Most Useful Kitchen Gadgets You Have

try2bhelpful on 02/12/2017 - 17:33

I am a bit of a kitchen gadget aholic. My other half is getting to the point where he is telling me I have to get rid of some of my kitchen toys before I can buy anymore. It isn't the money it is the room. Some of mine have been real finds and some are duds.

A while back I posed the question "What was the most Useless Kitchen Gadget you have" and some of the responses were really hilarious. Some of them were things I had previously thought - "you know?" but after reading the responses I thought "nah".

https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/298108

My question now is "What are the most useful kitchen Gadgets you have?"

Mine would have to be my big Magimix food processor. It turns vegetables into stir fry in no time flat.

I also have:

  • a Kitchen Aid mixer - I don't use it enough for what I paid for it; but it does what I want it to do well.I really must use the grinder and icecream maker attachments more.
  • a small Magimix - which is great for onions and puree fruit to top yoghurt as a quick dessert.
  • a philips pasta maker - which actually makes decent pasta and it really easy to use, but requires a bit of effort to clean.
  • an Anova Sous Vide which I have just bought, so I'm reserving judgement until I have time play with it.
  • Vitamix - which is great for smoothies, pasta sauces and soups. This thing could seriously puree a brick. Easy to clean but not so easy to get all the stuff out of the bottom.
  • a Bamix Wand, which was my go to for small chopping jobs until I got the baby magimix. I've tried to use it for "in pot" purees for soup and find greens like Kale get could in the chopping area. They are great for Pesto, though.
  • Flat LCD display scales - would never to back to analogue after using them. Add a box and they can double as pet weighing scales.
  • a Tefal Multicooker - good for Yoghurt and stews but I would probably buy CookMe if I had my time over.

I'm interested to know what people think are worthwhile purchases and happy to answer any questions on what I have. Also would welcome any tips on how I might better use my own toys.

Home & Garden

Comments

    • [Deactivated] on 04/12/2017 - 10:51

      I am still waiting to own a Tiger rice cooker :D

  • Looking4Bargians on 04/12/2017 - 12:43

    Rotimatic AKA Indian Bread Maker https://rotimatic.com/

  • try2bhelpful on 04/12/2017 - 13:37

    I got some gloves similar to these. Bought a pair.

    https://www.banggood.com/1Pcs-Heat-Resistant-Heatproof-Cotto…

    They are really good for bottling things etc. You can pick up the glass jar without burning yourself and the fingers make it manouverable. They are not water proof so you can't pull bottles out of boiling water, but they are good for out of the oven. To get jars out of boiling water I use a chopstick and tilt the jar as I'm pulling it out to tip out the water.

  • iversonjack on 04/12/2017 - 15:30

    Tatung rice cooker 大同電鍋 (for the Taiwanese on this forum!)

  • Mattam on 04/12/2017 - 15:49

    Instapot. Look it up.

  • Goldcoater on 04/12/2017 - 16:05

    My Victorinox paring and tomatoe knives with brightly coloured pink, orange and yellow handles. Microplane for zesting lemons. Sunbeam kettle that heats water to different temperatures (for coffee at 85C). Bodum Coffee plunger, Sunbeam Burr Grinder, Gaggia Classic espresso machine, Thermomix, Mundial knives and kitchen scissors, magnetic knife rack. Pyrex dishes in all shapes and sizes with lids.

  • pformag on 04/12/2017 - 16:38

    Thermomix. Got it as a housewarming present. Never would consider dropping 2K on one, but now that I have it, I use it every day and would recommend, especially if you have little ones.

  • Plug on 04/12/2017 - 16:42
    +1

    The wife. Does the lot.

    • srr on 04/12/2017 - 18:03
      +1

      You missing out on all the joy of preparing good food.

    • syousef on 05/12/2017 - 17:44

      You beat me to it.

      Better neither of ours are on Ozbargain. If anything like mine referring to them as a kitchen gadget might see her filleting skills put to another use :P

      • Plug on 05/12/2017 - 20:47

        Yup, totally agree.

  • baldur on 04/12/2017 - 17:28

    would you recommend tefal actifry? for fish, chicken and meat?

  • TheBean on 04/12/2017 - 18:42

    Glad Wrap Easy cut dispenser.

    I think they discontinued it but you can still find them at some IGAs. Also there are generics ones.

  • RobVH on 04/12/2017 - 18:50

    Bugger Gadgets, get some good quality Wusthof Knives with a lifetime sharpening guarantee. Our best purchase yet.

