Kitchen tools and gadgets

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Posted at 11:56AM, 28 May 2008 by Jenni Muir - food writer

Garlic crushers: handy kitchen gadget or instrument of the devil? As I stood at the sink the other night trying to brush away the bits jammed in the holes - and wound up using a toothpick to push them out individually - I did wonder why I keep the damn thing. Then I dried it and shoved it straight back in the kitchen drawer.

In fact I normally just chop garlic, or squash it a bit then chop or slice. I know how to purée it with a big pinch of salt but for me it takes ages and I hate the way the smell lingers on the board, making everything garlicky for ages afterwards. Garlic crushers are not only a faff to clean, the flavour the crushed garlic then gives to dishes can easily go over the top.

The charms of the highly popular microwave crisp makers have totally passed me by.

But who hasn't got a drawer or cupboard holding kitchen equipment they barely use? Little serrated knives, veg peelers, tablespoons, cups, Klippits and skewers are close to the front of my utensil drawer; the other stuff mightn't get much use but at least it stops the favourites rolling around. Even the can-opener hardly gets a look-in these days, thanks to ring-pull tins.

Of course, one person's must-have might be another's dust-gathering waste of money. A colleague once told me the most ridiculous kitchen gadget she'd ever bought was a waffle making machine - I love them and have two. Yet the charms of the highly popular microwave crisp makers have totally passed me by.

Holiday cookery courses are a nightmare because I always become convinced that I need the most bizarrely shaped and heaviest object the teacher has used. Yet the best purchase I ever made on my travels was a light, skinny pair of bamboo tongs.

Still, every time a new kitchenware catalogue comes through the letterbox (and that seems to be happening more frequently) don't we all pounce on it? It's not just a love of cooking and all its paraphernalia. Doesn't a little part of us believe life would be transformed by a clever new gadget or appliance?

Comments

Holly

28 May, 12:33PM
Holly

I know what you mean. I love looking through catalogues and am a sucker for a new idea. I agree that people wither love or loathe the same thing. I could never get me head round guillotines, but chefs seem to swear by them. I bought my mum, what I thought, was a great gadget, an avocado slicer from Chef'n (http://www.chefn.com), my friend loved hers, but I don't think my mum has ever really found it useful! They have some great things - actually have a good garlic crush too Jenni.

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JoanR

28 May, 9:54PM
JoanR

Back in 1974 I worked as a buyer in the kitchen section of a hardware store - all the reps found out I was getting married and gave me virtually "every gadget imaginable" including a garlic, yes Garlic Crusher which in those days no one had hardly heard of - initially I thought I was really cool with all these handy tools but as always "they need washing". Eventually I had a ruddy great car boot sale and got rid of most of the gadgets and now rely mostly on a few well tried and tested tools which do not include a garlic crusher and I always wonder why anyone would buy one. Having said all that, I'm still a sucker for new ideas and still find myself buying them and then a few months later taking the latest gadget to the charity shop - someone will want it I'm sure!

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Joff

1 June, 1:13AM
Joff

Whilst at uni I somehow stumbled across a potato holder for using in the microwave. It was a cross-shaped device with spikes to hold the potato away from the plate, so you didn't get hard areas. Somehow I lost it on my travels and I've not been able to find another since.

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jillie100

1 June, 12:13PM
jillie100

Gadgets - well, usually I resist the temptation. When my dear husband visits the USA he usually brings me back a sackful which I then mainly dispose of discreetly.... ;) According to the header this is also about kitchen equipment too, and I thought it might be fun to talk about what we couldn't possibly do without, as well as what we really don't need. In my case, my Kenwood Chef finally gave up the ghost after 32 years, and I have, without further thought, just bought another....I just hope it goes on as long! I made bread, cakes, pastry, meringues, sausages ... and probably loads I have forgotten.... Am not sure of the rules here, but I presume it is ok to mention equipment by name? If not you had better wipe my post!

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pauline

1 June, 5:05PM
pauline

i love gadgets and cant help buying them,i have to say although a lot of them are in the back of the cupboard my newest addition is a tefal actifry and we all love it in our house there is no more greasy chip pan and the chips and jacket wedges that i have cooked come out crispy on the outside and lovely soft potato in the middle its wonderful.

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