the read-from-above cup, but I've made do with the ones I've got.
My top 3 kitchen gadgets are (1) a really good hand or stand mixer (I know those are appliances but so what? lol), (2) durable (yet inexpensive) rubber spatulas and (3) cup and tsp/tbs measures.
$43 my butt!!
Highest Rank
Ruth said 10-15-2011 @10:29AM
For me it is the wire whip.
replyHighest Rank
PIGMAN said 10-15-2011 @10:59AM
Have you tried leather? Oh sorry. I got off subject.
How about a sharp knife?
Neutral
Hannah said 11-03-2011 @8:44AM
I plowed thru all 203 pages and didn't find one thing that I have.Its an object you can chop up hamburger meat up with when making chili or spaghetti sauce.The object I did find at one store was a white plastic potato masher looking object that resembles a X.This product is so new,its not listed yet at that store site online.I got the product at the store.
replyNeutral
Marcy said 10-17-2011 @12:51AM
I have one of those ground beef crumblers. I got it at Cookin Cowgirl in Breckenridge, CO in 2001. I use it a lot. The woman that owns Cookin Cowgirl told me that a stay at home Dad who also did all the family's cooking invented it to make breaking up ground beef easier. Don't know if that's true, but it's a neat tool.
Neutral
Larry said 10-16-2011 @4:48PM
WoW ! Cook much ??? These three "favorite" items should be manditory even if you "nuke" everything. I'm no gourmae cook but, my kitchen is full of food processors, blenders, mixers, bowls, pots, pans, spatulas, muffin pans and other items. I even have a bundt pan, just in case I want to make a cake or jello mold.
replyHighest Rank
Cricket said 10-16-2011 @8:30PM
I only have one comment. Why on earth would someone pay $43.96 for a set of measuring cups??????????? Is that solid silver they're made of or what????? You can buy a perfectly good set probably exactly the same (ok, maybe it won't have the 2 cup one, but hey!) or close enough to it for $1-5 at any store that sells kitchen gadgets!
replyNeutral
Cricket said 10-16-2011 @8:38PM
By the way, my 3 favorite kitchen gadgets are:
reply1-My Magic Bullet. I use it constantly almost every day for a wide variety of things.
2-My toaster oven. During the hot months I refuse to even turn my oven on, so my toaster oven gets used a lot! During the winter, too, but mostly in summer.
3-My slow cooker. Every mid-fall I make tons of homemade soups and chili. Then I put it all in individual containers to be reheated as I want. I make enough to last through the winter and into early spring.
Of course I can't make a list like this without including the dishwasher and microwave, but they are in a category all by themselves, like the fridge and freezer!
Neutral
sean j said 10-16-2011 @9:48PM
my favorite was my faberware convection oven. best damm thing I ever owned. sad to say no longer made. you could do a 16lb turkey in it. #2 my set of walnut handled chicago cutlery knives. #3 my set of pyrex measuring cups which all 4 did not cost 43 dollars. I have been to sur la table nothing you can't find at target.
replyNeutral
Cherie said 10-18-2011 @12:13AM
Shoot me if I ever pay $43.00 for measuring cups. I went to the local kitchen specialty store 2 days ago and was agast when I saw mwasuring cups for $9.95! Never saw an item made for ground beef, I've always just used a potato masher, the sqiggly kind, not the cross-hatch. My favorite gadgets are a quality pair of tongs(plastic coated handles), a food thermometer, and a good kife sharpener.
replyNeutral
Karen said 10-17-2011 @9:11AM
This is nothing but an advertisement for the high-priced kitchen gadget stores. Almost every one of these can be found at Wal-Mart, Target, etc. Some things you can't skimp on, like a good knife, but measuring cups, graters, etc., don't have to cost that much!
replyNeutral
Hannah said 10-17-2011 @9:23AM
Great to read your post Marcie!!There was no reply so I have to reply here.Thats the name of it,Meat/Beef Crumbler.That is neat a man may have invented it!!!I wish I had one years ago as I like my meat cumbled fine than in big chunks.For years I had to use a small spatula to chop up my hamburger meat real fine.I've had to crumble my ground pork in my mini-Crusinart so this jadget will come in handy.
replyNeutral
Hannah said 10-17-2011 @9:28AM
I mean gadget!!!
reply