Tuesday, November 3, 2009

10 Simple Tools That Should Be In Your Kitchen (but Probably Aren't)


Think your kitchen's well stocked with the basic necessities? Go visit Molly's post, here, where she talks to me about my kitchen must-haves, and see if your Top Ten list matches mine.
Molly and her husband blog about books, movies, and baseball, among other things, over at The Bumbles Blog. She also makes a mean spinach salad with maple vinaigrette.
Check it out. And share with the rest of us your top kitchen must-haves. What are the items you feel no kitchen should be without?

15 Comments:

Anonymous tasteofbeirut said...

Two: a vegetable corer and a wooden mortar for mashing garlic! I could not function without these two in my Lebanese kitchen!

November 3, 2009 at 7:28 PM  
Blogger Innkeeper Seely said...

Several flat whisks (aka sauce whisks, second paddle for the mixer and at least one extra stand mixer bowl.

November 3, 2009 at 8:19 PM  
Anonymous Dianne said...

Ha, what a good list. I am thinking I am going to have to treat myself to your book, as I am getting ready to make the leap from corporate train to "the castle." (and doing some writing & editing on the side). I love my garlic press, my good chopping knife, and my little Farberware saucepan. But my favorite little thing has to be my little shot-glass measuring thingy - so much easier to pour vanilla, etc.

Fun post!

November 4, 2009 at 5:38 AM  
Blogger Carpool Queen said...

I would add spring loaded kitchen tongs, silicone heat resistant spatulas, and a sharp paring knife.

And butter.

Lots and lots of butter.

November 4, 2009 at 7:05 AM  
Anonymous Barbara H. said...

I agree with Carpool Queen about a sharp paring knife. And my other must-have is a wire whisk. I could. not. make gravy until I got one of those, and I use it for several things now.

I can't have candles -- they give me a headache.

November 4, 2009 at 8:12 AM  
Blogger Karenpie said...

Can't live without my microplane grater or my santoku. Or my Pampered Chef hamburger breaker-upper-thingie. I have a way with words, huh?

November 4, 2009 at 8:37 AM  
Blogger Lynn said...

Dang, ladies, I'm going to need to do me some shopping. You all are coming up with some great kitchen gadget thingies :)

Tasteofbeirut, is your vegetable corer a little metal spoon-like tool with sharp serrated edges? I have a tomato corer that I loooove, but I'm not sure if that's what you're talking about.

Inkeeper Seely, I'll have to look for a flat whisk. I have two whisks, different types, but neither of them flat. Sounds like yours would be easier to clean.

Dianne, how fun that you're going to make the leap to your castle! Best of luck with that. I don't think you will regret it :) I love your list. Gotta admit I don't have a little shot-glas measuring thingy. Maybe I need to put that on my Christmas list.

November 4, 2009 at 9:08 AM  
Blogger Lynn said...

Carpool Queen, spring loaded kitchen tongs is an item I have long needed. I make do with my weasly large salad fork and spoon, but the tongs . . . oh wouldn't they make life easier! And butter, yes, butter. You are so right about the butter.

Barbara H, thanks for the wire whisk & gravy tip. Good for all of us to remember as Thanksgiving approaches. As for the candles, do the non-scented kind give you a headache? I prefer just regular old unscented ones when we're having dinner. That would be sad if you couldn't use those :(

OK, Karenpie, you got me. What the heck is a santoku? And the hamburger gadget -- is that a set of shallow plastic cups that help you actually make the patties, so they're all uniform? Please advise!

November 4, 2009 at 9:13 AM  
Anonymous Faith said...

Great list! I can't live without my food processor...it makes everything from hummus, to ground meat, to bread dough!

November 4, 2009 at 12:21 PM  
Blogger teresa said...

good list, i only have about half of those things, i especially need an apron! i couldn't live without my garlic press, that's a must have for me!

November 4, 2009 at 3:12 PM  
Blogger Wren said...

Hi there! Thanks for stopping by The Burbs. Your comment made me laugh as a blue heron recently CLEANED out our neighbors koi. We couldn't believe it. Hope your fish are okay. We bought them a decoy as a joke, but I think it was already too late...
As for the kitchen..I am with everyone about a good sharp knife. Crazy about my 4 c pyrex measuring cup too. Seem to use it for everything..

November 4, 2009 at 3:27 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I loved your article with Molly. I appreciate the tips.

November 4, 2009 at 5:10 PM  
Blogger Pam Ryder said...

Love your list Lynn! I must add my fancy Screwpull wine opener. Gets those bottles open FAST with no cork residue!!! Also, my one-cup Keurig coffee-maker. No mess, no grounds and everyone can have their favorite "flavor"!

November 5, 2009 at 9:37 AM  
Blogger Ingrid_3Bs said...

My cuisinart handmixer. Love it!
~ingrid

November 5, 2009 at 12:27 PM  
Blogger Lynn said...

Thanks for adding to the list, ladies. It sounds like there are quite a few nifty gadgets out there I am still lacking :) Fun seeing what everyone's must-haves are. They are good gift ideas, too.

November 5, 2009 at 3:28 PM  

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