Most unused food related gift item?

[Marlene]

I have a Hamilton Beach indoor grill. Used once. Since I got my Bamix, I never use my garlic press any more!

[phaelon56]

I think we need to set up an egullet swap thread. Receiver pays the postage, donor gets more counter space!!

I think this is a GREAT idea. I have some kind of off brand imemrsion blender with a bunch of attachments and have never even taken it out of the box (yes... a gift).

[jhlurie]

I think we need to set up an egullet swap thread

think this is a GREAT idea

Since money won't be changing hands, you guys can roll along with a swap thread if you want. Just try and keep it all in one place if you go ahead with this. I recommend some kind of COD or Paypal reimbursement for the shipping--the one thing which will cause us to change our minds is if this becomes about using eGullet to chase down shipping reimbursements. The other part is that I don't think we want people listing their addresses, phone numbers, etc. on such a thread--you can use the thread to initiate a swap (asking who needs what, what city do they live in, etc.), but the completion of the process should be taken to PM or e-mail. In fact, I'll say it straight out--for everyone's protection, if I start seeing people's personal information being listed on a thread, those posts get zapped. Sorry--but that seems best.

[edemuth]

The hubby and I got an Oreo gift set this year...  two mugs and four snack-size bags of regular-sized Oreos. 

Last year, we got a Rice Krispie Treats maker: a plastic tub with a plastic divider-type insert that cut the treats into six squares.  You know, if you don't have a knife handy, but do have the RK Treats maker. 

Come to think of it, I think it was from the same people... 

That's too bad, Kris... I was going to suggest that you re-gift each of those to the other's giver.

[Jonathan Day]

Many years ago, before I started to drink good espresso, a friend gave me an coffee maker he had picked up in Italy. He had a small flat and didn't want it. I didn't know what it was, and put it in a box.

Later, in a move, I unpacked it and realised that it was a Pavoni lever pump machine -- an ancestor of today's "Europiccola" (this one).

It now sits in a proud place on the kitchen counter and gets frequent use. I'm sure these machines are not the ultimate espresso makers, but it works pretty well. I had considered turning it down, or throwing it away once I got it home -- glad I didn't.

[AzRaeL]

that would be my rice cooker.

i dont use my Microwave either.

[tammylc]

I got one of those nasty multi-level steamers as well (I asked for a rice cooker, you know, the pressure kind that seals and someone thought multi-function would be better). Used it once, got rid of it.

I've now received deep-fryers twice, and gotten rid of both of them while still sealed in their boxes.

My husband has used his steam toy espresso maker a few times, but now that he's a coffee geek, he's ready to graduate to something better...

For those of you who aren't using your breadmaker, I highly recommend you check out the cookbook "Rustic European Breads from your Bread Machine." It uses the machine for what it's good at - kneading and proofing - but has you do the shaping and finishing by hand and bake it in your regular oven. Really good results, and it allows you to work with the kind of wet doughs that produce great results but that are tricky to work entirely by hand.

And just to provide a counterpoint - I use my food processor, rice cooker, and garlic press on a regular basis. I could ditch my crockpot, although I dig it out about once a year to keep mulled cider hot at our holiday party, and it came in very handy when I had to cook Christmas dinner without an oven...