PrintQuestion of the Day: What's Your Favorite Kitchen Tool?
What gadget or utensil can't you live—or cook—without?
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
Start Talking!
Need a question answered? Have advice to share? Start a Talk topic now!
Sign up to get your questions answered and share advice.
21 Comments:
I asked it, but I'll answer here: My Kitchen Aid mixer. Who wants to knead pizza dough by hand?!?!?
Adam Kuban at 7:17AM on 12/20/06
small serrated knife, used daily to cut the crusts of my 5 year olds sandwiches!
Seriouspoorcook at 8:58AM on 12/20/06
A set of Metal Tongs..(Not THONGS) Self locking, need only 1 hand.....
Use it for Flipping, lifting, prodding, stirring.....
MikeNYPT at 9:36AM on 12/20/06
Kitchen aid mixer. My parents bought it for me in 1993. I turned down a diamond tennis bracelet for christmas and argued I really needed it and they caved. I just don't know if I could live without it. After 13 years old Kitchy is looking no worse for the wear. When old Kitchy dies I want the Artisan version.
@Adam what about straining the seeds out of your fruits for jellies. My strawberry jelly is seed free baby. That attachment package was worth every dime.
JerzeeTomato at 9:40AM on 12/20/06
I can knead things by hand, but an attachment package might renew my love affair with my mixer.
I really like a pair of kitchen shears. And my immersion blender.
nita at 9:51AM on 12/20/06
While I absolutely love my KitchenAid stand mixer my sturdy wire whisks are the small tools that I use very frequently and couldn't cook/bake without. I have 4 different sizes and I find them endlessly useful.
Michelle Jones at 10:05AM on 12/20/06
@Jerz: Wise investment. You might have lost the tennis bracelet by now, but there's absolutely no way you're going to lose that mixer! As far as straining seeds goes, I think I could use my food mill. But it would presuppose the notion that I make homemade jellies. Sadly, I don't. But I'm considering an attachment package--I'd really like the meat grinder and sausage extruder. Homemade pepperoni and Italian sausage, anyone?
Adam Kuban at 10:07AM on 12/20/06
I also love my immersion blender with its chopper attachment. So handy!
Alaina Browne at 10:07AM on 12/20/06
An immersion blender is a great tool, I agree. Crucial for blending soups to a creamy consistency. But, of course, I have to weigh in with the best kitchen gadget of all time: the butter dispenser. http://www.medianugget.com/2004/07/butter_dispense.html
Harold at 10:51AM on 12/20/06
I use this folding cutting board every day: http://tinyurl.com/yxh7zp
Other tools I couldn't live without: my Kyocera utility knife, and unbleached parchment paper.
Cathy at 11:40AM on 12/20/06
my microplane grater / zester. i make a ton of lemon desserts and i don't know what i would do without it.
the word yes at 12:04PM on 12/20/06
Related: Clotilde of Chocolate and Zucchini recently posted about her kitchen toolbox.
Alaina Browne at 12:43PM on 12/20/06
Food processor - cut, sift, blend! Awesome.
JeffO at 1:03PM on 12/20/06
I second the microplane grater / zester as a must have tool in the kitchen. I absolutely adore mine and use it almost everyday for something (usually to grate fluffy clouds of parmesan all over salads and pasta). Although, for Christmas I'm finally getting the infamous Kitchen Aid mixer (in pink no less) so my loyalties may switch.
Erin at 1:23PM on 12/20/06
All these comments are great, and I love each and every one. This is the first great topic we have had, Kudos Adam.
@Cathy when I built my house, I enlarged the island to 8 feet. Of the 8 feet 6 feet of it is 4 inch thick dove tailed maple butcher block. I now chop away like a looney tune, the last 2 feet is granite for doing pastry and chocolate.
If you have the money and remodel I recommend that you try some butcher block and granite, it is like heaven on earth. I was very self indulgent in my kitchen this time. I could live without these things but not the kitchen aid mixer.
@Harold I love my immersion blender but find my Waring blender a faster option when pureeing soups, sauces et al. I even use it on canned whole tomatoes.
Gosh Adam I am sitting at the end of my seating hoping someone has something really strange. I found this while watching Italian food and living show on some remote cable channel: The Arca Pasta pot. I got to have one of these.
JerzeeTomato at 4:03PM on 12/20/06
@Jerz: I'm jealous picturing your marble-and-butcher-block island. It may be self-indulgent or maybe not -- if it keeps you cooking at home more than going out, you'd probably make up for the cost after a little while.
Thanks for the props on the topic. This one really has been fun to watch develop. As far as Question of the Day topics go, feel free to ask the Serious Eats community one (or more) of your own. The staffers here don't wanna hog the discourse, after all. You can email me at adam@seriouseats.com with any suggestions. And you can always start a topic of your own in the Talk section.
Adam Kuban at 4:28PM on 12/20/06
I've got to also give a shout out for the KitchenAid stand mixer. I recently upgraded from my old Ultra Power (4 qt bowl, 300 watts) to the Professional 600. 6 qt bowl, and 575 watts of power. Oh how I [heart] it!! Double-batches of dough are possible, and it's just a joy. I never want to cook in any kitchen without a stand mixer.
megnut at 5:18PM on 12/20/06
Just like children, I love all of my kitchen tools equally....
I will say that the kitchen addition that I love more than I thought I ever would are my Emile Henry bowls. What's in a bowl? Hard to explain. I love the weight of them, the ease of cleaning, I like to rise bread in them and serve hot or cold dishes in the bowls. They look great and function better. People look at me sideways when I try to explain why these bowls are so great, but I love them.
JonahM at 7:19PM on 12/20/06
AMEN to the Microplane grater! I have used this more in the few months that I have had it than any other kitchen tool I own!
Sindy at 12:38AM on 12/21/06
My toaster. Clearly, I am not a master cook. But when I lived in China, I bought a toaster for my hotel room that I lived in because I cannot eat untoasted bread. Everything else you can do by hand.
I think my parents and grandmother would say rice cooker, and I have like three of them, because every time I move and I don't have one, my family gets very disturbed and buys me one. They are useful, though.
About the butter comment--have you tried a butter bell? my old roommate had one, and at first we laughed at it, but then we realized it was GENIUS! Basically, the butter is kept in water, outside (not refrigerated) and it is always spreadable. It seems like a weird hick thing, but it is great. Definitely a must if you use butter a lot: www.butterbell.com
NYminknit at 4:17PM on 12/21/06
Wooden toast tongs - used every day - great for getting mini-bagels out of the toaster.
Also, thick rubber bands and clothes pins for closing all those vegie bags, cereal bags, etc.
Nonstick egg skillet.
Morgana at 10:59AM on 04/29/08