by Julia Schrenkler
Member since:
August 31, 2005

Contest: Reply with your favorite kitchen gadget and you could win a Staub Pot!

July 01, 2006 09:40 AM EDT (Updated: July 01, 2006 09:43 AM EDT)
views: 316 | rating: 10/10 (3 votes) | comments: 62
Win a "La Cocotte"! Join American Public Media's Food Talk group and reply to this discussion naming your favorite kitchen gadget and you'll be entered in a drawing. (see official rules for eligibility and restrictions)

The La Cocotte is a classic. The drawing is for a matte black Staub Pot courtesy of Cooks of Crocus Hill and American Public Media's Splendid Table ® show.

What is your favorite kitchen gadget? Why?

For more information visit
Official favorite kitchen gadget drawing rules
Join the Food Talk Group


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Comments: 62

gibbs williams Jul 1, 2006, 9:58am EDT
My favorite kitchen tool is clearly a garlic press. It is exceedingly gratifying that I am able to create taste thrills by breaking down a solid object into smaller pieces, and doing so in a predictable way each and every time.
donna f. Jul 1, 2006, 10:07am EDT
I have to admit, I am not much for gadgets. I am old fashioned, not to mention, too poor to buy many of the new fangled time savers on the market.My favorite gadget, if you can call it such, is my rolling pin. made of solid maple. It was a wedding gift to my Mother, in 1942, from her Mother, who had received it at her wedding, from her Mother. I will give it to my daughter on her own wedding day.
Richard B. Jul 1, 2006, 11:25am EDT
Well, my Spatulas. I can't fry my eggs without them, let alone turn my hamburgers.

My dad gave mom only one wedding gift, a spatula. I still have it hidden away somewhere in my China cabinet. It's the only one she ever used and is well worn. I never use it as I have one I bought in the fifties that I use a lot, and a few others I'll also use.

Can't cook without it.
Pearl 2 Jul 1, 2006, 11:33am EDT
My Calphalon everyday pan. It's the most used cooking pan in my house. I don't know what I'd do without it ...so I bought an extra one to be safe!
Sandy (Site Psychic™) Knauer Jul 1, 2006, 12:01pm EDT
My vegetable steamer is my favorite kitchen item. It's easy to use, easy to clean, and it prepares healthy, tasty food.
John S. (arizona) Jul 1, 2006, 4:14pm EDT
I'm not sure it's a gadget, but my favorite is my regular old fashioned, heavier than lead, over-sized, versatile, indestructible, been in the family for years, break your wrist, burn your fingers Cast Iron Frying Pan. You can use it on the stove top, in the oven, on the barbecue, and straight in the coals when camping. Couldn't live without it.
Second would be my hand operated, over-sized handle to turn easy can-opener. The electric ones bug me.
Latasha W. Jul 1, 2006, 10:55pm EDT
Maybe I'm still wet behind the ears compared to the rest of you, but I love my George Foreman grill. It's like instant gratification for the impatient. In addition, it makes a pretty good panini press. I've cooked my share of grilled cheese sandwiches on it.
Laura C. Jul 5, 2006, 12:53pm EDT
I am in love with a knife.

O, Henckles santoku knife...how you chop so beautifully. Your hollow edge blade and your ergonomic handle beg me to cook something, anything that requires chopping. Onions weep when you come near... peppers would roll away if they could... and garlic cloves fear you too.