    • try2bhelpful on 04/12/2017 - 18:58

      Wusthof do say they will sharpen your knives, for free, but last seen you had to send them to Western Australia. Completely agree, having good knives and pots and pans are the most important thing. However, there are a lot of other kitchen devices that speed up the process - hence why I like my Magimix.

  • desert eagle on 04/12/2017 - 19:08

    My partner?

    Jokes aside - probably my stick blender since I use it every other day for smoothies.

  • Eeples on 04/12/2017 - 19:11

    Google Home

  • jeka1103 on 04/12/2017 - 19:38
    +7

    My favourite kitchen gadget is a new addition to my collection, it's a mini measuring glass. It's the size of a shot glass and has measurements on the side for teaspoons, tablespoons, millilitres and ounces. It's insanely simple and only cost me about $5. It means I don't have to bother sorting through my drawers to find all the different measuring spoons and working out which one is which. Also, if a recipe requires a teaspoon of this and teaspoon of that you can just throw it all in the glass together and then throw it in the dish, rather than going back and forwards with a spoon. It might sound like a silly, useless thing but it really is handy!

    My second favourite kitchen gadget is more of a Kmart hack. I use the large silicon Kmart ice cube trays as a mould when making rocky road and fudge. Rather than poring the mixture into one big tray, waiting for it to set and then struggling to saw through the slab to cut it into pieces you just spoon the mixture into the the segments of the ice cube tray and then pop out the pieces once it has set. You get nice, neat and even looking pieces and don't break your hand or waste time trying to cut it all up. Coming up to Christmas this could be a worthwhile investment for someone!

    • kryss on 05/12/2017 - 00:12
      +1

      Thanks for the rocky road tip :)

  • Illian on 04/12/2017 - 20:00

    My Convection Oven is the single best kitchen purchase I have ever made, bar none.

  • FatBlanket on 04/12/2017 - 20:46

    Vitamix blender by far

    • try2bhelpful on 04/12/2017 - 21:20

      Yeah, I fought buying one of those but I finally succumbed. If they are on special they are well worth buying.

  • ego22 on 04/12/2017 - 21:25
    +3

    airfryer!… airfryer airfryer airfryer! i avoid people in the street if they dont have an airfryer, disgusting savages…

  • try2bhelpful on 04/12/2017 - 21:29

    There must be a business model in short term rental of appliances so people can work out what they want long term.

    • kerfuffle on 04/12/2017 - 21:34

      Radio Rentals? :P Or start your own business!

      • try2bhelpful on 04/12/2017 - 21:41
        +2

        I think Radio Rentals would be aimed towards long term rentals. Seriously interested in starting my own business on this, I would use it. Maybe an appliance cooperative. I have a fair bit of stock already :)

        • kerfuffle on 04/12/2017 - 21:44

          I can help with making sure there's no errors on your website? 😂

          You gotta have a KitchenAid stand mixer (and all the attachments), an Airfryer and a Dyson Supersonic in your business (although dunno how the hairdryer would go re: hygiene)

        • try2bhelpful on 04/12/2017 - 21:49
          +1

          @kerfuffle: check on one with some attachments, no air fryer and the Dyson is a vacuum cleaner. It would be interesting to know what hair dressers do with their hair dryers, as they are shared usage.

  • jlogic on 04/12/2017 - 22:10
    +1

    Hand pulled chopper… Best fiver I spent. So much easier now cutting anything that needs to cut into smaller pieces.

    Don't spend more than a fiver though. So $30 ones and they do the same job just with fancier packaging.

  • [Deactivated] on 04/12/2017 - 22:39
    +1

    My girlfriend

  • ozeebee on 04/12/2017 - 22:41

    My Global Knives set

    • Skinnerr on 05/12/2017 - 00:51

      Global is grossly overrated and over marketed. If I was gonna splash out on knives Id get chef grade Japanese knives.

      • ozeebee on 05/12/2017 - 06:50

        Perhaps. But they’re so sharp we struggle to wash them. Keeps cutting the sponges to pieces.

      • Chubbsmcfatflabs on 05/12/2017 - 11:13

        Sorry I don't agree. We have had Global knives for 16 years and they are great. Resharpen ourselves and we use them and cook multiple times a day. Easy to clean, grippy handle, stay sharp and have great balance in the hand. Have used other knives such as wusthoff and messermeister, but have always thought the Globals were great.

      • dbun1 on 05/12/2017 - 22:50

        They are fine - most important thing, and this goes for all decent knife sets, is to keep them sharp.

        It doesn't matter how much you spend on a knife, if you don't maintain it it will be rubbish.

        Personally I don't like Global knives - I find them too light. I prefer German brand knives as they have more heft to them.

