What is your most favorite Non-electric kitchen tool?

[brendat4]

I was wondering what thing in your kitchen is your most favorite NON-ELECTRIC kitchen gadget?

I think one of my most favorites is my metal rasp. It is super for grating cheese (especially parmesan, etc.) or lemon zest. I just learned here that it can work for grating ginger too so will have to try that. I got mine at a local kitchen shop here and it was well worth it!

Now let's hear from you!

[beejayw1]

Well, I'm not sure you could call it a gadget; I guess it fits into the 'knife' category:

It's a chopper. The blade is the size of a medium-sized chef's nice, with a nice curve to the cutting edge. The tip is cut off, so this is not a pointed tool. A handle had been cut into the widest part of the blade, and you can get a good grip on it.

This chops things beautifully, the curve of the cutting edge lets you rock the blade as you chop. It's small enough that it doesn't get in the way. Price: $4 at a farmer's market.

[SandyM]

I'd have to say my Zyliss cheese grater. It puts out my Parmesano Reggiano in a flash, with little fuss or effort!

[Wendy w]

It is a toss up between the citrus reamer and the garlic press.

Btw: SandyM, I love your new signature! I liked the old one too, but this one is hilarious!!

[gertdog]

My Microplane grater... is that the same as the rasp mentioned above? It makes such beautiful, fine shreds of parmesan, and it does a great job on citrus peel too!

This is less tool and more utensil, but I love my asian basket strainer... metal basket attached to a bamboo handle. I use it on the rare occasions that I deep-fry, but I also use it frequently when I'm boiling veggies... one scoop and out of the water they come!

[BosunsWife]

I guess it would be between my Pampered Chef cheese grater and my $2.50 veggie steamer.

[aggie94]

Mine is my new Zyliss chopper. I had debated getting a garlic press, but my friend suggested this instead, for mincing small things like garlic. It's awesome! Oh, and my wooden spoons. Can't live without those!

[Jewel]

I got a new toy, and so far I love it....of course it scares the poop outta my husband.

Bought one of those handy-dandy meat tenderizers with the easy-grip handle, about 20 of the sharpest little nails you've ever seen, and a safety cover with a spring covering the nails so you can slide it into a drawer when not in use. I pull that Bad Boy out of the drawer and start pounding on the meat, and the spring lets the cover slide up over the nails exposing them so they pierce a good 2" through the steak or roast! Great to help marinade soak into my meats quicker. I start to hear Gail's Psycho music runnin' through my head as I'm stabbing my beef! :D

[Robyncz]

Jewel,

YIKES!!!!!

(Where can I get one?)

Robyn:eek:

[guavagirl]

after the garlic press, the garlic peeler.

[Jewel]

Originally posted by guavagirl
after the garlic press, the garlic peeler.

Is that the little floppy thing that Williams-Sonoma says you just put the garlic in and rub it around? Looks like it would be hard to clean since the peels just get trapped inside the floppy? Just wondering... :cool:

[SandyM]

I had a garlic peeler and tossed it. I like taking out my aggression on the cloves by smashing it with my chef's knife. The skin comes off like a charm......and my DH is safe :D

[BlueMoose]

My "antique" rolling pin.

[Jewel]

Originally posted by Robyncz
Jewel,

YIKES!!!!!

(Where can I get one?)

Robyn:eek:

Robin, I picked mine up at a kitchen store in Seattle on the Pike Place Public Market route, can't remember the name, but I've seen them in other stores. I got tired of stabbing over and over with a table fork or a meat fork, and this little weapon is MUCH more fun to use anyway!

Even the dogs run... :eek:

[AmyS]

My favorite is also my newest purchase! I discovered the flat silicone whisk at Williams Sonoma----YES! A flat whisk that will NOT scratch your coated pots and pans when making sauces or gravies!!
It is great, especially for the mac-n-cheese recipe in this month's issue!!

[SueK]

I'd have to say my two favorites are my Zyliss garlic press, and my PC cheese grater. I use them both constantly!

[heatherfeather]

My favorite non electric kitchen tool is probably my lemon reamer. I use it most nights and can't imagine not having one.

[SueK]

Originally posted by heatherfeather
My favorite non electric kitchen tool is probably my lemon reamer. I use it most nights and can't imagine not having one.

Heather- no offense, but I always cringe when I hear people talk about lemon reamer. To me, that has always sounded like such a violent kitchen tool! :eek:

Having said that, I have been in search of one anyway, because of all the good things I've heard about them!

