Found any unexpectedly awesome kitchen toys in your web travels?
A month ago I saw this blurb in Tastespotting for this Herb-Savor thing by Prepara. I immediately ordered it because it was so nifty looking, but mere hours later I was already irritated at myself for falling for some stupid kitchen thing, pretty much guaranteed not to work, yet again.
Instead of canceling my order, a new plan emerged. Gleefully rubbing my hands together, twirling my Snidley Whiplash mustache, I was going to do a side by side comparison between fresh cilantro both in and out of the herb saver. I was then going to write scathing reviews of that piece of crap for any review site available. I was sick and tired of companies making false promises, and of myself for falling for them.
Thing is, it works. Beautifully. The cilantro has been sitting in my refrigerator door for 3 weeks now and it's still as fresh and beautiful as it was when it put it in there. The other cilantro long since dying a blackened, slimy death.
Which is doubtless going to cause me problems. I mean, what other seemingly useless gadget actually works? Perhaps I've just fallen sway to the chaff, letting the wheat stroll merrily on by.
Do you have any gems like this? Stuff that just blows you away by how well it works? Please save me from myself and hand out some good suggestions.
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33 Comments:
I'm amazed. The moment I noticed the title of thi post, the first thing to enter my mind was... this same gadget, which I saw on coolhunting.com a couple of months ago. i never did get around to buying one, though.
A gem? I didn't find it on the net, but I do have this stirring implement which looks like some macho idiot's minimalist reconception of a whisk, but which is my favourite stirring tool for heavy batters and doughts. Used two-handed, I can use it as briskly and effectively as a dough-hook, and it cost $4 or $5 at Broadway Panhandler.
mongoose at 10:52AM on 02/20/08
I'm glad that you're happy with your purchase but for thirty bucks, the thing better be perfect!
This is nowhere near the price of your purchase but I love my metal bench scraper with the curled, circular end. The thing is great for cutting a pan of brownies, helping with moist bread dough and gnocchi dough. I use it to scrape cutting boards and for other "tougher" jobs where scraping is needed.
chiff0nade at 1:38PM on 02/20/08
@chiff.....reading my mind? Even if I didn't grow my own herbs, I could buy a lot for $30. I'm waiting for a good buy on those green bags because I hear they work really well and keep food fresh much longer. @chisai....is it only for herbs? I guess it would last longer than the bags - I'm not sure how many times you can reuse them.
I also love my bench scraper, and use it nearly every day for scooping up chopped vegetables to drop into a pan. When I need it, my salad spinner works great and crisps lettuce nicely in the fridge. I'm also happy with my plastic colander, because I never have to worry about burns. I have only been disappointed a couple of times with purchases. My most recent that I love is the brownie edge pan.
PerkyMac at 1:49PM on 02/20/08
If you don't want to spend $30 my wife does the same thing with a glass jar, a little water, and a plastic bag.
bobbob at 2:12PM on 02/20/08
@bobbob, chiff, perky - I've done the glass jar thing. Doesn't work as well. Actually, for me, it's worth the money. Fresh herbs don't get used up by me that quickly. I buy a bunch of cilantro, which is pretty big, and I generally end up throwing half of it away, same with basil. So for me, it's worth it. Plus, it doesn't take up nearly as much room in my NYC sized fridge as the bottle and plastic bag do. To each his own. There are things people spend (what I consider) far too much money on, but are absolute necessities for them. I'm so chintzy on some stuff, and on others... Well, you know the drill.
Also, I've been eyeing the brownie edged pan, but again, in the spirit of sometimes frighteningly absolute cheapness, I will use muffin tins. Does the pan work better? Seems like it would be pretty great for meatloaf also. The browned edges/top are my favorite parts.
chisai at 3:49PM on 02/20/08
My boyfriend bought me this thing called an AeroGarden for Christmas. It has an infomercial, which immedietly made me wary of his very expensive purchase, but the thing is really amazing. It was developed by Nasa and all you do is assemble it, put water in it and then give it these nutrient tablets every two weeks. I literally had basil, parsely, thai basil, chives, cilantro and mint in three weeks. It just grows and grows and the plants last for ten months before you have to buy new seed packets online and start over again. It's an expensive purchase, but well worth it. I use herbs on a daily basis and though it was a gift, I would buy would. It's a good investment. They last forever and there are all kinds of "seed packets" that you can purchase at the AeroGarden online store; you can grow everything from flowers to cherry tomatoes in this one gadget..