Is it bad to be in love with a utensil?
Madame Donna C. Jul 5, 2006, 1:03pm EDT
My favorite gadget is my stainless steel, Bron mandoline for slicing vegetables. I entertain for large groups so this gadget saves prep time for me and keeps the slices uniform. It is especially helpful when I'm making large batches of homemade potato chips or fries. Most of my vegetable platters look professional with little effort too.
Pat D. Jul 5, 2006, 1:10pm EDT
I also love my knife.
Its not a Henkel, its a Chicago cutlery chefs knife.
It was one of my first purchases when I moved set out on my own.
Sharp, quick, clean, and efficien, and elegantly simple.
C G. Jul 5, 2006, 2:17pm EDT
The Bagel Cutter! I use it every day! Turns a dangerous 2 minute project with a cutting board and knife into a 2 second evenly cut bagel with a quick rinse of the base.
Vanessa Willis Jul 5, 2006, 2:56pm EDT
My 2-quart Pyrex bowl. It's masqueraded as everything from a punch bowl to a casserole dish, and I've mixed many a birthday cake in it. While I prep meals it serves as a countertop garbage can for peelings and wrappers. It's been in the oven, the microwave, the freezer and the dishwasher, and never once complained. Heck, I think we even let our dogs drink water out of it a time or two on a hot day.
Mary Ann Spears Jul 5, 2006, 3:23pm EDT
My Warthog knife sharpener that I bought online after my husband heard about it from a local sports expo. It is so easy to use and sharpens better than anything I have ever used.
Kevin Weeks Jul 6, 2006, 12:25pm EDT
I was a bit confused by some of the responses. According to the dictionary a gadget is, "an often small mechanical or electronic device with a practical use but often thought of as a novelty." I'm not sure a knife or a skillet qualifies as a gadget, but if the intent is simply to list one's favorite kitchen tool then I would have to say it's my 8" Spanish chef's knife -- it's what I would grab if the house was on fire. It's the perfect size and balance for my hand and it takes and holds a beautiful edge.

However, if a small mechanical or electronic devide is the goal then I would have to go with my Kitchen Aid Immersion Blender. In addition to being an excellent blender, it has a wire whip and a small food processor atttachment. It's hard to beat a multi-purpose gadget.
Cynthia C. Jul 8, 2006, 9:22am EDT
While I love to cook, I don't have many gadgets, if we go by the dictionary definition that Kevin mentioned, but I do love my set of wooden, hand carved spatulas. They are smooth and gently curved, 6 different sizes and shapes. They are so beautiful, I have them hanging on the wall, next to my work area. Each one is signed "Littledeer" in a delicate script by the craftsman who made them. My Canadian son-in-law gave them to me for Christmas and I use them every day.
Garry H. Jul 8, 2006, 9:30am EDT
I'm happy this popped up as a discussion, it gives me an outlet to share a rare find.
Although we don't use it all the time, my favorite is my wifes Antique Finnish Ebelskiver pan. The pan probably dates to the late 1800's, is made out of hand formed copper with rustic brass handles. It's large and round with 6 "dimples" about 2" in diameter in the bottom where you insert batter. The Ebelskivers come out flat towards the edges and puffy in the middle. We serve them with an array of jellies, preserves, honey, real Vermont maple syrup, or what ever anybody thinks they might like on them.
Whatever you choose, they are truly a delight and a blast from the past.
Kevin (''The SiteWizard'') V. Jul 8, 2006, 9:46am EDT
My favorite kitchen 'gadget' is the Zyliss manual 'Zick Zick' chopper.



