Kitchen gadgets needed to give as gifts

[gfweb]

I'm looking for some novel smallwares to give people at Christmas. Any ideas?

[Anna N]

If you have bread bakers or budding bread bakers then one or even a pair of these (Danish dough whisks) might fit the bill. Love mine. 

[blue_dolphin]

Good idea, @Anna N.  That's an item I learned of here on eG and find very useful.

 

Along the same lines, I like the ball whisks and flat whisk (aka magic spoon)

I've gotten way more use than I expected from these little silicone mitts, sold for the Instant Pot, but I use them for many things.

[boilsover]

I suggest Swiss Star peelers.  http://www.zena.swiss/en

Wicked sharp and cheap.  About $5 each if I remember right.  They're one of those things you wonder how you ever managed without it.

[Alex]

1 hour ago, boilsover said:

I suggest Swiss Star peelers.  http://www.zena.swiss/en

Wicked sharp and cheap.  About $5 each if I remember right.  They're one of those things you wonder how you ever managed without it.

 

True, but they're no match for the Hello Kitty peeler.

[boilsover]

35 minutes ago, Alex said:

 

True, but they're no match for the Hello Kitty peeler.

 

You must have the Snoopy cutlery set!

[rotuts]

the two items above I have and love.    don't have the HK though.

[rotuts]

by small wares  you have a dollar amount you are thinking about ?

 

if your recipients do not have a MicroPlane grater , that would be a fine addition to their kitchen.

 

they are however around 15 USD    12 with your coupon :

 

https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/s/microplane?ta=typeahead&_requestid=223128

[rotuts]

if they don't already sharpen their own knives , a ceramic knife sharpener , intro version :

 

https://www.amazon.com/Arkansas-sharpeners-Sharpeners-Ceramic-Sharpening/dp/B004EG066O/ref=pd_lpo_79_lp_t_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=XBE4Q1RBGTE3RKA804EC

[cdh]

Ceramic paring knives fit the bill... cheap, sharp, useful.

[Lisa Shock]

Maybe not as small as you'd like, but, you can get entry-level electronic scales for about $20. I have gotten them for a bit less at discount places like Ross, TJ Maxx, Home Goods, etc.

[NWKate]

I just saw some silicone spoon rests at Safeway- I've always been wary of the ceramic ones but would be willing to give these a try.

[lindag]

I like Dishers.

[Martin Fisher]

A few things I like and use often:

• ThermoWorks Super-Fast® Pocket Thermometer (RT600C), I love, love, love this! I use it multiple times daily. It's been improved since I bought mine 3 years ago. Maximum temp is 302°F which is rarely an issue (hot oil and the like) and about the only time I use the Thermapen. This is sold on special quite often at $19 rather than $24.
• ThermoWorks TimeStick®, I have 2 that I bought 3 years ago. This product has also been improved since I bought mine. I have one hanging around my neck almost all the time. On sale for $17 quite often.
• ThermoWorks DOT®, ~$34,  I also have 2 of these. One's probe is permanently mounted in the oven. The probe selection is great — the probes are also compatible with the new ThermoWorks Smoke.™ which I'll likely buy when it goes on sale.
• Silicone spatulas and spoonulas. Only ones with NO seam between the handle and the business end! I have the Vollrath brand available at almost any good restaurant supply. They are kinda fugly, but well made.
• Large granite mortar and pestle. If there's a TJ Maxx close buy, they sell these (Il Mulino brand) for +/- $15.00 each — I use mine nearly every day.
• Ikea's GRUNDTAL stainless steel magnetic knife strips are only $8.99. I have a couple. I want a couple more.
• Silicone suction lids, but ONLY the smooth ones, I HATE the flowery, leafy, textured ones that are a pain to clean!!! I found mine at TJ Maxx — Lékué brand — very cheap.
• OXO Good Grips® Angled Measuring Cups (3 sizes)
• OXO Good Grips® Adjustable 2-Cup Measuring Cup
• Joseph Joseph® Scoop™ Colander in Grey. Very handy for small batches of stuff. Just $6.99 at BB&B. I think I paid $4.99 at TJ Maxx.
• Silicone Baking Mat Set (2) Half Sheets

 

Ruhlman puts his stuff on sale around Thanksgiving. I may buy some spoons this year.

[Yiannos]

What about a molinillo, one of those wooden whisks they use in Mexico to make frothy hot chocolate?

[Smithy]

If your intended recipients do corn, they may appreciate a Zyliss Corn Stripper. I've tried many different methods of getting corn off the cob, including a number of gadgets.  This is my favorite; it lets me make short work of dozens of ears in an afternoon.

[andiesenji]

Some great ideas.  I have just about everything mentioned here.  In fact, I think I introduced the Danish dough whisk several years ago when I mentioned how quickly it blends quick breads where you want to handle and work the dough as little as possible to keep it from becoming tough.

 

In my collection of kitchen gadgets, I have a lot of potato mashers but the arthritis in my right hand has made it difficult to use most of them. (I detest whipped potatoes so don't use a mixer.)

 

A while back I got this Kukpo potato masher, which I can use with both hands. It does a fantastic job on potatoes and also on fruits, bananas and other stuff that requires mashing.  It's 11 dollars at Amazon.  Very reasonable.  I often make the "smashed" oven baked whole potatoes and this does a brilliant job.  

[gfweb]

@andiesenji I too detest whipped potatoes.

[lindag]

This may seem an unnecessary, extravagent item but it is amazingly useful:

Fine Tongs

Edited November 4, 2016 by lindag (log)

[btbyrd]

Those tongs seem well built, but I use (cheaper) culinary/surgical tweezers instead. There are smaller offset tweezers that are useful for plating (and other, stouter, non-offset kinds that are useful for pulling pinbones from fish), but the longer (11.5-12.5") straight tweezers get a fair bit of use in my household. It's the best way to flip bacon.

[kayb]

19 hours ago, Smithy said:

If your intended recipients do corn, they may appreciate a Zyliss Corn Stripper. I've tried many different methods of getting corn off the cob, including a number of gadgets.  This is my favorite; it lets me make short work of dozens of ears in an afternoon.

 

Ordering this. Thanks.

 

[andiesenji]

You can get 12 inch specimen forceps for about 8 dollars.  And if you want something sturdier, you can get "sponge forceps" or "instrument forceps"  that have loop ends for secure grabbing. They are even cheaper.  I think I paid about 5 dollars for the last pair I bought from an ebay vendor and the shipping was free.

 

[Dave the Cook]

You can get those long tweezers even cheaper if you step outside of the cookware shop and head for the pet store instead.

[Anna N]

1 hour ago, Dave the Cook said:

You can get those long tweezers even cheaper if you step outside of the cookware shop and head for the pet store instead.

 Except for very fancy plating  which I am unlikely to ever undertake,  I remain unconvinced that I need these.   I have precision pliers for removing pin bones. I usually cook my bacon in the oven so no flipping necessary. What other uses  am I missing out on?   I actually have a pair of very long tweezers that languish in a drawer somewhere but I've never thought of moving them into the kitchen.   Convince me that I should and at the same time you'll be making a case for why these would make a good holiday gift.

[Martin Fisher]

FWIW, JB Prince offers a large assortment of culinary tweezers and tongs.