Kitchen Gadgets

The company that makes the Insta-Read thermometers you see on America's Test Kitchen has all sorts of kitchen gadgets. Their wireless bbq/smoker thermometers are really good. I've bought a bunch of stuff from them. I just got an email for a kitchen scale that has a wireless display. It looks kinda neat, not only for oversized bowls that might block the display, but just for general convenience. The 43 second video explains it:


Available for pre-order here. $119.00
 
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My kitchen utensil drawers are getting difficult to open and close because I've somehow acquired too much stuff. Three pairs of tongs, 8 silicone stirring spatulas, 3 whisks plus the potato masher, the Thing-a-ma-Jig and goodness knows what else have exceeded its capacity. Then there's the smaller drawer with the silicone serving & slotted spoons, pancake turner spatulas, a bunch of timer/thermometers and the spurtles. I've never kept a utensil canister or knife block on the countertop because they take up space, and I'm not running a commercial kitchen...I can easily grab what I need to make a single meal from the drawers.

Until I figure what (or if) is going to Goodwill, I picked up a canister to put utensils in at the Dollar Store this afternoon for the frequently used stuff and to de-clutter the drawers so I can get them closed. I may like having it there but I'm thinking I'm more likely to get rid of the excess stuff and the canister. Who in their right mind needs 8 spatulas? I must have been in a "We don't clean no stinkin' dishes" mode.

I went through this when I moved here in 2010. I brought a whole bunch of stuff with me, put one of each thing in the drawers and set the rest aside in a box. I lived with it for a while, grabbing things out of the box when I encountered the need to have more than the single item available. After some period of time, the remaining stuff went to Goodwill.

I never had this problem when I was house poor.
 
Marie Miller said:
John, I need a stash of spatulas. Some of my stainless utensils are from before I got married:)
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When I buy a gadget, I hang on to it forever. The stash only gets bigger. If I had a basement things would be easier, but it's a small house. I have a deep drawer for the once-a-year use stuff, but I can hardly close it. I'm thinking I need to go heartless on it, too. That potato ricer takes up a lot of space, and I bought it to make one specific thing that I'll never make again. Then there's the odds & ends of the partial measuring cup sets, partial measuring spoon sets (I might need that extra 3/4 tsp someday), etc.
 
John Brunner said:
When I buy a gadget, I hang on to it forever. The stash only gets bigger. If I had a basement things would be easier, but it's a small house. I have a deep drawer for the once-a-year use stuff, but I can hardly close it. I'm thinking I need to go heartless on it, too. That potato ricer takes up a lot of space, and I bought it to make one specific thing that I'll never make again. Then there's the odds & ends of the partial measuring cup sets, partial measuring spoon sets (I might need that extra 3/4 tsp someday), etc.
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Could you put the seldom used gadgets into a box that will slide under your bed or someplace? As soon as you dispose of the ricer you will need it. 😬
 
Krystal Shay said:
🤚 Me! I have lots of spatulas in all sizes and shapes. 😄
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Beth Gallagher said:
Ditto. Must possess. :D
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I've said before that I could convert my entire house to a kitchen & related storage and live in a tent, and it still wouldn't be enough room. And like you two, my spatulas are of different shapes and sizes.

I put one of the old style ones with the pale blue vinyl scraper and the aluminum handle in the Goodwill box. I have a couple of pancake turner spatulas (why are these things the same name?) I've upgraded that could also get donated.
 
John Brunner said:
The company that makes the Insta-Read thermometers you see on America's Test Kitchen has all sorts of kitchen gadgets. Their wireless bbq/smoker thermometers are really good. I've bought a bunch of stuff from them. I just got an email for a kitchen scale that has a wireless display. It looks kinda neat, not only for oversized bowls that might block the display, but just for general convenience. The 43 second video explains it:


Available for pre-order here. $119.00
Click to expand...
That's where I first saw "Thermoworks thermometers. I don't cook often but I'm picky about coffee & I use their thermometer to get an accurate water temperature reading, which is important for coffee. For the right coffee weight, I use an OXO scale; really accurate.
 
Tony Nathanson said:
That's where I first saw "Thermoworks thermometers. I don't cook often but I'm picky about coffee & I use their thermometer to get an accurate water temperature reading, which is important for coffee. For the right coffee weight, I use an OXO scale; really accurate.
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I have a few of their products: several thermometers, timers, an infra-red gun, a wireless grill/smoker thermometer w/receiver. It's all good stuff.

As you know, most department store coffee makers do not get the water hot enough for restaurant-quality coffee. But who has room for a commercial Bunn?

I made my own "perfect coffee water" a few times, but really couldn't tell the difference. I have a scale that is accurate 3 places to the right of the decimal point in grams. The recipe is .94 grams of Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) .64 grams of baking soda and .55 grams calcium chloride per gallon of distilled water. This is supposed to be the perfect balance of minerals.

Lots of rabbit holes to this topic.
 
I recently bought a Tamagoyaki pan since I have been on a Japanese cooking binge lately. Tamagoyaki is a Japanese rolled omelet, and the pan is a small rectangular shape. A basic recipe usually calls for 3 eggs but I tried the pan out today using a single egg, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon mirin, and a dash of salt. It was easier than I expected and tasted nice...kind of custardy. Tomorrow I will try it with more savory ingredients.

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