This chopper is a breeze to use, almost cleans itself, and makes quick work of any chopping task....from tomatoes, to nuts.
Arielle K. Jul 8, 2006, 10:24am EDT
Like Kevin, I have this chopper that is awesome. It's slightly different than the one above but very similar (mine isn't quite as pretty). I just press the top a few times and WHALA - an onion (or anything else that needs chopping) is finely chopped to perfection. No tears, to cuts, no mis sized pieces.
Donna Besso Jul 8, 2006, 11:04am EDT
This past Holiday, My son and his wife gave me a mini food processer. I have issues with both my hands, and sometimes I can't hold a knife. I am in culinary heaven with this miracle gadget!!! It is a Black and Decker Mini Chopper Plus. It is never put away, and used almost daily.It's my mini food processer that has saved me much misery. Recently at Wal-Mart they had the breader set. As Seen On TV!! Two bowls with a red plate in between that has holes in it. You put whatever it is that's being breaded into one bowl, the breading in the other ,snap it together, turn it over and shake it a bit and everything's breaded. It came with the free knife that has a cutting guide you attach to it, so everything you slice is even. It didn't thrill me. I use the knife without the guide, and the breader is sitting on top of the fridge gathering dust. Sometime's when I need an extra bowl I'll use one of those.
Jay D Jul 8, 2006, 11:04am EDT
The gadget I can't live without is my microplane grater. Parmesean cheese comes out like fluffy cotton. Its great. I love it.
Kathy Holton Jul 8, 2006, 11:30am EDT
My favorite gadget of all time, "and I'm a gadget junkie" is my Magic Bullet. I use it every day. I make frosty smoothies, milk shakes, fresh ground coffee, but especially I mix a powerded medicaiton I have to drink. It makes it bearable.
Bill's Spirit Jul 8, 2006, 11:54am EDT
My favorite kitchen gadget is my "Cullinary Queen." She dices, slices, makes julian fries, roasts, bastes, sautees, grills and bakes. From veggies to bread, Gatherer Donna F. keeps me well fed.
Carol Voigts Jul 8, 2006, 12:27pm EDT
I have to admit that my favorite kitchen gadget is one that I wrote an gather article about back in January about kitchen gadgets. In that article I mentioned several of my favorite gadgets, and listed my very favorite as the 1950's Foley Food Chopper as the one I would pick. I try to find more of them at garage sales and 2nd hand stores so everybody in the family can have one because they all covet mine, which they're not getting till I die. There's a picture of it on this link above and I've seen some on ebay.
Kara M. Jul 8, 2006, 1:05pm EDT
I can't live without my Pampered Chef apple "peeler-corer-slicer", except mine is only occasionally used for apples. I used mine all the time to make home made mashed potatoes with less time and less work. You just stick a potato on the device, it pops out the center of the potato, which I toss in the pan, and then turn the handle and you get a long string of basically peeled and cut potatoes that cook more quickly than chunks and leaves just a little bit of skin on for that smashed potato. Works on any kind of spud.
T B. Jul 8, 2006, 1:15pm EDT
The fork... I hate eating with my fingers.... Its gotta be one of those dinner forks (not the one with three prongs) and it cant be a dessert one either... Think of all the things you can do with a fork (including stab someone!)
Adam Lipscomb Jul 8, 2006, 1:16pm EDT
My chef's knife. It's old, but I keep it sharp and it fits in my hand perfectly. A truly multipurpose tool - it cuts, dices, chops, crushes garlic, in a pinch I can peel a potato with it, scoop ingredients into a skillet...
Aileen F. Jul 8, 2006, 3:24pm EDT
I have to say it's my Kitchen Aid mixer. It has all sorts of fun gadgets you can attach, although I only have the meat grinder/sausage stuffer so far. I just love that I can start something mixing and move away to do something else while it works. I kneads bread, too. It's the only way I can make fresh bread, I hate kneading!
Skipster Too Jul 8, 2006, 3:29pm EDT
(2) Identical sets of jade green Anchor Hocking Fire King bowls. Having (6) bowls in (3) sizes allows me to create multiple dishes/baked goods at the same time, because when the urge comes on to cook, I'll multi-task. Plus they're oven proof up to 400 degrees.