    • Yaren24 on 06/12/2017 - 21:55

      Global knives are good for starters, it takes time to get used to different knives, you will develop different cutting skills based on your knife. Lots of people will complain about Global chef knives which has got a small handle that makes big hands hard to grip and when your hands gets oily or sticky with other food, the knife can slip out of hands if not handled properly. So all in all great knife, you start something small once you have the skills then you can buy a flashy Japanese gyuto. Just imagine if you cut yourself with a razor sharp knife, it would cost more than $100 to fix your fingers. and learning of sharpening the knives is vital regards of knives you have. I have a cheap Kiwi knife from Ebay, just needs bit of sharpening 1 - 2 times a month, absolutely bang in the bucks knife you can ever find on the market. :)

  • [Deactivated] on 04/12/2017 - 22:50
    +1

    A big wooden chopping board (700mmx500mmx30mm). Can not go back to tiny boards that barely hold a cabbage.

  • pennypincha on 04/12/2017 - 23:40
    +1

    Zip Tap with hot + chilled water on demand. Expensive, but with babies - well worth the investment for boiling water on tap to make formula / sterilise bottles / blend with carrots etc. to make baby food. Also exceptionally useful in the hot QLD summers (and mild winters, for that matter) for us old folk to have cold water on tap.

    Frees up space on the counter (no more kettle!) and in the fridge (wooo, more room to stock up on half price specials!).

    Surprisingly, pretty energy efficient too.

  • Skinnerr on 05/12/2017 - 00:53

    My one is my Zyliss garlic crusher. After using multiple crushers that have broken (cos garlic is too hard?), the zyliss one is guaranteed against manufacture faults for 20 years (i think) and hasnt broken yet.

    • try2bhelpful on 05/12/2017 - 06:02

      How easy is it to clean?

      • Skinnerr on 05/12/2017 - 22:59

        Insanely painless and ingenious as it comes with an in built purpose fit cleaner used to get any additional garlic out of the press and then its a matter of scraping that out and just washing and rinsing.

  • 17731773 on 05/12/2017 - 06:41

    Love my Thermomix almost use it daily.I make sauces, bread dough, desserts, sorbet, mashed potato, poached eggs Could go on and on.
    Sous Vide - is great but I just haven't used mine enough.(the meat Ive cooked in it was incredible though)

  • tjc589 on 05/12/2017 - 09:36

    Butchers Block chopping board
    Can't describe how good it is to have such a large chopping and prep space. Got the Boos one for my birthday about 9 years ago and it is still good as new.
    They are expensive, but make a huge difference.

    • try2bhelpful on 05/12/2017 - 09:47

      We don't do enough "butcher" style meat prep requirements. Ours is currently used as a TV stand in the bedroom. Got tired of having to clean up a large block of wood each time :) However, they are certainly worthwhile for people who do that sort of prep.

  • freddofrog42 on 05/12/2017 - 09:50

    An electric Wok - this one, bought for $74 delivered a few weeks back:-

    https://www.myer.com.au/shop/mystore/home/kitchen-appliances…

    Why? We only have electricity so are limited in heat output. I've tried various standard woks, an induction cooktop etc and only this wok really works well for me. It's big but great for stirfry etc. Standard woks just don't heat up enough and only then on the base.

  • cantoangel on 05/12/2017 - 09:55

    I'm like you, I've got too many appliances but the ones I use the most..
    Tiger rice cooker… The price is justified!
    Spiraliser
    Rollable garlic cutter
    Microplate
    My really good peeler I got from a show that I can't find anymore!

    Thanks for the tip around the gloves. Going to buy some now!

    • try2bhelpful on 05/12/2017 - 10:23

      Just remember they aren't water proof. Hot water does just go straight through them. I bought mine retail so I don't know the quality of any of the online ones and I can't read the label because most of the writing has washed off. I like them because you can actually pick stuff up, like jars out of the oven - you can also hold the jars whilst you pour stuff into them. Hope they work out for you.

      Do you use your spiraliser, got to admit I haven't used mine yet.

      • cantoangel on 05/12/2017 - 18:48

        Yep! I'll be using them when I'm cutting and mandolin slicing lol

        I do use the spiraliser to make zucchini spaghetti, and in fact will now use those gloves as my finger gets close to the blades…

        • try2bhelpful on 05/12/2017 - 23:17
          +1

          ahh, my cut proof gloves not my oven gloves. haven't had a close encounter with these, but they make me feel better wearing them.

        • cantoangel on 06/12/2017 - 17:10

          @try2bhelpful: yeah sorry, I've got great silicon ones from Costco, they also grip when I'm trying to open jars!

