Cooking tools and gadgets/tools/toys

[keithmarder]

Amazon and bourbon don't always mix. But it has led to me getting some pretty nice kitchen gadgets and tools. I love my Joule. (liked it a lot more than the Anova) . Today I bought a granite mortar and pestle. The other day a Staub Braiser.

Let's have a thread where we can discuss our favorite kitchen toys.

[Robstreperous]

Thermapen --- How did I ever live without it?

Secura spice grinder --- I keep the seeds and grind when needed. Keeps a little longer than those expensive bottles. Two different blades. If you've ever needed say... 1/2 cup of fresh ground pepper indispensible. Used to use a coffee grinder. This is better with stuff like corriander and allspice and the like.

Chefsmate metal boad scraper --- aside from being a decent board scraper it's a blast to use this thing to pound the snot out of garlic before mincing...

[keithmarder]

My Oxo Board scraper has become a trusted friend.

[keithmarder]

Thermapen --- How did I ever live without it?

Secura spice grinder --- I keep the seeds and grind when needed. Keeps a little longer than those expensive bottles. Two different blades. If you've ever needed say... 1/2 cup of fresh ground pepper indispensible. Used to use a coffee grinder. This is better with stuff like corriander and allspice and the like.

Chefsmate metal boad scraper --- aside from being a decent board scraper it's a blast to use this thing to pound the snot out of garlic before mincing...

I have started researching the Secura. I'll see how many drinks I have tonight

[Lepus]

A budget immersion blender. No immersion blender matches up to a real blender, but they are easier to get out and use for small batches of mayo or chunkier sauces. I have the dirt cheap Hamilton Beach Serious Eats recommends and it is quite useful. It is held together with spit and tape, but it was cheap and should last me a year (or a move) or three.

[Kit Craft]

I like my $10 Tramontina 5.5 quart Dutch oven a lot! But yeah, my immersion blender sees loads of use! Honestly though my beech wood spoon/spat thingy is my favorite kitchen toy.

[keithmarder]

I love using the mandoline. I m making a recipe with four and a quarter pounds of thinly sliced onions and it definitely was worth risking my fingers and nuckles.

[Kit Craft]

I love using the mandoline. I m making a recipe with four and a quarter pounds of thinly sliced onions and it definitely was worth risking my fingers and nuckles.

NO! They scare the crap out of me. I won't use one of those triangular cheese slicer things with the hole in the middle either. Took off my entire thumb pad with one. Knives, for me, seem to be the safer bet!

[keithmarder]

I love using the mandoline. I m making a recipe with four and a quarter pounds of thinly sliced onions and it definitely was worth risking my fingers and nuckles.

NO! They scare the crap out of me. I won't use one of those triangular cheese slicer things with the hole in the middle either. Took off my entire thumb pad with one. Knives, for me, seem to be the safer bet!

I do wear one of those cut-resistant gloves.

[salemj]

A good digital scale.

I use my kitchen scale for obvious things - like baking - and for less obvious things, such as mixing drinks for myself and friends, and for measuring whole coffee beans for grinding each morning. Ladyfriends get in the habit of using it to measure snacks. I'll also use it for re-calculations, such as when I want to use bulk chocolate to substitute for chips or squares or ounces of baking chocolate and the like (this is also why it is good for drinks: very easy to mix bigger or smaller on the fly using grams/ml and ratios than ounces or shot glasses and whatnot). Definitely stays out on the counter at all times and worth every penny for a good one.

[Jason H]

Right now, I'm playing with my new Thermoworks Smoke temp gauge. It's my first digital gauge and the double probe setup makes me look like a much better cook that I really am.

[Kit Craft]

A good digital scale.

I use my kitchen scale for obvious things - like baking - and for less obvious things, such as mixing drinks for myself and friends, and for measuring whole coffee beans for grinding each morning. Ladyfriends get in the habit of using it to measure snacks. I'll also use it for re-calculations, such as when I want to use bulk chocolate to substitute for chips or squares or ounces of baking chocolate and the like (this is also why it is good for drinks: very easy to mix bigger or smaller on the fly using grams/ml and ratios than ounces or shot glasses and whatnot). Definitely stays out on the counter at all times and worth every penny for a good one.

Good call. Mine was only like $15 and may not be the best in the world, idk, but it sure works well for me! I use that thing so much. Hell, even for knife and stone reviews.

Man, what would we do without our gadgets?

[Robstreperous]

I like my $10 Tramontina 5.5 quart Dutch oven a lot! But yeah, my immersion blender sees loads of use! Honestly though my beech wood spoon/spat thingy is my favorite kitchen toy.

Isn't it great when you catch a deal like that?

I picked up my Sur La Table braiser for $40 for some reason. Other than the name on the lid I simply can't distinguish it from the Staub. Now it's among my most used pots.

[Kit Craft]

I like my $10 Tramontina 5.5 quart Dutch oven a lot! But yeah, my immersion blender sees loads of use! Honestly though my beech wood spoon/spat thingy is my favorite kitchen toy.

Isn't it great when you catch a deal like that?

I picked up my Sur La Table braiser for $40 for some reason. Other than the name on the lid I simply can't distinguish it from the Staub. Now it's among my most used pots.

Yeah, it is great. Walmart still sells them but not at this location so they were on clearance! I bought 4...Gifts.

[jacko9]

No more kitchen tools until I build more kitchen cabinets - and that almost means expanding the kitchen! Yikes, I guess we'll just use the slow cooker for tonight's dinner. Chuck roast, potatoes and carrots good to go for ten more hours!

[keithmarder]

No more kitchen tools until I build more kitchen cabinets - and that almost means expanding the kitchen! Yikes, I guess we'll just use the slow cooker for tonight's dinner. Chuck roast, potatoes and carrots good to go for ten more hours!

Living in NYC, storage is at a minimum. So, I have had to live without a food processor and a few other bigger items.

[Jeff B]

My wife loves her electric tea kettle.

[Jeff B]

A good digital scale...

Not only good for in the kitchen but for weighing parcels for pass around knives.

[STPepper9]

+1 on the digital scale (myweigh kd8000 is my preferred model at about $35)

I'll add to the list a microplane (model 40001), and the Bernzomatic TS8000 Propane torch

[keithmarder]

Propane torch sounds really cool to have