Glad to hear two people enjoy their choppers. I've got a miserably impossible one. Why don't I throw it out, though?
Annina Anton Jul 8, 2006, 8:08pm EDT
A self-cleaning garlic press. Nothing beats pressed garlic for uniformity of the "mince" and the dispersion of flavor, but cleaning a conventional press with all those little holes and the sticky, sugary garlic clinging to everything is a real PITA. I belong to the TNSTATMG* theory of cooking. *There's No Such Thing As Too Much Garlic. (Well, almost).
Webduck * Jul 8, 2006, 8:43pm EDT
Inspector Gadget here! I love the three piece set of variable sized tart makers my mom gave to me years ago. But my all time favorite is a non-electric Mouli chopper that belonged to my Mom. It is all metal and has about 5 or 6 metal blades. This thing truly can shred it all! From ice to cheese, carrots and potatoes. I loved my first one so much that when our son got married I found one for him and they love their's too. I gave my original one to my best friend (hey, what are best friends for, after all?) and she was thrilled! My metal one is from the 1950's and still going strong. A close third place would be my grandma's old meat grinder.
Linda Douglas Jul 9, 2006, 12:32pm EDT
Wow. The above comments sound like a shopping list for Williams Sonoma. I really want that pot so I need to think of a gadget I love. My food processor died from making hummus for every potluck I attended for about 5 years. I miss it. I have a stirrer/scraper from Pampered Chef I adore. It is so strong and does alot. So I guess I will go with that. I also like the little clips I got that can keep plastic bags closed so lettuce stays fresh in the frig. Oh, and I have this big handled bowl for mixing that I couldn't live without. I am a simple cook. I don't need a whole lot of gadgets. But I really want that pot.
Barbary Chaapel Jul 9, 2006, 4:32pm EDT
My favorite kitchen gadget is my Kuhn Rikon can opener from Switzerland.
It is non-electric, hand held, stainless steel efficiency of the highest order! It cuts off the whole top of the can, no jagged edges to cut oneself. Surely no kitchen can survive without a can opener!
0000-sharyn-0000 Jul 9, 2006, 6:16pm EDT
I don't have a lot of gadgets and my kitchen is pretty basic( my big indulgence is a mini Cuisinert for making pesto etc) but one thing I find essential is a wooden pasta lifter. I don't use it on pasta but I'm very short. I can hook things off upper shelves with it. It's a kitchen essential for me.
Sharyn Jul 9, 2006
Kurt Michael Friese Jul 10, 2006, 10:30am EDT
Tough to deny that my favorite is my 8" chef's knife, since I use it for almost everything. It is an extension of my hand. But perhaps that's not really a "gadget" per se, so I would have to vote for the tomato shark, which does precisely what it is supposed to do (core tomatoes), almost effortlessly.

I am also a great fan of my shrimp zipper, which peels & deveins shrimp almost as effortlessly as the shark cores tomatoes.

Then there's the olive/cherry pitter - I could go on and on and on.
Michael Scott Jul 12, 2006, 1:10pm EDT
I'm nothing if not a brown nose, so let me say my first favorite kitchen "gadget" is none other than Lynne Rossetto Kasper. She taught me how to boil pasta and hard eggs. She's delighted me at book signings; and she agrees that it would be MUCH fun to hear her read Mama Stamberg's Thanksgiving cranberry relish recipe while Susan Stamberg read one of Lynne's Italian family Thanksgiving recipes. Alas, I have no luck with Bob Edwards and crew. Hope springs eternal!

Far distant second choice: the little device that cuts a quarter pound of butter into equally sized pats. Very elegant for a dinner party!
Andrew B. Jul 12, 2006, 3:46pm EDT
Although I have a food processor I must say that I have discoverd the joys of the blender. The blender is my favorite because it can do almost anything with a single blade, and it is easy to clean use and store. Mine has sixteen speeds and can chop, dice, mince, pulverize, liquify any food. I have been able to do, pestos, soups, smoothies, fruit juice drinks-like watermelon juice with fresh mint--wonderful. Not to mention looking forward to making my own baby food. I can do hot, or cold. I can store it in the fridge for later if I do not use all of the product or wish to chill down a dish. Also it became a fav. because it was a house warming gift that my mother gave me when I moved out.-Cherrios
Valerie Allen Jul 12, 2006, 5:04pm EDT
As a small child at my mother's knee, I enjoyed to slowly pull open the kitchen utensil drawer and pull out the mysterious objects that were found inside. Of all the enchanting and bewildering contraptions shoved in its depths, one continues to hold my fascination to this day, the egg slicer. An egg slicer, for those of you not lucky enough to have seen one, resembles a small metallic harp that folds in on itself.

Before I knew what it was used for I used to imagine tiny elves creeping into the kitchen to play whimsical music on its minuscule strings. After learning its use, the magic still lingered as I marveled at watching its delicate, silent slicing action through an unsuspecting hardboiled egg. How could anything produce such fantastically symmetrical slices through such a slippery prey? I never grow weary when putting it to use for my favorite egg salad recipe or a quick slice of some frozen cookie dough to adorn my evening sundae. It is a familiar companion in my own kitchen drawer and I would be lonely without it there to remind me of the magic of food.

