Kitchen Gadgets You'll Actually Use and Love

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As lazy as I am, I actually use and love these!

For the longest time, I hated cooking, and I was horrible at it. I could screw up macaroni and cheese, believe it or not. Lately, I've become quite domesticated, as I've taken on the challenge of cooking for my grama, my boyfriend, and his three kids.

Here's a short list of things I own and love. I hope you will too!

Can Colander

Most people cut the lid off the can and use it to drain the contents, but it isn't always effective. The contents get squished and liquid from the center doesn't aways make it out. Introducing, the can colander! This nifty thing fits over the top of regular cans, such as veggie and fruit cans, and inside cans of tuna and salmon. Since you're not pushing on your veggies, they won't get squished. Since the holes are spread out, you drain more water or oil from your tuna and salmon.

Stainless Steel Can Strainer/Drainer

Amazon Price: $13.50 (as of 11/25/2009)

Tuna Press - Can Colander

Amazon Price: $4.95 (as of 11/25/2009)

Flexible cutting board

For years I had a wooden cutting board, and my grandma brought glass ones when she moved in. I recently got a flexible board for veggies and it's great!

You can use it to roll out dough. When you're done chopping, just funnel your food into the container or pot. Scraps don't fall over the floor when you scrape them into the garbage, and runny food doesn't drip all over. My plastic one quickly wipes clean and stores anywhere. Get several for veggies, meats, poultry, and baking.

MIU Flexible Cutting Board, Set of 5

Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 11/25/2009)

SiliconeZone Non-Skid Flexible Set Of 4 Picto-Boards, Blue Fish, Yellow Chick, Red Cow, Green Carrot

Amazon Price: (as of 11/25/2009)

Magic Slice Non-Slip Flexible Cutting Board, Gourmet Size 12" x 15", Olive Oil & Garlic by Denise Sullivan

Amazon Price: $9.68 (as of 11/25/2009)

Pyrex 12-Inch by 16-Inch Glass Cutting Board

Amazon Price: $12.22 (as of 11/25/2009)

Scoop and Stirs

I think the Scoop and Stir is technically a Pampered Chef name, but the idea is a spatula that you can use as a spoon as well. It's thicker and stiffer than a scraping spatula and comes in handy for folding nuts into batter and other big jobs.

Rubbermaid White Spoon Shaped Spatula, 9.5" (1933WH) Category: Spatulas

Amazon Price: $1.99 (as of 11/25/2009)

KitchenAid Cook for the Cure Silicone Spoon Spatula, Pink

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 11/25/2009)

Trigger Style Ice Cream Scoops

I put off buying one for a long time because they're a big more expensive than the cheap plastic scoops, but they're incredibly handy for cooking and baking.

I use the larger ones to scoop perfect batter sizes into muffin tins and bar forms, and the smaller one to dollop sour cream over diced potatoes and other tasks where spreading would be a challenge.

Oxo Good Grips Cookie Scoop

Amazon Price: (as of 11/25/2009)

Norpro 2-Tablespoon Stainless Steel Scoop

Amazon Price: $13.35 (as of 11/25/2009)

Fox Run Stainless Steel 1-1/8-Inch Ice Cream/Cookie Dough Scoop

Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 11/25/2009)

Oxo Good Grips Trigger Ice Cream Scoop

Amazon Price: $10.99 (as of 11/25/2009)

2 1/2 Ounce Size 20 Stainless Steel Round Squeeze Disher (13-0635)

Amazon Price: $9.33 (as of 11/25/2009)

Magic Bullet Blender System

I love this gadget! Check out my lens to learn why.

Magic Bullet Blending System

For at least two years I've wanted the Magic Bullet blending system but have been too cheap to buy it for myself. I've seen the cheesy commercials countless times, but spending $60 on something for myself just wasn't a habit I was into. I even told...

Do you use the kitchen gadgets you buy?

Some people are famous for having a house full of late-night infomercial purchases they never put to good use. Are you guilty of this? Do you use the kitchen gadgets that are supposed to make your life easier? Or do they sit in cabinets and closets?

Do you use your gadgets?