  • try2bhelpful on 05/12/2017 - 10:26

    Got a pair of olive wood stirring spoons from a market. These things are the bomb. They are still going strong but I will I'm on the lookout to see if I can get some more as they will wear out eventually. They come to a edge on one corner so they can mix all the way to the edge of a pot.

  • coolhead on 05/12/2017 - 11:07

    Breville Juice Fountain 900W - bought it last year and we used almost every sat n sund over whole summers.. amazing power so had a lot of juice.
    NutriNinja - well bought to have whole foods as they advertise but not using for that puopose as shakes are too thick.. but other very good..
    Need to buy a good sandwich maker now (the ones that make that triangle/gun shaped toasts) as it will save a lot of time in the morning for brekkie..
    garlic crusher

  • lench on 05/12/2017 - 11:32
    • All in one pressure cooker (breville make a decent one, but i got an el-cheapo electric one from Target for $80). great for stews, pasta sauces, rice, and even in some cases i've made cakes in the thing
    • Food processor. only recently got a food processor attachment for my stick blender which promptly broke. never realized how much i'd use it
    • Cast iron pan/hotplate. acts the same as a bbq, but none of the space (still would prefer a proper bbq though)
    • good set of knives or knives that you can sharpen easily. cheapo 'staysharp' ones arent too bad, ceramic knives are mental, proper japanese chef knives are terrifying
    • try2bhelpful on 05/12/2017 - 12:27

      they say that blunt knives are more dangerous than properly sharp ones. However, after I lost a knuckle to a Microplane I went out and bought myself some cut proof gloves.

  • smpantsonfire on 05/12/2017 - 12:42

    100% a meat thermometer. Getting the meat so right every time! Nothing worse than overcooked meat.

  • jasecutler on 05/12/2017 - 13:04

    Do you (or anyone on here) have a Thermomix? If so, do you recommend it?

    • dsgfh on 05/12/2017 - 14:46
      +3

      I think it's like recommending scientology. You're either in or you're out.

    • try2bhelpful on 05/12/2017 - 17:36
      +1

      I don't have one but there are several people in the thread who swear by them.

  • sintosyd on 05/12/2017 - 13:38

    Tiger rice cooker
    Instant Pot (cannot recommend it highly enough)
    Breville Barista Express espresso machine
    Sous Vide Supreme (for parties and meal preps)
    Iwatani portable stove
    Kitchen scale

    I'd love to own a Big Green Egg (bbq/smoker) or a Japanese grill (konro? hibachi?).

  • chiazone on 05/12/2017 - 14:39
    1. Japanese Knife (furi) still going strong with diamond edge hand sharpener & some ceramic knives
    2. Sunbeam conical grinder & Saeco via venezia coffee machine
    3. Breville Smart microwave
    4. Bosh dishwasher (super quiet)
    5. Japanese made zojirushi hot water dispenser 5l temperature controlled for all my green and black teas
    6. non stick pans from Costco (USA made) last forever, never put them into dishwasher
    • kerfuffle on 06/12/2017 - 05:07

      Furi is an Australian brand, not Japanese

  • dsgfh on 05/12/2017 - 14:45

    Temperature controlled kettle (brewista or even a breville), a Baratza Forte grinder & a pourover from the local Daiso are at the top of my list. Couldn't survive the morning without them.

    Vacuum sealer is really handy for bulk buying, or when I smoke my own smallgoods. Would pair with your sous vide well too.

    A good enamel cast iron pot probably sees the most use in our kitchen though. That, the Breville kitchen wiz & our kitchen aid.

    Also, if you like baking bread, I found I made too much dough for the kitchen aid to cope. A cheap bread machine, which we never bake in, does a great job of kneading dough.

  • eggplant on 05/12/2017 - 16:33

    Have the Anova Bluetooth + WiFi, really happy with it. Feels like perfectly cooked fish everytime :)

    • try2bhelpful on 05/12/2017 - 17:35

      What bags do you use?

      • PurchaseAnxiety on 06/12/2017 - 22:36

        Not OP, but I use vacuum sealed bags with mine (BPA free, boil safe etc.). Though before I had my vacuum sealer, I would just zip lock bags from Aldi, and they worked fine for temps under 75 degrees or so.

  • freemoneyhunter on 05/12/2017 - 17:55

    If anyone can help me, I would like a simple non power food processor that is simple to clean and does not have many parts. I have used food processors in the past and the amount of clean up and messing around always made me think I should have just cut the darn vegetables with a knife.