My son has just discovered the egg slicer for the first time and all I could do was stand and smile as he plucked its tiny strings. I often wonder what his elves look like.
lynn villagracia Jul 13, 2006, 12:32am EDT
I love my Wusthof French chef's knife and Santoku knife. Numerous gustatory delights have been carved by these two knives. There is music as it carves meat and slices the juicy fruits of summer (pineapple, watermelon...). The ease of each cut is wonderful, all you hear is the character of the food you are using it on. My knives are like the orchestra to a soprano. You hear and swoon over the soprano but never really give apt credit to the orchestra, My knives, my love, my companion to my culinary delights and disasters.
Aileen C. Jul 14, 2006, 12:43pm EDT
Here's another borderline entry... my Bodum TravelMug/French Press in one. It's a miracle device that makes the coffee in the travel mug! Such a perfect marriage of caffeine and practicality.
*But* in case that doesn't count, I'll list another favourite... the spatula/lifter marketed on TV a few years ago as the "Chef Wizard". While it doesn't work for nearly as many things as advertised, it is a handy little device.
http://www.alltvstuff.com/chef1.html
Mark Monroe Jul 14, 2006, 4:01pm EDT
Our 1890's house has woefully inadequate counter/cabinet space, so we do not have too many gadgets. The one my wife and I do use almost daily is our simple Handi- Chopper. Nothing fancy, but it does the job. My wife loves our Kitchen-Aid mixer and sacrifices coveted counter space for that. Our five-year-old daughter says her favorite gadget is the plastic orange peeler someone gave us from Pampered Chef.
Mary Z. Jul 15, 2006, 1:17pm EDT
My favorite is my Bodum Milano Mulitslicer. It's small, about the size of a pepper grinder and slices small things to exquisite paper thin slices. Chocolate, nuts, ginger, and radishes are suggested, but I cannot get past GARLIC!!!!!

It makes the loveliest oval slices of garlic, so thin they melt into the glaze on a roast, or toast on the top of a fish filet on the grill. HEAVEN!!!