Fetching blurbs now... please stand by

I actually do. Honest!

Victoria_Neely says:

I don't have many kitchen gadgets. At all. But I definitely use the ones I have, such as a pastry blender--great for biscuits. Does it count as a gadget?

Posted April 12, 2008

Pfft! Course not!

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Microwave Cover

This $3-5 investment keeps your microwave clean. Nuff said.

Nordic Ware 11-Inch Microwave Plate Cover

Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 11/25/2009)

Tovolo Microwave Collapsible Food Cover, Red

Amazon Price: $9.00 (as of 11/25/2009)

Mitt Style Pot Holder

I used the little square ones for so long before finally just getting two mitts. What was I waiting for? No more burned fingers or flaps in the food.

Kitchen Grips 2 Extra Length Oven Mitts and 1 Table Trivet, Spicy Red

Amazon Price: (as of 11/25/2009)

Oxo Good Grips Silicone Oven Mitt with Magnet, Black

Amazon Price: (as of 11/25/2009)

Reizen Flame Retardant Oven Mitt, 17 inches - Black

Amazon Price: $2.99 (as of 11/25/2009)

Kaydee Designs Palm Tree Oven Mitt

Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 11/25/2009)

Lobster Claw Oven Mitt

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 11/25/2009)

Pasta Pot

A pot and a colander in one. Who can argue? I use it for spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, vegetables, and potatoes.

6 pcs PASTA PERFECT PASTA POT SET

Amazon Price: (as of 11/25/2009)

George Foreman Grill

While cooking bacon and burgers on the stove or grill seems easy enough, I CAN and have screwed them up. But on my little George Foreman grill I've cooked bacon, salmon patties, panini sandwiches, grilled cheese sandwiches, hot dogs, venison steaks, and more.

George Foreman GRP4P Next Grilleration 4-Burger Grill with Removable Plates, Platinum

Amazon Price: $49.88 (as of 11/25/2009)

George Foreman GR11WSP3 Champ 36-Square-Inch Nonstick Electric Grill

Amazon Price: $22.84 (as of 11/25/2009)

How often do you cook?

Most people are in the bad habit of cooking "real" food only one or two days a week. Or less! Out of seven dinners a week, how many do you make at home? Leftovers of "real" food counts. Frozen pizza doesn't.

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Utensils with big rubber handles

My grama has a hard time using regular utensils because she can't get a good grip on them. Paying a big extra for the large rubber-handled utensils proved to be a great investment for me as well as her.

Oxo Good Grips i-Series Swivel Peeler

Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 11/25/2009)

Oxo Good Grips Nylon Balloon Whisk

Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 11/25/2009)

Oxo Good Grips Nylon Spoon

Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 11/25/2009)

Oxo Good Grips Silicone Flexible Pancake Turner

Amazon Price: $9.15 (as of 11/25/2009)

Stand Mixer with Detachable Hand Mixer

I got my grama a small, inexpensive stand mixer for Christmas, not realizing the top comes off to be used as a hand mixer. That makes it even more awesome!

Hamilton Beach 64695 Power Deluxe Hand/Stand Mixer

Amazon Price: $46.37 (as of 11/25/2009)

What do you think?

Do you use and love any of these items? Do you have others to suggest? Say hi!

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Reply

Victoria_Neely Victoria_Neely Apr 12, 2008 @ 2:55 pm

I'm most interested in those flexible cutting boards!

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KimberlyDawnWells

by KimberlyDawnWells

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Kitchen Gadgets You'll Actually Use and Love

As lazy as I am, I actually use and love these!

Can Colander

Flexible cutting board

Scoop and Stirs

Trigger Style Ice Cream Scoops

Magic Bullet Blender System

Do you use the kitchen gadgets you buy?

Do you use your gadgets?

I actually do. Honest!

Victoria_Neely says:

Pfft! Course not!

Microwave Cover

Mitt Style Pot Holder

Pasta Pot

George Foreman Grill

How often do you cook?

Thanks for voting! Now invite your friends to vote.

Utensils with big rubber handles

Stand Mixer with Detachable Hand Mixer

What do you think?

by KimberlyDawnWells

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