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Gadgets

(51 Posts)
hespian Sun 16-Nov-14 18:45:04

I have just got a new gadget that I LOVE! Very simple and cost me all of £3 from IKEA. Now I can clip my undies, socks, tights etc and hang them up in the airing cupboard till dry! What's your favourite gadget? (It must save time and be simple to clean!)

Ana Sun 16-Nov-14 18:57:24

My jar-opener, which is so old I can't remember where it came from, but it's wonderful for loosening hard-to-twist tops of all sizes.

Ana Sun 16-Nov-14 18:58:01

(PS I don't think I've ever cleaned it! blush)

POGS Sun 16-Nov-14 19:05:44

Ana

So it was you Godfrey Bloom was talking about. grin

I like my runner bean peeler, now that's sad.

shysal Sun 16-Nov-14 19:30:16

I like my ring pull can opener. The rings often snap off without the tool.

annsixty Sun 16-Nov-14 19:47:28

Ana if your jar opener is a blue rubber " cone shape " object I would agree with you.I have mine for years and wouldn't be without it.

Mishap Sun 16-Nov-14 19:49:15

I love my electric can opener.

Ana Sun 16-Nov-14 20:01:18

annsixty, no, mine's a white and red plastic thing you hold in one hand and it has a solid rubber ring on the hollow side which grips the side of the jar lid.

I know that's not a clear description, but it works! grin

hildajenniJ Sun 16-Nov-14 20:03:40

I really, really need a new can opener. I want an electric one like my Dad's. His is ancient and sits on the top of the can and does its own thing. I've never seen another like it.

Must have a google.

Ana Sun 16-Nov-14 20:11:25

Oh, I've got one of those too! Or at least a similar type.

Mine's a Culinaire One Touch and it's OK but sometimes doesn't stop when it's completed its circular action and you have to give it a bit of a prod...

annodomini Sun 16-Nov-14 20:13:19

My Lakeland Jarkey never fails to break the vacuum and leave the lid of the jar loose.

chloe1984 Sun 16-Nov-14 20:24:55

I love my electric knife had it for many years and use it for all sorts of things other than carving a joint of meat

Penstemmon Sun 16-Nov-14 20:48:18

I had a moment of madness and did not say no when my DH asked if he should order a Food mixer/blender on 'offer' in the paper. I have been wanting one for ages and as the hand blender was giving up on me it was time to decide!
I am so disappointed! It is poor quality and harder to use than doing everything by handsad Should have sent it back when I felt how flimsy it was but thought I should try it. What a waste of money!

Unlike my trusted vegetable peeler, which is like the one my mum bought year and years ago at the Ideal Home Exhibition, which cost peanuts and works well on a daily basis!!

Ana Sun 16-Nov-14 20:50:59

chloe, that sounds a bit sinister...shock

hespian Mon 17-Nov-14 09:20:12

I also love my pineapple corer/ slicer. It makes preparing fresh pineapple so easy and it goes it the dishwasher.

Teetime Mon 17-Nov-14 09:25:59

My universal gadget for all things is DH - no fuel necessary apart from cups of tea.

soontobe Tue 18-Nov-14 17:44:51

chloe1984.
Would you mind saying which sort of electric knife?
I have tried a couple over the years, but they dont seem to be of much use.

And what is your gadget called hespian?

Anyone any other gadgets?
The list on this thread of useful gadgets is very small!

rubysong Tue 18-Nov-14 18:33:54

I have a comb-like thing with long tines for holding an onion steady while I chop it. I cut the onion in half put it on the board cut side down and then use the gadget and I can chop the onion as finely as I need. I think I got it from Trago Mills but I haven't seen another since. Those of you who have visited Devon and Cornwall may have been to Trago Mills, it's quite an experience.

yogagran Tue 18-Nov-14 21:59:20

I've got one of those pineapple corer things hespian but I've never got on with it and it sits unused now in the back of the cupboard sad

Tegan Tue 18-Nov-14 22:43:34

Trago Mills! that's a blast from the past. is it still going ruby?

Tegan Tue 18-Nov-14 22:52:11

....I'm really confused now. Havine wikipedia'd Trago Mills, the shops don't seem to be anywhere near where I used to live, but I'm sure I've been there confused. Thought there was one near St Teath. Must be confusing it with somewhere else [I've even got a mental picture in my head of it].

annsixty Wed 19-Nov-14 08:05:31

This thread reminds me once again of the much missed Woolworths of my early married days. Our branch was very small and a wander round always provided some gadget or two. I still use a glass rolling pin in which the end comes off to fill with iced water (though I don't bother now) and a gadget called a batter whip which whips up a mean Yorkshire pudding batter. My mother was very fond of a small silver coloured egg shaped device full of holes in which you put loose tea,the forerunner of the tea bag.

tanith Wed 19-Nov-14 08:10:55

annsixty my mother had one of those silver egg things to make a cuppa, I can just see her making a mess on the side putting the loose tea in and then there were tea leaves floating in the cup afterwards.. things have improved a little.. grin

hildajenniJ Wed 19-Nov-14 08:13:53

I've seen both the Culinaire one and one by JML in the Argos catalogue. I favour the JML can opener as it has rather better reviews. Next time I'm near Argos I must go and buy one.

Guess what, I now need a new toaster. Yesterday my old one gave up the ghost and wouldn't heat up. Why is it that everything seems to need replacing at the same time?

Lona Wed 19-Nov-14 08:20:24

I have two favourites, a tea bag squeezer, and a pincer thingy for getting toast out of the toaster without burning my fingers, both from Lakeland.

Oh, just remembered, a pair of wire "hands" for putting rubber gloves on after use. Brilliant!

How sad am I? grin