Most useful Kitchen Gadgets and equipment?

**liv** · September 14, 2009, 11:25 AM

Re: Most useful Kitchen Gadgets and equipment?

Blender.
Could not live with out I think
Oh and mircowave (but maybe that one is not a gadget)

**barrnone** · September 14, 2009, 11:26 AM

Re: Most useful Kitchen Gadgets and equipment?

my scale, I never weighed things before, now I have a postal scale on my kitchen counter. I just like to check my weights now and again [ie cheese] - just to make sure! I'm getting pretty good at cutting an ounce.

**JulieB** · September 14, 2009, 11:41 AM

Re: Most useful Kitchen Gadgets and equipment?

Food Processor with grating disk (cheese, cauliflower) and my crock-pot (whole chickens, soup, etc). Silicone baking mats - oopsies come off fairly easily.

I also found a use for my carrot peeler

I use it to make zucchini noodles.

I don't know if you noticed, but Linda's site has a whole page on kitchen gadgets...

**Georgiana** · September 14, 2009, 11:50 AM

Re: Most useful Kitchen Gadgets and equipment?

I lived 21 years without a blender (I'm 21 and a bit

), but now that I have one, I'm not giving it away for anything! I use it for soups, to rice cauliflower, to make pesto, to make hummus, etc.

I love my coffee grinder too. I use it to make flax meal, nut flours, ground spices (e.g. I make my own mustard from mustard seeds).

**RitaCeleste** · September 14, 2009, 11:56 AM

Re: Most useful Kitchen Gadgets and equipment?

Microwaves COUNT! I've even got that one. Okay some of the paint chipped off last cleaning and I had to stick electrical tape over the exposed metal, but its still working. My oven needs a $249 part. I am hopeing to get a used one that's only slightly defective instead. I ordered a small convection oven that claims it can rotissere a chicken. I went to fire up my crockpot last night and when I picked up the lid, the plastic handle broke right off. The pressure frier still works but has a large chunk missing from the handle you tighten down the lid with. My scales have children's handwriting on them and the battery seems dead. My kitchen is DOA! So somethings didn't pay off, like the pressure frier. Too much spent to not get parts for anymore. A big pot and time work for me. I did see a juliane peeler and a potato ricer and some stuff like that to try with veggies. Are food processors worth it? I had one once but never wanted to use it cause I'd have to clean it then.

**not2late** · September 14, 2009, 12:03 PM

Re: Most useful Kitchen Gadgets and equipment?

For me: sharp knives.

**ErinB** · September 14, 2009, 12:19 PM

Re: Most useful Kitchen Gadgets and equipment?

I use the microwave, my new range/oven (gave up on the 35-year-old one because I couldn't get the burners fixed anymore). I'm for the sharp knives, too. I have a good set of Chicago cutlery and a really easy to use and handy knife sharpener. Digging through storage, I unearthed a multitude of food processors and am in process of experimenting with all of them since I hate scraped knuckles when grating jicama. The best one, a really uptown Kitchen Aide is left to try. I suspect I'm going to like that one best and I already know its parts and pieces are really easy clean. That one is expensive, however, and I only have it because it came with daughter who moved back in a few years ago.

My most favorite tool I have actually purchased since starting Atkins must be my food scale (Who knew what a small amount of lettuce is actually a whole cup?). If anyone is looking for a new one, this one is awesome for ease of use, accuracy and for doing just what it is advertised to do. I could go on about it, but the reviews on Amazon tell it all.

Amazon.com: EatSmart Precision Pro Digital Kitchen Scale, White: Kitchen & Dining

**soon2bslim** · September 14, 2009, 12:57 PM

Re: Most useful Kitchen Gadgets and equipment?

I have this V-Shaped Mandolin Slicer - i use it almost everyday for slicing vegetables. My husband calls it the guillotine - it's really sharp and has a tendency to cut fingers really badly, but if one is careful it's a great, versatile tool, and easy to clean.

Quality sharp knives, my microwave, my cast iron omlet pan and my really old pressure cooker are also mainstays in my kitchen.

**Alexa** · September 14, 2009, 03:35 PM

Re: Most useful Kitchen Gadgets and equipment?

For Atkins I could not do without: my cup measures, my salad spinner (no more watery salads!) and my vegetable steamer which is just a stacked up pan one that goes on the hob. The stand-alone grill (lean mean, fat reducing blah blah) is pretty useful too, but dull to clean.

**EmDee** · September 14, 2009, 05:21 PM

Re: Most useful Kitchen Gadgets and equipment?

I love my foreman grill!

and ditto on the knives...I use them constantly now.

**JulieB** · September 14, 2009, 05:31 PM

Re: Most useful Kitchen Gadgets and equipment?

I forgot to mention one of my favs...measuring spoons that actually fit inside spice bottles. Priceless!

I have 2 types...skinny traditional ones...
Amazon.com: RSVP Spice Measuring Spoon, Set of 6: Kitchen & Dining

and adjustable ones (something like these...not the same brand):
KitchenCraft Adjustable Measuring Spoon adjustable graduated teaspoon tablespoon measure gauge for measurements of ingredients Measures

**RitaCeleste** · September 14, 2009, 05:37 PM

Re: Most useful Kitchen Gadgets and equipment?

Its really great hearing about stuff I could actually use! Okay, I've looked at what I own and know I was a die hard carb junky. My ex bought the grill and I use it at his house. The one he has leaks fat all over the counter no matter how you jam the drip pan in, the bottom is rounded and it always runs down the bottom and flows out the sides. The plates popped out for easy cleaning so we thought it was a good choice, oops. I do have a good blender. But its sad how much stuff I won't get to use unless I make it to the grain rung and I don't expect that to happen. The pressure fryer should have been a pressure cooker, but its big and I do make soups in it and I located a place that has the parts it'll need. Got knives! So many be it won't be so bad making my kitchen more Atkins friendly. All my beautiful blue kitchenaid mixer gets to do is make whipped cream! I suppose it could mash caulifower for potatos? Its really hard to look at the stuff and remember what I use to cook. Probably why I've waited so long to go thru my cabnets. (I even found a cake decorating kit, bought and unused.) I am really gonna make better food choices and better equipment choices from here on out! Thanks for all the tips and ideas!!!