PumpkinBear at 4:14PM on 02/20/08
I hear you chisai and I have to admit that I've knocked over that jar in my fridge more times than I can count.
I've done the brownies in the muffin tins. I like to push a mini reese's into each one. Drool....
bobbob at 4:22PM on 02/20/08
PumpkinBear, I've been wondering about AeroGarden for quite some time already, I think that now I'll finally get it!:-)
Back to the question - I bought this little battery-operated Milk Frother thingy several years ago (I don't remember the name, but it was made in Italy and relatively pricey at the time, about $25-30), and I really love it! It whips the milk very nicely for a good cup of latte, plus, it's still alive and well, after 5+ years of heavy (ab)use. My mother in law, on the other hand, bought a similar thing from Ikea (for $3 or so) a few months ago, and it's already not whipping so well. So as far as I'm concerned, my purchase was well worth it.
brooke29 at 4:35PM on 02/20/08
Re: Aero Garden. I can't afford and I want multiple! I also have no good place for them, and I'm getting ready to downsize.
I've heard nothing but raves about them. To be able to have fresh herbs and tomatoes all year round.......wow! You have a great BF PumpkinBear!
PerkyMac at 5:07PM on 02/20/08
@chisai........i think the muffin tins would work just as well. i have several sizes and could have used the larger for meatloaf and lasagna rolls, and the regular for brownies. I use the minis a lot for muffins and freezing small amounts of this and that.
Had I not been so excited about the brownie edge pan, I might have waited for someone to suggest these other alternatives. But, since I have it, might as well use it, right?
PerkyMac at 9:15PM on 02/20/08
I found my gadget in an actual trip... in Spain I found this contraption to help me pry open the seal in glass jars. It works wonderfully every time. The funny thing is... I saw it in Bed Bath & Beyond too last week.
And one of my secret pleasures is to browse around the gadget wall at Williams-Sonoma... love it!!! That's how I found my favorite serrated vegetable peeler.
And my favorite whisk, I found as a free premium when I bought a cooking magazine in London...
Madelyn.
KarmaFreeCooking
MadelynRodriguez at 9:48PM on 02/20/08
@Madelyn........I think I have or had one of those whisks and dismissed it. Now I need to forage in my utensil drawers........don't ask!
Glass jars......I just pound the *&% out of them on the edge of the lid and pray they don't break in my hand. You telling me there is a better way?
PerkyMac at 9:58PM on 02/20/08
@ perky - i feel your pain about opening a glass jar. I am petite and no matter how much weight training I do, I just can't seem to open jars easily.
Check it out... it's called a JarKey
MadelynRodriguez at 12:25AM on 02/21/08
this actually is a better site for teh JarKey... http://www.jarkey.com/international/main-eng.htm
MadelynRodriguez at 12:27AM on 02/21/08
Hey Guys! So now I've been checking out the AeroGarden and feel a burning need to own it. Amazon has it for $150 and I have Prime with them so free shipping. I'm just about to hit the "Send" button but am stopping myself (again $150) but it's killing me Because me? I know my life will be complete should I order it. I'm gonna sleep on it before I decide.
The JarKey looks cool for people with difficulty opening jars. I may send it to my dad. Not to brag, but I can crack a walnut between my thumb and forefinger. Well, no, I do. How many middle aged ladies can say that? I mean, come on. Awesome.
chisai at 2:46AM on 02/21/08
I want the new sanatizing system at Sur La Table:
http://www.surlatable.com/product/581025.do
I also want the new Shun fillet knife, but I admit this is just an addiction because I have never tried to fillet a fish in my life and probably won't if it has the head and scales on it!
http://nujoikitchendiary.blogspot.com/
NuJoi at 8:03AM on 02/21/08
I got the new AeroGarden for Christmas too and have been blogging about my wee seedlings' progress here.
hereandthe at 8:52AM on 02/21/08
For Valentine's day my BF was debating giving me jewelry or the aerogarden. I got the jewelry(love it!).... but you guys are making me think I should have wished for the aerogarden.
