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Your most useful gadget (and the one languishing at the back of the cupboard)?)

(37 Posts)
Alea Tue 24-May-16 09:58:35

Cooking up some chicken thighs for Grace (as you do , she eats better than we do) in my pressure cooker this morning, I realised that I use it at least every other day! Wouldn't be without it.
Up to now, I would have rated my Magimix as my number 1 favourite gadget and I use it at least once if not twice a week.
In the back of my cupboard, though, are the chicken brick ,(Mark 2) bought in a surge of nostalgia for Seventies Habitat and the ice cream maker which my lovely sister in law bought me about 20 years ago.
My mum had a waffle maker which similarly lurked out of sight and out of mind once we had all got tired of waffles of every possible kind.

JackyB Wed 25-May-16 06:43:53

My most used gadget at the moment is a "Nicer Dicer" which chops vegetables and fruit into even-sized cubes and is easy to assemble and wash.

I have loads that I don't use much, but agree with nearly everything mentioned above about those useful ones: The scissors with teeth that take the top off an egg, stick blender, hand mixer.

Recently, after being prompted by my youngest, I finally got a decent garlic press.

I would use a pressure cooker a lot and a Magimix if I still had them, but they had had their day and never got replaced. A slow cooker languishes in the cellar because there's no room in the kitchen, but as we don't eat much meat, I haven't had much cause to use it.

Falconbird Wed 25-May-16 06:48:24

My best gadget is a picker upper. It's very handy and I use it for retrieving things (got a bad back) and for adjusting curtain poles which keep getting out of alignment.

Also got a lid opener which is great for opening certain jars that just won't budge.

Lona Wed 25-May-16 08:04:29

Tea bag squeezer and kettle all the time, toast tongs are used every day and also my microwave!
I don't do a lot of cooking these days so lots of stuff doesn't see the light of day blush

minimo Wed 25-May-16 11:36:37

I have one of these halogen ovens and it's great. Does take up a lot of space obviously but very useful and good value I think. www.andrewjamesworldwide.com/UserControls/productIndividual.aspx?ProductID=278

I also have a pasta maker in the back of the cupboard which has not been used for about 8 years...

Tizliz Wed 25-May-16 12:39:54

I dont use my Magimix, I do use mincer (Bolognaise, burgers, meatballs), stick blender (scrambled eggs, soup) and bread maker all the time. But best gadget is OH, he is really useful for tin opening, cheese grating, bread slicing, vegetable peeling and onion chopping, even occasionally as a stirrer of sauces (though not very reliable as he can get distracted). grin grin

TriciaF Wed 25-May-16 18:10:54

Your Grace is a lucky dog! Chicken casserole for supper grin
Ours has raw.
I'm not keen on big "gadgets" because they take up a lot of space and need cleaning. But I do like my Kenwood dough attachment which I use once or twice a week, and electric hand mixer.
Also a gadget for separating eggs from John Lewis.

SewAddict Wed 25-May-16 21:26:06

I love my Kenwood chef as I make our bread and love to bake.
I do use my pressure cooker, but not often. Couldn't be without my Tassimo for quick coffee to get me going in the morning!

Granny1sland Wed 25-May-16 21:41:25

Not exactly a gadget - but wouldn't be without my very old AGA cooker, so....don't need a toaster, electric kettle, bread maker, slow cooker etc etc...

Indinana Wed 25-May-16 22:04:50

I love my Kenwood Chef and use it quite a lot. The stick blender complete with all attachments would probably pip it as my most used gadget though - so versatile! And another frequently used gadget is my three tier electric steamer - I don't actually know how I managed without one all those years ago (well, I do - we had boiled, and consequently tasteless, vitamin-free, veg grin).
I virtually never use the slow cooker, chiefly because I can't stand the smell of food cooking all day. Oh and the foot spa! Can't remember the last time that was used - 1985 maybe? Why have I still got it, I ask myself hmm

Caramac Wed 25-May-16 22:18:20

Love kitchen gadgets. Most useful is Bamix stick blender. Most swooned over is my KitchenAid stand mixer. Most frequently used is the slow cooker..not just for meat but cakes and rice pudding too.
What I'm eyeing up...A replacement pressure cooker and a waffle maker.
Least favourite was the halogen oven which I gave away.

hicaz46 Thu 26-May-16 07:46:46

I love gadgets. My most used are a set of really good knives, a Nespresso machine, an ice cream maker(mostly in the summer)and a potato peeler. The one languishing at the back of my cupboard is a pasta maker.