  • cheapm8 on 05/12/2017 - 20:08

    http://www.kmart.com.au/product/egg-cooker/806895

    saves a bit of time and money compared to boiling eggs in a pot and always get the eggs how you want them, runny, medium or hard boiled.

  • PerthectDeal on 06/12/2017 - 00:43

    Cheese slicer,
    something like this:-
    https://www.house.com.au/images/HIM-1021732.jpg

    simple device but so easy now slicing cheese. I can knock up a toastie in seconds…

  • ganymede on 06/12/2017 - 01:20

    Definitely my Japanese hand made Santoku and Gyuto pair.

    Next is my slow juicer, I will never buy or order "juice" again when I go out.

  • godofpizza on 06/12/2017 - 10:04

    Whirlpool Crisp N' Grill microwave oven.

    up until it died, i was able to microwave/steam/grill/bake all my food in this awesome machine.

  • Archi on 06/12/2017 - 10:13
    • Japanese made knives
    • Japanese sharpening stones
    • Frothie blender https://www.froothie.com.au/store/froothie-blenders/optimum-…
    • don't under estimate a good pair of scissors.
    • stick blender
    • tiger rice cooker
    • pressure cooker
    • stone mortar and pestle
    • chopsticks can eat with them cook them and prepare food with them. versatile tool for improvisation
    • try2bhelpful on 06/12/2017 - 10:17

      I also use chopsticks to help remove sterilized jars from the pot of boiling water. It allows me to tip the water out without burning myself.

  • voiletmay on 06/12/2017 - 16:32

    At different times in your life, different gadgets/appliances are more important. Right now my last child has just finished school so that means no more baking slices/cakes/biscuits every weekened for lunchboxes (mostly used a thermomix for that).

    Health problems too - often special diets (eg. dairy free, soy free, gluten free) need a theremomix as you need to make everything from scratch . If you need to watch your carb intake due to diabetes, the last thing you need to buy is a pasta making machine, bread machine or a rice cooker.

    Some appliances are amazing (eg. a slow juicer, the apple juice you make with it tastes so pure and fresh it will blow your mind) but really way too much trouble to use. A spiralizer also fits in to this category (I have both the hand crank version and the electric verison - both too much effort to use if you are cooking for more than two people).

    Different seasons also play a part - winter- you definitely need a slow cooker, I used one each day over winter, made my life a lot easier. But by summer, an outside BBQ (eg. weber q) is a lot more appealing.

    Something useful that others haven't mentioned is a "cookie scoop" (terminology if searching ebay) or a "cake pop scoop" (terminology if buying from kitchenware shops). This is basically a small icecream scoop, but the size is perfect for making biscuits. Saves a lot of time and sanity when making biscuits.

  • tessel on 06/12/2017 - 18:50

    My wife.

  • godofpizza on 07/12/2017 - 12:02
    +1

    i think the fridge is the most important gadget, we take it for granted. When it dies it pretty much back to the stone age, with ice bags from the servo.

    if you buying a fridge please put alot of thought into it's practicality, having instant ice/cold water is awesome but it took up a heap of storage space in our fridge.

    • try2bhelpful on 07/12/2017 - 12:17

      Agree with that point. We had an ice cube maker in our old fridge/freezer. Took up a lot of space and we didn't use it all that often. It also meant we had to plumb the fridge in.

  • Starlight8 on 23/03/2021 - 13:06

    Hello there,

    So like yourself i find myself always looking up new kitchen things to buy from gadgets, plates, appliances, cutlery, to cookbooks you name it!

    I always seem to buy something from Peter of Kensington monthly. My husbands saids the same but we both appreciate fine food (be it cooking it ourselves or buying it). How i see it, if you want to eat well - gotta invest in good kitchen accessories haha

    So my most useful:

    • Kenwood Stick Mixer
    • Le Creuset Casserole
    • Global knives
    • Philips Airfryer
    • Tiger rice cooker
    • Nespresso VertuoPlus
    • OXO garlic press

    Semi-useful

    • Kitchenaid - dont use it often enough
    • Smeg 50s Style Manual Coffee Machine (used like 5 times, looks nice in kitchen) but not as practical. The frother is much better than the aeroccino which came with my Nespresso

    Not useful

    • Webber the one with the thermometer - probably will use it more once i get a deck
    • Lodge Cast Iron - purchased in Sept 2019 - been to lazy to oil it lol

    Wishlist:

    • Sous Vide
    • Food Vaccum
    • Smoker (Husband wants it)
    • Vitamix
    • Magimix

    If you own any of the above, would appreciate recommendations of models/brands. Thanks :P

    Maybe you should start a thread on most useful cookbooks hahah x

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