Gadget Must Haves For Foodies

Written Sunday, January 17th, 2010 by TrishB

A few months ago I wrote about my cookbook obsession. Well, that is not the only one.. Come into my kitchen, open my drawers, and you will see what I mean. GADGETS. Gadgets here, gadgets there, everywhere a gadget. My husband, a doctor, says it looks like an operating room. However, if I am going to cook, there are quite a few of these I can not live without. That being said, here are a few of my favorites.

Kitchen Aid Mixer – If you bake, you absolutely must save for and then splurge on this item. I couldn’t bake without it. My mother had hers for well over 20 years and will be the first to tell you that it is indestructible. It has fallen off her counter more times than she could count and it keeps on ticking.

Silpat Nonstick Baking liners – They are amazingly sturdy. Nothing sticks to them and they make clean up a breeze.

Kitchen Shears – They cut anything. Here a few things I use them for: cutting a whole chicken slicing a pizza, cutting tomatoes, twine and even parchment paper. It’s also a great tool for everything from snipping herbs to trimming a pie crust.

Immersion blender – It’s a food processor and blender all in one. If you love to make soup then this item is for you. No more mess as you attempt to pour a huge pot of ingredients into your bulky food processor. Just plug it in and turn it on. Easy to use and lightweight, it will blend things without muss or fuss in seconds.

Microplanes graters/zesters – Definitely the best grater and the only only one you need. It occupies virtually no drawer space, leaving that much more room your remaining gadgets. You can use this tool for so many things, from zesting a lemon to grating cheese, ginger or chocolate. Once you try this one I bet you’ll throw your others away.

Silicone Spatulas – How many times have you had to throw away your spatula because you accidentally used it in hot foods? A silicone spatula, while a little more expensive, can withstand heat up to about 500 degrees and will last a very long time. It will certainly outlast my cooking career.

Electric can opener – When I cook I like to move fast. Some people say that applies to all aspects of my life. So for me, I will try anything to help cut prep time in the kitchen. This is definitely an item that will help you speed things up.

Chef’s Knife – A must have in any kitchen. I use it for chopping, mincing or slicing.

Coffee Grinder – My grinder isn’t just for coffee. Actually, it has probably never even seen a coffee bean. I use it for grinding nuts or spices. Fast, easy, and small.