[Jewel]

Originally posted by heatherfeather
My favorite non electric kitchen tool is probably my lemon reamer. I use it most nights and can't imagine not having one.

OK....I gotta get my mind outta the gutter...'cause I just imagined this thing that's being used every night having batteries! :eek:

[SueK]

Originally posted by Jewel


OK....I gotta get my mind outta the gutter...'cause I just imagined this thing that's being used every night having batteries! :eek:

Don't feel bad Jewel--I just posted my topic of "Appliance Excitement" and then realized that title might put the wrong picture into people's minds! :)

[Peeps]

Originally posted by Jewel


Is that the little floppy thing that Williams-Sonoma says you just put the garlic in and rub it around? Looks like it would be hard to clean since the peels just get trapped inside the floppy? Just wondering... :cool:

I LOVE my garlic peeler! Yes, Jewel, it is a little rubber tube like you described but it is not hard to clean at all - the little papery peel bits just fall right out when you're done, all I ever have to do is give it a quick rinse which usually doesn't even seem necessary. I only have ONE drawer in my kitchen (yes, I know) so I can't accumulate many little gadgets but I love this one. Oh, couldn't do without my pastry blender either, since I am a crisp/cobbler-aholic.

[Ohioan]

Considering the vulgarity that's begun to surface here, I'm almost hesitant to say this, but lately my favorite gadget has been my melon baller.:eek:

No kidding. I actually cut my melons up into little spherical MarthaStewarty bits, even when I'm eating alone. (Makes 'em easier to hook out of the dish a piece at a time whenever I pass the refrigerator.) ;)

The gadget is also good for coring zucchini or eviscerating eggplants for stuffing. (Hmm, I wonder what fried zucchini and eggplant balls would be like -- and Jewel, I don't want you answering this!!!!!) :D

Cheers,
Phoebe

[BlueMoose]

Gee, I never really thought about what a violent and vulgar place the kitchen actually is!:o

[BosunsWife]

Jewel, would that store on the Pike Place Market route be Sur Le Table? I simply love that store. When I got married one of my best friends gave me a gift certificate there - I was in heaven.

[Beth]

This one is tough: The wooden spoons and my one long-handled every-job stainless spoon, the silicone spatulas that go in the dishwasher, the new veggie peeler that has so much heft it is nearly effortless, and multiple sets of measuring spoons.

Pheobe, I had to buy another melon baller when my boys discovered them. I now have 3 different ones, which means I can still have one when they decide to use them as melon spoons. Mmmmm, but drippy! :D

[Jewel]

Originally posted by Ohioan
Considering the vulgarity that's begun to surface here, I'm almost hesitant to say this, but lately my favorite gadget has been my melon baller.:eek:

(Hmm, I wonder what fried zucchini and eggplant balls would be like -- and Jewel, I don't want you answering this!!!!!) :D

Cheers,
Phoebe

....but...fingers....want...to...type!! Many...vulgar...thoughts...emerging!!! :eek:

[Jewel]

Originally posted by BosunsWife
Jewel, would that store on the Pike Place Market route be Sur Le Table? I simply love that store. When I got married one of my best friends gave me a gift certificate there - I was in heaven.

YUP!! That's it!! I spent an hour in that store and only spent $7.95, so DH was very proud of me! :D

[CathyPA]

Can't just name one. Three items that I use alot and love are: 1) PC garlic press, like not having to peel before mincing, 2) collapsible steamer basket and 3) my salad spinner. One of BIL's makes fun of my salad spinner everytime he sees me use it, but I don't care. I bought doubles of all three items so that I have them at our vacation house.

[Little Bit]

My favorite non-electric kitchen tool would probably be my sauce (flat) whisk. This is a sign that I cook too many roux-based sauces, but CL (and all the nice people here) have taught me lots of handy ways to reduce the other fats in my cookery, so I try not to begrudge myself the indulgence of a roux. LOL!!

I almost picked my Swing-Away can opener, and its general handiness when the power's out because of a hurricane's passage too, too close to my home, but I'm trying to stifle all superstitious thoughts of this nature, which tend to attract such storms, and not really succeeding. Yikes! LOL!!

[kwormann]

my DH

[Ohioan]

Originally posted by kwormann
my DH
Hee hee hee!!! Kim, you are a hoot!:D:D

Cheers,
Phoebe