Hi everyone! What fun kitchen & home gadgets did you get over the holidays that you're most excited to use in 2018 (if you haven't already)?

I also appreciated the NYT article as I've been taking stock of what clothing items, shoes etc. I really "need" and not buying simply because something is my style (and is on sale). However a principle that I feel runs parallel to buying less is investing in quality, in being more selective of the things we do purchase so that they don't need to be replaced so often - or that at least they won't sit in a landfill for 1000 years. Also the things we choose for our homes and our persons influence working conditions where they were made and how much waste is generated in the process.

This year I asked for a set of all-metal manual egg beaters as these seem to be hard to find, and the days of the one I currently use (30+? y.o.) are numbered. I received three! Actually one was mostly plastic (Good Grips) but the other two (Norpro and Mrs. Anderson's) seem very sturdy and now I won't have to pull my one pair out of the dishwasher constantly to wash it by hand. I use these all the time as they're more powerful than a whisk and more convenient than a plug-in hand mixer (or my Kitchen Aid mixer). The plastic one may be going back (ahem) but I joked to my husband about building me a display/storage rack for my egg beaters, now that I'm collecting these as some collect and display rolling pins. Now to find one with wooden handles...

A home sous vide gadget. I love it! Easy to use, inexpensive, great results, and I feel like I'm living in the age of the Jetson's.

My husband and I bought a 13" stainless steel All-Clad (straight side) saute pan. I am totally over the moon with the fabulous pan, from pancakes to paella it has become the most used cooking pan in our home. Clean up is a breeze, and totally stylish with it's beautiful shiny finish. We will be using this pan for a very long time! Highly recommend it, watch for sales on Amazon.

I received an electric smoker. I have already smoked trout, rack of lamb, prime rib and cornish hens. Don't know how I lived without one for so long,flavors are outstanding

Thank you so much for all the fun, informative responses! Please be on the lookout for a post compiling these answers tomorrow. I've actually started a new thread asking for your favorite under-$10(ish) kitchen tools/doodads if you'd like to chime in there, too (I feel like the pie docker is a good contender...):
https://food52.com/hotline/38922-what-is-your-favorite-under-10-ish-kitchen-tool-helper-doodad

I purchased a Staub cocotte, but that was before I read Antonia's post (and NYT link)

I got an extra stainless steel inner pot & a spare silicone gasket for my Instant Pot. Heaven!

We were delighted to discover this, this holiday season. https://www.pih.org/

Within our family we give one another a few small gifts and then go big, outbound, in several different directions. ;o)

I got a baking steel! 2018 will be the year of the crisp, chewy pizza in my house.

Dish cloths! Simple, but makes me happy😄 BB

I've made a list of items to buy for myself because only I know what I need - a 2nd bowl for my kitchenaide, many more rimmed baking sheets, and a 2nd roasting pan.

I bought myself a suction sponge holder. Its the little things! I'm happy its hidden inside the sink and not on top of the sink.

i got two incredibly sharp and cheap knives from kiwi brand.

My sister-in-law gave me a Yetti insulated travel mug, and a nifty set of OXO brushes designed specifically for cleaning travel mugs and bottles. I think the brushes will also come in handy for vases. Also my mother gave me the Dansk Kobenstyle casserole pot that we sell on Food52 (in grey!). I've wanted one for a long time and am planning to simmer beans in it pronto.

I purchased an Instant Pot on Black Friday sale. Didn't have a chance to really try out during holidays. Want to fully understand where/when it is best to apply. Going to practice in January with at least 1 recipe per week with Melissa Clark's Dinner in an Instant guidance.

I received upgrades on a few things, including: two new smaller 3-in-1 grilling/roasting pans, which will allow me to use them simultaneously in the oven; an immersion blender (yayyy, no more processing hot food in batches); and three new charcuterie surfaces, including one beautiful polished geode piece. Love it all. So blessed.

I'm fortunate to have a well stocked tool drawer (and a fantastic German vacuum, now that you mention it - a Sebo that's far better than any Miele). Santa, with help from well-informed family members, found a number of useful items that I need, in these roundups:

http://www.seriouseats.com/2017/10/favorite-kitchen-cooking-baking-unitaskers-roundup.html
http://www.seriouseats.com/2017/08/guide-to-essential-baking-tools.html
, including the pie docking tool, a stocking stuffer, really. It's one of those items that made me wonder why I didn't own one sooner. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X9QWJVV/ref=as_at?creativeASIN=B06X9QWJVV&linkCode=w61&imprToken=eijxUgcFHgpFPOc.r3dJpw&slotNum=84&tag=se-equipment-20

More than for any gift, however, I am most grateful for this, which I hope others find helpful: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/15/opinion/sunday/shopping-consumerism.html?_r=0

As for projects: With all the holiday baking/shipping/giving/parties/other events and celebrations, I've had little time to think about what lies ahead. My law practice will make fewer demands on me in January than in December, when clients madly push to close year-end deals, so as always, I'll take a day or two in mid-January to do an unhurried look-back and to think about what I seek to achieve in 2018. One project that certainly will be on that docket: high altitude cooking and baking.

Happy New Year, all! ;o)

I got a Sous vide cooker. Looking to try it out for New Years. Trying to figure out what to start with, maybe salmon or shrimp. I'll probably ask the hotline for help.