Cookware
11 Novelty Kitchen Gadgets That Only Have One Job—And I Want Them All
Why yes, I do need a corn stripper and butter cutter.
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22 Comments
Holly S.
June 7, 2021
Erin! I would add a pair of those 5-blade herb scissors where brilliantly, the cover for them helps you get out the herbs after you cut them. It's not the same as just cutting them!
Andrea Y.
June 6, 2021
I am here for this thread. I am going to buy one of those corn strippers, because the minute I see a recipe that says "5 fresh ears of corn, kernels removed" I move on to the next recipe because it is so much work, so messy, and I always feel that I didn't really get all of the kernels off so I don't enjoy what I made anyway. It's real angst! I'll add to this list my mango pit remover. I love mangos, but figuring out where to cut, then how to remove from the skin kept me from buying these delicious fruits. With my mango pit remover and a tall glass, I now have beautiful mango halves to slice.
jlevy
June 5, 2021
I’ve owned the butter cutter for years, and the whole family loves it. I got it so I could have consistent size cuts of butter to track calories. It does that, but it also makes thinner cuts that melt faster. I’ve given several to family members. If it ever broke I would definitely replace it.
Jada W.
June 7, 2021
The only thing better than butter is perfectly melted butter—glad you're putting this tool to good use!
Smaug
June 4, 2021
One of life's dirty little secrets- stripping corn cobs with a knife is messy and inefficient. I'd be tempted by the corn stripper, but you get better quality corn frozen than on the cob unless- maybe- you're picking your own.
Smaug
June 7, 2021
Not really any more delicious than frozen, less so unless it's extremely fresh. It is indispensable for barbecue.
May
June 4, 2021
These aren't gadgets but my bf has a whole shelf full of cute plastic toothpicks that he bought in Japan (and continues to buy when he finds them at Daiso). We're talking little animal heads, tiny gems, mini fruits, etc. Most of them are still in the package. I think he's opened one pack and used them for cubes of jell-o then had to go around picking them out of the trash when people accidentally threw them away. I won't even get into the other shelf above the toothpick shelf that is full of jell-o and popsicle molds. My feeling is, he likes them and has space for them so I'm not saying anything. I wish I liked jell-o though.
Ginger B.
June 4, 2021
I wholeheartedly recommend the Dash Egg cooker. I picked one up a TJ Maxx for maybe $10 about 7 years ago and it gets used at least once per week. I've tried pretty much every other way to hard/soft boil eggs and this is the only method that is consistent at all. It does come with a little omelette pan, but I've never tried it. My favorite thing is to put duck eggs in it and fill the water to the hard-boil line. They come out gorgeously jammy (since they're bigger and denser than chicken eggs) and are perfect.
We did have the Hamilton Beach breakfast sandwich maker for a while, since my husband is the king of breakfast sandwiches, but we found it rather finicky and difficult to clean. His original way with just a big skillet and the muffins in the toaster works way better. If you need a quick eggy breakfast option you can sleep-prep, make a big batch of egg scrambles in a muffin tin on a Sunday and then reheat them all week - if you've got a muffin-top tin, you may even be able to get the ratio right for a good breakfast sandwich.
My dad has the hot dog maker and loves it. =)
We did have the Hamilton Beach breakfast sandwich maker for a while, since my husband is the king of breakfast sandwiches, but we found it rather finicky and difficult to clean. His original way with just a big skillet and the muffins in the toaster works way better. If you need a quick eggy breakfast option you can sleep-prep, make a big batch of egg scrambles in a muffin tin on a Sunday and then reheat them all week - if you've got a muffin-top tin, you may even be able to get the ratio right for a good breakfast sandwich.
My dad has the hot dog maker and loves it. =)
Jada W.
June 7, 2021
Wow, you've got all the gadgets, Ginger! Sounds like the Dash egg cooker gets so much use in your kitchen!
Sharon E.
January 25, 2019
I have a small gadget that does nothing but cook eggs. Since I am constitutionally incapable of making hard boiled eggs that aren't over or under done, I consider it worth the less than $30.00 CAD I paid for it, thank you. I no longer get raw garlic, although I do have a keeper. I just don't use it often enough. But, I do have a jar of minced garlic in olive oil. While not a gadget, it is a necessity.
J
January 21, 2019
Love the piece! Very witty, and SO TRUE! It's fun thinking of the things that I have discarded. For example, a very expensive W-S potato ricer that wouldn't rice potatoes--I got a lot more pleasure out of throwing it away than using it. And things that I should discard -- the full-sized plastic spiralizer now stored in a bedroom closet because it won't sit still and works only on zucchini-- but I WANT the expensive Kitchen Aid attachment although it probably also works only for zucchini. And the little thingie, even though it may not work at all. Finally, curse you -- I didn't even know that an automatic stirring thingie or a special ravioli mold existed, and now I want them!!! :)
rainbow G.
January 25, 2019
I bought the really expensive KitchenAid attachment spiralizer and it was great on apples... The one time I've used it. It hasn't seen the light of day since!
Erin A.
January 25, 2019
Thank you, J!! I totally relate to everything you said. And that ravioli mold! It's too cute NOT to buy.
Lune
June 4, 2021
I love my KitchenAid spiralizer! It makes slicing apples/pears for apple crisp a breeze! It works well with potatoes too if you want to make curly fries. And don't get me started on the pasta extruder attachment!
witloof
January 21, 2019
I own that OXO spiralizer, and it does not spark joy. Nor does it spiralize very well at all. I used it exactly once, was horrified at how it mangled the zucchini I was attempting to turn into a zoodle, and tossed it in the back of a drawer where my second string kitchen tools {pastry brush, offset spatula, cherry pitter, cookie scoop} reside. It will probably get Kondoed during spring cleaning.
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