Poll: What can't you live without?

[venus]

Lorelei's post about her kitchen has me thinking:

What kitchen item/gadget can't you live without? What do you use every day? If you cook in another person's kitchen, what do you find yourself missing?

I would pick my very large butcher knife. It's like the one's that Japanese chef's use and I actually bought it for my husband. I thought it was waaay to big and I would never use it, but I use it to cut everything from whole chickens to cherry tomatoes. I even bought my mom one, so I would have one to cook with at Thanksgiving. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Mandy]

Humm, I can't narrow down one item...but I have a few. My food processor, I use it all the time. My good knives. Several years ago a girlfriend of mine spent sometime in Italy, and brought me back an herb knife, I love that knife; lately I've noticed them here. When I was cooking at my in-laws I used a good garlic press, now I have to have one (I'd never used a "good" one before). I think that's about it.

[LIsaP]

I can cook most anything as long as I have my Heinkles knife (7 inch), a large pot for pasta, soup etc and a skillet. Without those 3 things, I am pretty much at a loss. I recently moved as well and was without a kitchen for a whole week-well, we had a kitchen, but nothing in it. It was very difficult. Once I unpacked my new kitchen and put everything away, I realized how little I use most of my things and how much I use the basic things listed above. Not too exciting, but practical!

[andreajackson]

I bake a lot so I would have to say that my springform pans! I don't what I did before I got these but I use them almost everytime I bake.

[ML]

This is silly- but I have to have my wooden spoons and a whisk! I have so many others that make life easier, but I use my wooden spoons everyday.

[Gwenniver]

Hmmmm, I'm a sauteeing type cook, so a good spatula, a whisk, a curved plastic spoon to fit against the sides of a skillet--oh, and the skillet. The one pan I think is essential I don't actually have yet (ack!) but it's a high sided 10" skillet (4 inch high sides or so) with a lid. I think my Mom's getting me one for Christmas, though...yay!

[Ohioan]

For me, my wok, my Le Creuset Dutch oven, my Paderno saucepans, and my Forschner chef's knives! Take anything else, but leave me these.

And why do I suddenly seem to hear echoes of an old rock song? -- "You can do anything but stay off of my blue suede shoes!" Or, in this case, my blue Le Creuset Dutch oven? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

Cheers, Phoebe

[Vanessa]

Well it would be knifes (I love my Santuco) and Cuisinart. Of course pots and pans are a must .

[SandyM]

Someone gave me a very pretty Lladro figurine for a going-away gift in a job I was leaving. It was a tiny ballerina - they included the gift card from the store. I returned it, since it really wasn't my style. I was SHOCKED at how much it was worth - but with the credit from that, I purchased Bea - my Kitchen Aid stand mixer. She's cobalt blue, and pretty as a picture - I had to name her! I can't imagine baking without her....... I know, I know, crazy!!!

[Linda I LIght]

I have to agree with SandyM, it is hands down my Kitchen Aid mixer, only mine is old and white, I won't let her( the mixer) know that she could have been a pretty color, she might go on strike.

[CathyS]

I cant live without my 8" chef's knife that cuts through anything, and also my Magnalite dutch oven.

CathyS

[ElinorC]

KathyS,
I thought I was the only one with a Magnalite Dutch oven! Mine has seen many, many ----recipes and still is great!

[CathyS]

ElinorC

Yes, the Magnalites areindestructible. My Moms has owned one for about 35 years, and it still looks as good as mine. I only regret that I wasn't able to buy more Magnalite stuff - I've heard that the company is not in business anymore!!

CathyS

[Beth Y]

Sandy, I got a good chuckle out of your story of returning a Lladro figure for a good quality stand mixer. What scares me is there are some who think that the figure is more valuable. (I understand others will disagree on this, but I would think not most regular cooks!) If I have to dust all those figurines, then I don't have any time to cook!

To answer the question, the first thing that popped into my head was a good sharp knife. I know that is what I complain about most when I am cooking at Mom's. Other necessitys are my dutch oven (crueset), my wide wooden spatula (I know bought two so I don't have to do without when the other is dirty) and my old GE mixer that I bought at a yard sale for $6, but can crank out some cookies with the greatest of ease every Christmas!

[LIsaP]

Hi,
I too am surprised to find others with Magnalite pans-I was recently given a set for a gift-so I guess the company is still in business...

I have to say, I have not been too happy with mine and find them extremely hard to clean...
Do you have any tips?

[Angela]

The gadget I couldn't live without is the rubber grippy jar opener thingy! I wouldn't eat much of anything that comes in a jar without this extremely "hand-y" gadget!

[sneezles]

I would have to say that it's my cast iron pots and skillets. And my Le Cruset Dutch oven comes a close second. I have loads of little gadgets that I love and would definitely be unhappy without my zester!

[BarbaraL]

Angela, just had to let you know: that "rubber grippy jar opener thingy" is called a "rubber husband" -- which I think is hysterical. I cracked up when I found that out!

[CathyS]

LisaP

My dutch oven is NOT a non-stick, so if you have non-stick this might not help, but... I always soak my pot in hot soapy water. I have seen my Mom use a little comet on hers if there is something stuck on the bottom. I really havent had much trouble cleaning mine though.

CathyS

[food girl]

every night I find myself washing my garlic press (Zyliss), my veggie peeler (tupperware!), a strainer for pasta that I bought for $1, and my chefs knife!

[Sandy1]

Hands down...no contest...my scales!
They have this miraculous tendency to keep me honest:-)