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Original poster

Useful kitchen gadgets

30 replies

MRex · 09/10/2021 18:41

I like getting family useful Christmas gifts rather than tat and we have a fair few who are good chefs. Any ideas for good / slightly different gadgets please?
Under £10 is great, very unlikely to spend over £50 even if it's really special.

OP posts:
PennyWus · 09/10/2021 19:04

I got a ceramic garlic grater, aka a garlic rasp. It's a very pretty little dish and SO much better than a garlic press. You can buy them for about £7. They are fairly unusual and I was sceptical but it's a revelation - perfectly minced garlic and ginger. You just need a little pastry brush to wipe the mush into whatever you are cooking.

I also love having a pretty Olive oil drizzler bottle on my counter. And a pair of nice glass bottles to hold balsamic and wine vinegar, which are suitable for the table as well as use in the kitchen.

Windows01 · 09/10/2021 19:16

If they bake then a hand mixer.

timtam23 · 09/10/2021 19:33

They may have this already but - a pastry blender? Definitely under £10. I was given one recently and it's great for anything like making pastry, making crumble topping etc. Hands stay clean and the fat stays cool & doesn't melt into the flour

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Christmas DIY Home improvement
Original poster
MRex · 09/10/2021 19:34

@PennyWus - that sounds good thanks.
I also like the idea of olive oil sprays, but we never found one even for ourselves that worked well, they needed to be topped up through a daft plastic thimble and don't spray unless 3/4 full plus spray straight instead of down into the pan. What do you use?

@Windows01 - that's a great idea, I'll scope kitchens for who doesn't have one yet.

OP posts:
Original poster
MRex · 09/10/2021 19:37

@timtam23

They may have this already but - a pastry blender? Definitely under £10. I was given one recently and it's great for anything like making pastry, making crumble topping etc. Hands stay clean and the fat stays cool & doesn't melt into the flour
Lovely idea thanks. Dumpling maker and steamer are another idea from looking at those.
OP posts:
TuftyMarmoset · 09/10/2021 19:42

Jar opener Grin I love mine - it has a few different bits on it so it also opens screw top bottles.

Potato ricer
Risotto spoon
Garlic storage pot
Mason cash lasagna dish - it actually fits the sheets
Citrus press

Look at OXO good grips for well-designed basics and the SousChef website for more exotic things Smile

LoveFall · 09/10/2021 20:03

An egg slicer.
A peeler that juliennes. I read about them on Mumsnet and I love mine. Made by Oxo.
A biscuit cutter with a handle. (I should say scone cutter.)
Ditto a pastry blender.
A good mini chopper.
The little ceramic things you put in brown sugar.
Apple corer.
Cherry pitter.
Fat separating measuring cup/beaker. The spout comes out the bottom so the fat on top stays in as you pour.
Silicone spatulas and wooden spoons.
Good pepper grinder. I have two, one for black and one for white pepper. (I know, a bit much but I like white pepper in some things.)
Oversized plastic clothespin things to close packages like pasta etc. very handy. Way easier than the flat Ikea ones.
Mortar and pestle.

And a kitchen with lots of gadget drawers!

timtam23 · 09/10/2021 20:03

Also a mango stoner/splitter (Lakeland has them). One of those things you never knew you needed! Again I was given one...

Original poster
MRex · 09/10/2021 20:10

These are great, thanks all!
Sous chef has some nice bits, Santa will now definitely bring some child baking kits.
The Julienne peeler looks so useful, potato ricer too.
My main concern is now that I'll end up filling my own drawers too!

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 09/10/2021 21:29

OXO are a brilliant source of kitchengadgets .

I love my mini-measure jug (60ml)

I have two spiral whisks ( flat to the base of the pan) in heatproof plastic (Steamer Trading Co)

OXO Goodgrips peelers ( regular anf Y shaped )

Silicone pastry brushes (Lakeland)

Mini funnels

Measuring spoons ( long thin ones to fit in jars) and cups for American recipes

Silicone rings for round gried eggs (Lakeland)

I have 2 graters ( fine+coarse) but cannot remember price

Tongs to serve

Kwik Klips (Lakelant)

Mini spatulas

Potato ricer ( I have a metal Lakeland one ) no more lumpy mash Grin

kittenkipping · 09/10/2021 21:32

Beautiful second hand egg coddlers from eBay.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 09/10/2021 21:35

I would hate to live without my elect rice cooker...

kittenkipping · 09/10/2021 21:36

I specify second hand- because they are more beautiful and whimsical somehow

Also- meat thermometer, particularly one with an in oven probe.

Salt pig

A Butter bell

A gnocchi board

Original poster
MRex · 09/10/2021 22:01

@kittenkipping

Beautiful second hand egg coddlers from eBay.
That's a lovely idea, my aunt would like something like that with birds on to go with some china she has.
OP posts:
Dilbertian · 09/10/2021 22:02

A dumpling maker. The sort that is a hinged pair of moulds that you line with a circle of pastry, add a dollop of filling, fold shut and press. So satisfying Grin

Butterbeer4All · 09/10/2021 23:04

Potato ricer.
Mortar and pestle
Spiral cutter, to make vegetable noodles

LadyJaye · 11/10/2021 21:07

I have a thing for REALLY sharp knives and recently bought, on the recommendation of an MNetter, an Anysharp knife sharpener, which is BRILLIANT.

Not quite as good as doing it properly with several grades of whetstones, but a heck of a lot more effective than a steel and not very expensive - I think about £25 inc P&P?

I LOVE it and have bought a few for other friends who are keen cooks.

LadyJaye · 11/10/2021 21:08

@LadyMonicaBaddingham

I would hate to live without my elect rice cooker...
I love my electric rice cooker.

Genuinely life-changing.

Classica · 11/10/2021 21:15

A mezzaluna blade

Food chopper - so great for finely whizzing up an onion or some breadcrumbs or whatever. Use it loads

TroysMammy · 11/10/2021 21:20

@TuftyMarmoset a risotto spoon. I'm giddy with excitement over that.
A falafel scoop - Lakeland

TheSpottedZebra · 11/10/2021 21:28

A jar scraper
Dutch cheese slicer

prisscalledwanda · 11/10/2021 21:59

Not gadegets but... give them a treat and buy them some posh new utensils eg Joseph Joseph. I would be literally thrilled Blush

KatianaLindsdottirsGhost · 11/10/2021 23:23

Dammit. I really shouldn't have clicked on this thread - I have ordered a Mason Cash lasagne dish, a risotto spoon, and a set of wooden spoons with a heart-shaped cut-out in the middle. Can't wait to play with my new toys Grin

TroysMammy · 12/10/2021 08:51

@KatianaLindsdottirsGhost I looked up the risotto spoon and lasagne dish too and made suitable noise to my DP (hoping he'll remember by Christmas). Could you give an update when you receive your goodies please? I have a sheet of paper the size of some lasagne sheets I have in my purse in case I come across the perfect dish but sizes of sheet vary.