What kitchen gadget do you have that you have NEVER used?

[Liberal Veteran]

That you just HAD to buy because it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Mine is this baby....

[shoelace414]

1. Bread Maker

and I like and eat lots of bread!

[Left Is Write]

50. I never actually bake bread in my bread maker.

But it's great for making dough. I shape the dough myself and bake it in the oven.

[swimmernsecretsea]

2. Ice cream maker

I wanted it so badly, then I got one as a gift from my sister and...never used it.

[LSparkle]

3. Salad Shooter

I just buy packaged salad ...

[Hugin]

9. What caliber ammunition do they use?

Just kidding.

:)

[LSparkle]

21. Oops -- I don't want the Secret Service calling me ...

I think it was called a "Salad SPINNER" not ... that other word.

[Liberal Veteran]

25. I have a salad spinner.

I use it it once in awhile....I really don't trust pre-packed salad to be clean so I wash it again.

[Phentex]

28. on clearance NOW at Target!

fyi :)

[nini]

62. I love the salad shooter to grate cheese and stuff

it's a handy little gadget.

for salad? nah.. but as a grater.

[Hugin]

4. You'd think I'd have one...

But, I honestly don't.

I use everything.

Most of my gear is pretty simple though.

[hyphenate]

5. I've used everything at least once

but the biggest waste of money was on the waffle-maker. I think I've used it about 5 times total in 10 years.

[tridim]

6. I love my juicer

Why don't you use yours?

They're a bit hard to clean, but so worth it.

[indy_azcat]

7. Garlic press

The recipe said I needed it, but I just don't get it :shrug:

[Liberal Veteran]

12. Oh, hell....I went through so many garlic presses, I bought one like that.

...in your picture.

NEVER buy a cheap garlic press.

[indy_azcat]

17. I'll just never buy one again -

It's just faster, cleaner and easier to mince the lil buggers.

[Phentex]

26. Yep. I found out the same thing...

after cleaning the press a few times. I got rid of it.

[tridim]

27. I use the smash method

It's so easy.. Get out the cleaver, lay it over the clove and bash it once with your palm. Takes about 1/2 second.

Same deal with those rubber garlic peelers. All you have to do is smack the clove lightly with your knife and the skin comes right off.

[Book Lover]

46. The only thing I would add to this

is you might consider putting the cloves in a bowl of water for a few minutes first as it helps loosen the skins. Got that tip from my father, who has been a chef for many, many decades.

spelling on edit

[sui generis]

24. using a food processor, finely chop the garlic press

then boil in garlicpress bouillion for about fifteen years, flavor to taste with salt and real garlic and some fresh cracked black pepper, stir in a glob of sour cream and voila! garlicpress soup.

[Mrs_Beastman]

44. I've broken two garlic presses

and the ones I didn't break are impossible to clean. I just smash them with the bottom of a can of soup and mince them by hand now.

[DemoTex]

48. I use my garlic press for ginger root.

It is perfect for my ginger-soy vinaigrette salad dressing. I get ginger juice and just a little pulp. I smash my garlic cloves with the cleaver blade.

[tammywammy]

55. Same here, Garlic press

It's hard to clean out the little bugger too. It's just so much easier to smash garlic with the side of your knife and chop it up from there. I only used the press a couple of times.

[candy]

8. A large,perforated spoon with 4 legs for poached eggs.

I bought it in a "cutesy" country store.

Every now and then I dust it!!!!!

[underpants]

10. Blender

We got one (surprise) for our wedding 2 1/2 years ago and I have never used it. My wife may have once.

[MemphisTiger]

11. Big Kitchen Aid mixer

My wife and I use this thing maybe twice a year.

[seriousstan]

30. Would you like to sell that?

[MemphisTiger]

66. I bought mine at Williams Sonoma Outlet

if you have one nearby, you can buy a referbished one. Works and looks like new.

[Atlas Mugged]

32. I use mine all the time

But I have all the attachements. My SO is addicted to the meat grinder as he won't buy ground meat in a store, period. He's terrified of Mad Cow - aka Barbara Bush Syndrome.