To all of you who love your garlic presses, and I love mine from Pampered Chef, this goes one higher level of elegance and presentation.
Sarah Z. Jul 16, 2006, 12:29am EDT
Without a doubt, my Vev Vigano stovetop espresso maker is my favorite gadget. Every morning it produces delicious espresso which I lightly dilute into a cafe americano with another favorite gadget, the instant 220-degree hot water dispenser next to my sink.
Kristine B. Jul 16, 2006, 11:19am EDT
I only have to pick one?
I love my microplane! It grates everything perfectly and also zests citrus.
Sally L. Jul 16, 2006, 4:43pm EDT
Beside my tongs, the mircro plane.a
A Wife discovered that her husbands wood tools worked fine in the kitchen...the best zester I have ever used.Garlic, lemons, cheese, ginger some of the ingredients itmakes quick work of.
jim riggs Jul 16, 2006, 5:15pm EDT
my favorite gadget is no gadget. it's a universal workhorse of stunningly amazing versatility. no kitchen, pro or amateur, indoor or outdoor should be without one. I naturally rant about my 14 inch steel wok. I can work culinary miracles with my wok and will someday cure the common cold with it.
Along with it's trusty sidekick, the chinese knife ( 3 rams brand, size 3) I dont need no steenkin food processor, garlic masher, french knife or spud peeler.
This is the Holmes and Watson, the Batman and Robin, Yea even the Pixie and Dixie of culinary stuff.
Got Wok? GET wok.
Aileen C. Jul 19, 2006, 12:32pm EDT
Hey, do we know yet who won this glorious pot?
donna f. Jul 19, 2006, 7:10pm EDT
I was wondering the same thing, AIleen.
donna f. Jul 25, 2006, 2:54pm EDT
Week of the 17th, huh?
Sunnye T. Jul 26, 2006, 12:38am EDT
Even if this delightful contest is over, I have to say my favorite kitchen gadget is.....tahdah....my Husband. He loves to chop things and he does it with such panache, and a Santoku knife. He can mince things into such tiny pieces they look like sand and when he dices vegetables they all come out the same size.
He's willing and able and happy to help.
Without a doubt, he's the best kitchen gadget ever.
Aileen C. Jul 26, 2006, 9:35am EDT
Maybe the contest winner was contacted privately?
Deborah S. Aug 4, 2006, 2:27pm EDT
My favorite kitchen gadgets are my grandmother's cookie cutters. When I was little, she would roll out the dough for the Christmas cookies for me and I would use the cookie cutters to cut out my favorites - cows, pigs, chicks, and turkeys. I still have all her cookie cutters and have added about 100 of my own to the collection.
Laura M. Aug 5, 2006, 12:53am EDT
Better late than never, even if the contest is actually over:
My current favorite and Yes, it does change from time to time has to be my OXO Salad Spinner!
Thanks Kevin V. re info on Zyliss manual chopper-I will have to check this find out!
Happy cooking to all!
Tammy W. Aug 9, 2006, 1:55am EDT
My favorite kitchen gadget is my potato peeler it was given to me buy my mother in law (RIP) and it works to core the holes and also peel the anything easily and fast. I have two and could not live without with this in my life.
James s F. Aug 9, 2006, 2:00am EDT
We had these potato peelers we took to scout camp. The kids would hold a potato of carrot with an oven mit then start peeling like crazy trying to see who go the most done while at the same time covering the other guy with the peelings. Funny funny funny. SIgh, but then we'd have to make them rake it all up to keep bears away. But they loved it.
~~ Sarina ~~ Aug 12, 2006, 4:42pm EDT
I love my slow cooker. What is more gratifying that coming home from a long day at work to a home cooked meal that is ready and waiting for you when you walk through the door. One pot cooking is wonderful especially when you have only one pot to clean at the end of the meal!
debbie g. Aug 15, 2006, 12:37pm EDT
hi my favorite kiction gadget is my tortia press with ease i can press the dough and cook it i can make tortias like the pros even with arthor and it makes wonderful petta bread debrah garcia
Elizabeth H. Aug 16, 2006, 11:15pm EDT
My favorite gadget is the microplaner, you can zest lemons, limes, oranges with ease. Also make some very impressive small size cheese...I love it and the zest of those citrus fruits is soooooo awesome in pies and cakes and soups.... yum..... smiles.. Elizabeth
Stefanie S. Aug 26, 2006, 12:20am EDT
My favorite kitchen gadget has to be my collander which I use for washing all my vegetables. Since I am vegetarians, I eat vegetables daily, so this gadget saves the day. I wash all my fresh vegetables when steaming and it is great for salads too and keeping everything fresh.
Janet Somewhere Up On The Mount Aug 31, 2006, 7:43am EDT
My favorite kitchen gadget is my cow cappuccino machine,
Yum I could'nt start the day without it. On the hottest days I make iced coffee.
I wanna show the picture but dont know how ; (
morenike fitzwater Sep 6, 2006, 2:25pm EDT
My favorite gadget to use is the peeler. You can use it on almost everything. I use it on a daily bases all the time when I make dinner.
Heidi Bolebruch Sep 27, 2006, 12:59pm EDT
My favorite gadget in the kitchen is a rubber spatula. I have quite a collection in various colors and sizes. Thrown into a ceramic container on the counter for such gadgets they often resemble a bouquet of flowers with bright green, blue, and orange petals. This is my favorite tool because I use it for so many things. In the morning I use one to scramble eggs, in the afternoon for scraping the cake batter off of the sides of the bowl, or later to chase away snitching fingers.
Demetria "Making 'em Laugh" D. Jan 6, 2007, 10:05pm EST
I love my food processor. I've made everything from whipped cream to pastry dough. it is perfect. Growing up I always wanted one and I am happy to say that I still love it as much as I did when I first opened the box.

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