to wish I'd bought one of these years ago

[NutElla5x]

So I've just made myself poached eggs on toast for lunch using my new microwave egg poacher-which cost me the princely sum of 70p using a voucher-and it did the job perfectly,cleanly and soo quickly. If it hadn't been on special offer I probably wouldn't have bothered to try it out because I think mostly the old fashioned ways of cooking things is best,but I can see me and the kids getting a lot of use out of this thing. What cheap and cheerful gadget have you bought that's made your life that bit easier and made you wish you'd bought it years ago?

it’s not poached eggs if it’s not cooked in water but he never listens

The term seems to vary across the country, like teacakes. I always thought that a poached egg was done in a little cup that sat above water in a pan and an egg cooked in water was a coddled egg. OH reckons that a poached egg is done in water.

The cherry pitters are hard to find in the UK obviously.

Plenty on ebay. I need a new one, the one I bought for a few pfennings in Germany 40 years ago has snapped but I can't bear to throw it out!

OopsInamechanged again thanks for the tip. Only me that likes them so don't do them often but nice to be able to when I want.

Poached is in water and coddled is in china pots with little screw top lids, then set in water or into the oven....

So fucked off with my 'd'dogs for eating my kitchen tweezers a couple of nights ago the bastards! They were bloody 'Pampered chef' ones too not cheap there might have been traces of bacon on the rippled bits on the ends.

This is a funny thread with talk of rubber eggs and tweezers and a pzza cutter with no handle but a removable round case instead don't get it
Why's that easier?

Can't believe that eggs can be poached in a microwave without being rubbery - I might try though
Found a fleur d'oeof on Pylones as a stocking filler before Xmas, a frippery, fun, but soooo soon amazing at breakfast! (Turns an egg into a flower)
Oh, and they ate my latest gadget for crepes! You know, the twizzle stick and flat wood palette thingy why do people like dogs so much

As a former chef, I love kitchen gadgets. I have had many in the past, just because they looked useful. My favourite kitchen items are my induction hob that I bought on Amazon, my kitchen knives and my Vitamix blender.
I saw a pp about robot hoovers. They are really good fun and pretty useful but I could we had to clear things out of the way for it to work properly and it went in random patterns across the room. We also discovered that they don't work on dark carpets, as their 'cliff sensors' think that there is a big drop on the floor in front of them.

I’ve got all of my lamps on a remote control now. Cheap and easy gadget found on amazon. Love not having to go round turning them all on/off individually

Nespresso themselves do a really good offer on their website where you get a machine for a £1 if you sign up to 12 months coffee subscription. You then own the machine. Its worked out great for us and I have definitely been using coffee shops less

Aworldofmyown I do very much wish I now lived in the UK. That is definitely not available here . Perhaps I will hang on and see if it is something that is going to become a thing.

Thanks to this thread, I've just replaced my old coffee machine with the Nespresso which does the milk frothing for you too. Would have been £249 plus buying coffee but it was just £1 and the subscription is the same amount I spend on coffee at the moment! And also thanks to mumsnet, I know they will recycle my pods!

Sulks

Seems I will fight with my Dolce Gusto a bit longer. It really annoys me as I have to run an empty cup of water first otherwise the first cup isnt very warm.

Isthismylifenow, that's exactly what I've been doing with my dolce gusto! I'm sure Nespresso will bring the subscription thing out in other countries too, as it guarantees them customers.

EverlyNow which remote control lamp gadget did you get? I bought one years ago from the local supermarket, it's been brilliant but is now failing and the manufacturer has stopped making them. There are so many on Amazon and I don't know whether there's much difference between them.

@everlynow me too would like to know!

Me too @EverlyNow

Hi ladies - it’s called LightwaveRF. Set of 3 plugs and a controller. I’m planning to ask for more for my birthday, as it makes such a difference. Nearly as amazing as my hot water tap haha

Just installed some auto lights. They are on magnetic strips so you can put them anywhere and simply take off and plug into mini usb to recharge! So happy! I have put one in our boot lobby, and another has gone on the sloping ceiling of a storage space, for example. They come on as soon as you approach and switch themselves off and shed a nice bright light. I do feel I'm a bit of an advert doing this!

I have remote control main lights (also dim'able,) also in bedrooms, always loved them!

What kitchen knives chef? @Cantthinkofabloodyname

Smotheroffive Thats exactly what I'm looking for! I've got battery ones atm.

Which schmoozer I've mentioned a number of gadgets now? The rechargeable auto lights?

Smotheroffive can you link to the magnetic strip auto lights please? Would like one to stick on the fridge for night time brewing at weekend when I go to bed at 5AM late

Yep..no worries lights through Amazon here

If you follow that link and look at the other suggestions you will see a vast array of different types and sizes, thisparticular one was small and well shaped for our needs.

@Smotheroffive I have a set of Global knives.

Best way to poach perfect eggs is crack them into cling film, twist and lower into pan of boiling water. They look so profesh!

Thank you..have you a link @Cantthinkofabloodyname ?

@Spanielmadness is there not nasty leaching chemicals in cling film that should prohibit heating whilst in direct contact with something as spongelike as eggs?