[tridim]

39. I wanted to get the meat grinder

but I can't afford steak any more, so it's kind of pointless. It also looked like it would break easily.

[Atlas Mugged]

42. Oh, no, it's quite sturdy - been using it for about 7 years

While he does grind steaks, he also uses it for cheaper cuts of meat, too. I use it for pork sometimes to make Chinese Pork Ball Soup or Sui Mai.

My SO is a serious carnivore. He embarasses me in the meat section, poking and fondling cuts of meat. He's worse than a dirty old man at a peep show. One day, when the local store was having a major sale, he filled the cart, to overfull, with meat (we have an upright freezer). When we went to check out the petite little girl at the register looked like she was going to be sick. I told her we were going home, sewing it all together and waiting for a lightning storm.

[tammywammy]

56. Hello!! I'm dying for a KitchenAid Mixer

If only I had the money. It's on my dream list of appliances I really really want. I like to bake a lot, so it would be great mixing the batter and the frosting.

[sui generis]

13. bought a George Forman grill at a charity auction

oy. I can't even give the damnthing away.

[Liberal Veteran]

19. I got the GF Grill/Griddle and I LOVE it.

I use it all the time. I even use it to make salad! :D

[tammywammy]

58. I like to use mine for a few things

My mom bought a bunch of meat and froze it, so I'll throw on a couple of the patties. While those are on the GF, I'll sautee some garlic, onions, bell pepper, tomatoes, whatever I have on hand in some olive oil. Then pour it over the patties when they're done.

Plus with apartment living, I can't really grill, so I also like to throw veggies like squash and zucchini on the George Forman.

[Atlas Mugged]

14. Aw - this would've made a great poll

Mines a pasta maker. I thought that would've been the runaway #1.

[Phentex]

15. Melon baller

cookie scoop works just as well.

[indy_azcat]

20. They're good when you're stuffing mushrooms.

Gets the inards out quick and gently.

[Liberal Veteran]

22. "Melon baller" sounds like a bad porn movie.

:D

[Hugin]

31. LOL...

That's just terrible.

:)

[barackmyworld]

16. Bread maker

too much effort! And it's always sitting there looking at you, making you feel guilty for getting it.

[sui generis]

18. I love my juicers

I have one that does blueberries and soft fruit and another one that does wheatgrass and carrots & stuff.

[Lucky Luciano]

23. I am pretty bad in the kitchen

I have not used my oven...I barely use the stove....I eat out every day for all of my meals pretty much.

[tridim]

29. I'm upset that I don't use my nice Kitchenaid stand mixer

It's a complete pain in the ass. I got it because I make lots of bread dough, but quickly found it's much easier and faster to just knead by hand. Anyone want to buy it cheap? It's a cobalt blue "artisan" model.

[Phentex]

34. Don't you ever make cakes? Icing?

Those machines can really save your arms!

I never use it for bread though.

[tridim]

37. I do use it here and there..

But I often find my hand mixer works just as well.. and is about 50 times easier to clean. I also don't like the lack of space to add ingredients (and to scrape down the sides) while it's mixing. That plastic chute is worthless.

[yvr girl]

33. I have one of those hand blenders

I got it for Christmas in 2002, and I've never used it.

[tridim]

38. My hand blender is my favorite electric utensil..

It has a thousand and one uses. I have the chopper attachment though, it's like a mini food processor. It's a beaut!

Honestly I don't know what I'd do without it. How else would I blend frozen strawberries into my carrot/apple juice in the glass? Or how else would I puree my tomato sauce while it's cooking? Minced onion with no tears, chopped nuts, fresh bread crumbs, mixing protein shakes, mixing orange juice, etc, etc, etc. It does it all.:D

[yvr girl]

51. My parents had one when I lived at home

and I used it. My old roommate had one, and I used it.

I don't know why I don't use this one.

The only electrical appliances I use right now in the kitchen are: fridge, stove, microwave, toater/convection oven and a kettle

[Divameow77]

35. I have an espresso machine

that I can't figure out how to work, it even came with a video. It was a wedding gift almost 4 years ago and have never used it. Oh I have a bread machine I don't use as well.