Tomatoes are like jewels.Especially when fresh grown in the winter..possibly more rare & valuable....no?
bisbee at 11:02AM on 02/21/08
To AeroGarden Owners:
Can you stop at just one? I've researched and studied them, and I know I'd want at least 4 - and I usually cook for 1! Seriously.
PerkyMac at 11:18AM on 02/21/08
i found your jarkey several years ago under the name jarpop I've used mine constantly ever since, just recently bought 20 of them to hand out to friends that keep wanting to steal mine;)
huney_bumper at 11:44AM on 02/21/08
While we're on the subject, how about those plastic rings they put under the lids of frozen lemonade and such. They are SO hard to pull off. I usually end up grasping it with a towel, but it is nearly impossible.
Last night I was speaking to a friend who is 90. She was trying to open a can of Hormel chili and said the tab broke off and she and her husband were struggling with can openers of various types. I can't really picture this, since I never tried that product.
I gave up trying to open a bottle of Tide yesterday. My arthritis has robbed me of strength, but I also think the various industries don't really care.
I appreciate the info on the jarkey - I'm going to spend a few minutes checking out the other products as well.
PerkyMac at 12:09PM on 02/21/08
I have the one called "jar pop." It seriously improved the quality of my life. Was so happy to find it, because now I can wait until I fall in love to get married :)
Kerosena at 12:24PM on 02/21/08
PerkyMac --
The JarPop people (Spring Mill Home Products) also have a thing called a Ring-Pull Can Opener. Check them out on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/37w359
I, too, bought a bunch of those JarPops to give to people. Best thing ever. (Well, within certain set conditions.)
floretbroc at 12:42PM on 02/21/08
Thanks floretbroc..........and I just got an email from Amazon telling me they missed me!
For that price, it's worth a try - especially hearing that they actually work. They look so cheap I would have figured they'd break first try. I'm going to gift some of these too.
You SE wonderful people are just awesome!
PerkyMac at 12:51PM on 02/21/08
Hi!
Every cookie cutter you can imagine at Foose:
http://www.foosecookiecutters.com/store/
And Grandpa Witmer's Old Fashioned Natural Peanut Butter Mixer:
http://www.kitchenkapers.com/natural-peanut-butter-mixer.html
CookiePie at 12:58PM on 02/21/08
The herb savor looks infinitely cool!! I did a little online research and - lo and behold- it's on sale at drugstore.com for $24.99. Just ordered one. Yeah, I'm a total sucker for kitchen gadgets. My favorite one will always be the salad spinner. I love that thing!!
sbelle at 12:59PM on 02/21/08
p.s. Kerosena.........you crack me up!
I found out that jarkey and jarpop are one and the same.
PerkyMac at 1:03PM on 02/21/08
@CookiePie - foosecookiecutters is awesome! Thanks for the tip. Interestingly, they have a beer bottle in religious cookie cutters. Now I know some people may think that entirely reasonable, but... Hee.
I'm going to pick up the JarPop for my dad, who could seriously use it.
chisai at 1:39PM on 02/21/08
THANKS cookie pie for the Foosecookiecutters!
I needed a racecar cookie cutter for the Dayona 500 party i go every year. .I'm too late this year but next year we will enjoy way cute nascar cookies! (cause you know cookies go great with beer & BBQ..LOL)
bisbee at 2:20PM on 02/21/08
I use my rubber husband alot.
edlear at 4:50AM on 02/22/08
I really do want a Herb Savor as I've found the glass-plastic bag trick doesn't work that well all the time.
Great post, please keep them coming! Who doesn't love a kitchen gadget?
soisbelle at 6:44AM on 02/22/08
Have you seen David Lebovitz' KitchenAid hacks post? Crazy!
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 4:15PM on 02/22/08
Have you ever grabbed the handle of a hot cast iron skillet? These hot handle holders by Lodge are great reminders and prevent burns. I often put my skillets in the oven and then return to stovetop. I don't use it as a pot holder - only a reminder. I also cover the handle when I'm cooking stovetop, because they get hot there, too.
As soon as I pull out the skillet, I pull out the handle cover so I won't forget.
http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-2-Piece-Handle-multi-color-Peppers/dp/B0009J3PAO/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1203717446&sr=1-10
PerkyMac at 5:06PM on 02/22/08