is this the most useless kitchen utensil ever?

[ericshen]

In our kitchen drawer is a mushroom brush. What the hell are they all about?
I find it easier to peel them
I suppose it is just more crap to fill a kitchen drawer with

ha ha... recently moved house and took the opportunity to have a bit of a clearout... the mushroom brush was one casualty! Agree. Pointless.

You've been to Lakeland I bet

Full of stuff you never knew you need.

Can we use this thread as a confessional please?

I can offer up microwave plate warmers (never used)
Potato bag (used once)
Banana tree/hooky thing (thrown in back of cupboard and never used)

I just wash mushrooms under a running tap - don't even peel them... Never saw the point...

I've got a fondue set that i've never used

PMSL!!

Can I hijack this thread and ask an extremely tenuous question...

I was thinking of roasting some gnocchi for Sunday lunch, would that be amazingly delicious or will they just turn into hard rocks?

I am the worst cook in the western hemisphere may I just add.

what about the little bags you can put in the toaster to make toasties?
In a D.I.Y shop last year was a big display of them and a promo dvd playing. I found it very interesting and wanted to buy some (I was hooked) but DW told me to stop being silly
Are they a hit or miss?

Do you really peel mushrooms, I just rub the dirt off...and not too conscientiously either!

Nigella roasts gnocchi in her new book - gas Mark 6 for 20 minutes, shaking once. Apparently they are crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside and totally scrumptious

God, I hate superfluous kitchen equipment.

Most things can be done with a spoon, a knife, some scissors, a masher, or a peeler I reckon.

Of all these other things... THERE IS NO NEED!

Scooter - really????

So I'm like on a par with Nigella when it comes to groundbreaking new culinary ideas!?

Hurrah. I'll try that, thanks me love

(Do you heat oil up beforehand or brush them? Not with mushroom brush obv)

I use the toastie bags often!!!!! however I did by them from lakeland along with about 1000 other unnecessary things....

like those green bags which are supposed to keep your fruit and veg fresh for ages...I can't ever be arsed to decant everything - not only that they have been moved halfway around the world twice with me ...but still can't bring myself to ditch them

KnitterNotTwitter
Delia says DO NOT WASH MUSHROOMS.
They soak up water
The little buggers have enough liquid in as it is

you peel mushrooms? don't you lose half the mushroom that way . I just rub the mud off with a damp thumb. No need for brush, kitchen roll or anything.

Never understood half the kitchen gadgets out there.

I do love my egg pricker though.

i've never heard of mushroom brushes.

on toastie bags, they're a bit pointless. you can achieve the same results with a dry frying pan.

"I do love my egg pricker though."

No one wants to hear about your love life...

what about an ice cream scoop?

It just makes more washing up. Why not scoop it out with the spoon you are going to eat it with

Nope, this is the most useess thing. I mean, really, how hard is it to take the stalk out yourself?

I have a banana tree / hook thingy and use it .

I'm also banned from Lakeland as I walk round saying to myself 'ohhhh, how have I managed to get to the age I am without........' .

5inthebed
ffs that has to be the winner

Oh really - have never had a soggy mushroom problem... must be all the butter I fry them in :)

Life's too short to brush a mushroom... ;-)

actually (proper confession coming up) it isn't butter it's dripping...

I love my mushroom brush and my strawberry huller but anything bigger is banned - most utensils are glorified knives or spoons.