I'll trade you the juicer for an espresso machine.

[cally]

36. Several...a juicer like yours, an ice cream maker,

a couple of garlic presses, and a grapefruit knife. All were gifts and I've never used any. Oh, I forgot the popcorn maker and special soup bowl and ladle. I really need to clean my cupboards.

[yellowcanine]

40. My stepdad bought one of those Ronco egg scramblers once -

Had a little needle that punctures the egg and scrambles it while it is still inside the shell. I just looked at and could only ask "Why?".

[tridim]

41. Ronco.. hehe

My dad bought a Ronco "hot dogger" once. It was terrible. It cooked hot dogs by sending electricity through them via a high voltage prong on each end. It made the dogs taste like electrified cow anus, and went strait into the garage sale pile.

On Edit: Maybe it was a "Presto Hot Dogger".. Same diff.

[davsand]

43. I DID *NOT* PAY FOR IT!

I want to go on record now as saying I did NOT pay for the Waffle maker. I HATE making waffles, I don't like to EAT waffles and I think the entire premise is just stupid. Dented food does not thrill me.

The fact that it was a wedding gift from his ex-girlfriend has NOTHING to do with my attitude.

:evilgrin:


Laura

[Mrs_Beastman]

45. a bamboo veggie steamer we got for Christmas

I just re found it yesterday when I was getting the mixer out.

[AlCzervik]

47. a Belgium waffle iron

i love me some waffles but it requires a greasing with lard and ain't no way in hell I'm buying a tub of Crisco for some waffles that I'll most likely burn.

[Left Is Write]

49. I have a couple I've never used, but they were gifts.

One is one of those little sandwich maker machines, and the other is an electric frying pan. I've just really never gotten into the need for an electric frying pan.

The only gadget I bought myself that I never use is a hand-crank cheese/chocolate grater from Pampered Chef. Everyone told me it was the most wonderful little thing on earth, and I would spend the rest of my days happily grating fresh Parmesan onto my meals.

It's a pain to use, and it just sits in a drawer, year after year. I ought to pack it (and the other two things) up with my "garage sale" items I'm donating to the Idaho Youth Ranch. Perhaps someone else will like it better than I do.

On the subject of juicers, though - I keep resisting the temptation to buy a Jack LaLanne juicer.

[davsand]

61. I love the electric skillet.

Lets me cook stuff without heating up the house during the summer. I also like it because it is a more uniform heat.

As for Pampered Chef stuff--have you ever noticed it is just SO much better while you are seeing somebody ELSE use it? I have some of it and it always seemed to be SO much cooler when some lady was cooking with it at the party.



Laura

[notadmblnd]

52. Food shrink wrapper machine

thingy. Never use it because it's a pain in the ass. Maybe we should get together post all of our small appliances and trade them amongst ourselves for other small appliances we aren't likely to use?

[Mrs_Beastman]

53. do you want a bamboo veggie steamer?

for trade?

[notadmblnd]

54. I have an excellent steamer

My husband joined what I used to kid him as as the "pot of the month club". I had stuff comming out my earsand gave most of it away. But the steamer is one of the better appliances, I use all the time.

He was a paid commercial programming junkie. Last thing he purchased before he died was not one but three sets of Miracle Blade knives. Sorry I can't use the steamer but you can have the food shrink wrapper if you like?

[Mrs_Beastman]

65. That's nice of you...

Next time we are in Michigan, we will stop by...or tell us when you are having your next garage sale!

Sorry about your husband.

[Liberal Veteran]

57. I absolutely LOVE my food vacuum sealer!

It's the bomb!

[6000eliot]

59. I also have an unused juicer

and a deep fryer. I got them both as gifts.

[finecraft]

60. I think I have a winner....electric potato peeler

My Mom got me one for Christmas a few years ago. It's still in the box. My sister used hers, and she threw it away after one time because it worked like crap.

[Taxloss]

63. Snail tongs.

I am not joking. Snail tongs. For picking up cooked snails.

They were a present from Mrs Taxloss' sister.

[sakabatou]

64. Nutcracker