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Food

Kitchen Gadgets.

(43 Posts)
1974cookie Wed 27-Jun-18 18:21:32

I am not a fan of some kitchen gadgets, but I found one the other day that is so simple and brilliant, especially at this time of the year.
It is called Stem Gem.
It is a strawberry huller, and it really does work !
This little gadget removes the green stalk on the strawberry quickly and easily. I usually try to remove them with my fingers, but sometimes they do not come away in one piece.
This little gadget works every time.
Do any other Gransnetters have a Kitchen Gadget that they would not be without?

Mapleleaf Fri 06-Jul-18 12:47:07

My straight forward, no frills potato peeler. Have tried others but always come back to this one. It’s the best!

shysal Fri 06-Jul-18 13:20:33

I hull strawberries by poking a drinking straw up from the pointy end, after watching a demo on Youtube.

We have been asked this several times, and I always mention my onion 'comb' which I heard about on GN. I also like my julienne cutter shaped rather like a potato peeler, ideal for carrot in a single portion of salad.

Willow500 Fri 06-Jul-18 13:41:55

Mine's a small rotary chopper - a small bowl with 2 blades in it - you put the item to be chopped in it and pull the cord on the lid. Chops anything into bits - the more pulls the smaller the pieces. Great for onions, apples, herbs, eggs and mushrooms to name just a few.

SueDonim Fri 06-Jul-18 13:59:16

I've got a strawberry huller like that, Cookie and it's working overtime atm! It saves getting sore nails.

Auntieflo Fri 06-Jul-18 18:16:18

Shysal you beat me to it, such a simple, brilliant idea. Mind you, I now have to take good care of my plastice straws, paper ones just won't cut the mustard. My favourite gadget is my pastry blender. No more sticky, pastry caked fingers.

gmelon Fri 06-Jul-18 18:26:06

My runner bean cutter. Small rectangular plastic with blades inside.

Me too with the straws for hulling strawberries.
I have a giant pack of straws from Ikea, dead cheap.
Will not mind when we all have paper straws, better for the environment.

I have a small electric chopper. I bought it in Sainsbury.
The longer it is on the smaller the pieces.
I put onion and garlic and mushrooms in it, seperately, and make a paste that I add to bolognese or stews alongside the normal sized chopped veg.
I find the paste has a more intense flavour than the regular chopped stuff.

hildajenniJ Fri 06-Jul-18 20:11:24

I've got two favourite gadgets in my kitchen drawer. I love the Magi Slice, it makes short work of fresh herbs. The little julienne/zester thing I use for citrus peel mostly.

1974cookie Fri 06-Jul-18 20:55:17

Auntieflo, I have one of those pastry blenders too and it works an absolute treat.

1974cookie Fri 06-Jul-18 21:06:22

Has anyone else got a garliczoom.
I found this when I bought my strawberry huller.
This little devices has a series of blades under a plastic domed lid. It has 2 wheels underneath. You put a clove of garlic into the blade section, and wheel it along a surface. I was told that it worked really well running the wheels up and down your leg as you cooked.
Result, lovely chopped garlic. Easy to clean, just run it under a tap.
I love the simple gadgets, and this is yet another one.

shysal Sat 07-Jul-18 14:14:17

I have stopped using plastic drinking straws and bought a set of silicone ones and stainless steel ones with mini brushes for cleaning. The metal ones are perfect for strawberry hulling.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8-Reusable-Silicone-Drinking-Straws-2-Stainless-steel-straw-3-Cleaning-Brushes/282940369384?epid=12016268543&hash=item41e08f69e8:g:w5MAAOSwyXFaolEt

I have broken my beloved Y-shaped swivel potato peeler today. Does anyone have the Oxo version? The handle looks more comfortable than most for my RA. Or if anyone can recommend another instead I would be interested, Ikea or Lakeland perhaps?

muffinthemoo Sat 07-Jul-18 14:17:29

I still desperately miss the hot air popcorn maker that husband ‘decluttered’ whilst my back was turned a couple years ago.

I am determined to replace it in the autumn/winter sales.

M0nica Sat 07-Jul-18 18:14:43

Something very simple. A small parmesan grater, about 4 inches by 2 inches with a wooden handle at the top. I often garnish with parmesan and just whip it out of the drawer, grate a bit of parmesan, give it a good shake to clean it and put it back in the drawer. Every few weeks I run it under a hot tap to fully clean it.

1974cookie Sun 08-Jul-18 20:29:07

I like the idea of the small electric chopper gmelon to make a paste for bolognese to enrich the sauce.

annep Thu 12-Jul-18 21:59:57

Yes! I have several useful gadgets but my "cant do without" is my can opener. I have bought lots of expensive fancy can openers. My wrists aren't great though so I still prefer the old butterfly one which is so easy to use. Managed to find a shop selling them this week and bought two spare.

Fennel Fri 13-Jul-18 09:43:45

An egg separator -like a round plastic spoon with gaps at the side.
I got it from John Lewis, as well as various other gadgets.
The other day had a look in JL's kitchen dept. to see if they'd come up with a new one, and found that all their gadgets are made by another company now. Not so original.

yggdrasil Fri 13-Jul-18 13:19:21

I too have an opener, not for cans but for jars of all sizes.
And of course, wine bottles. Essential when you have arthritic thumbs and no fellow around to do it for you grin

gardenoma Fri 13-Jul-18 14:31:55

Garlic grater. Superbly simple gadget, it's just a miniature ceramic saucer with spikey bits, just rubbing garlic on it reduces it to perfect paste in seconds. I use it for ginger as well.

GrannyGravy13 Fri 13-Jul-18 14:50:54

My Husband!!!!

Auntieflo Sat 14-Jul-18 08:39:39

GrannyGravy13, send him round here. My DH is lovely, but seems to believe that the essential kitchen fairy is alive and well, and living somewhere nearby, as she flits in and out when needed. wink

Greyduster Sat 14-Jul-18 09:14:34

I have never tried ginger on mine, gardenoma - I will give it a go! I have just bought an electric mini chopper which is particularly good for onions, chillis - I hate chopping chillis - and for nuts and herbs. All sorts of things in fact.

oldgirl60 Sat 14-Jul-18 15:34:02

I have a palm peeler and it has taken my peeling to a whole new level smile

GrannyGravy13 Sat 14-Jul-18 16:10:01

Auntieflo you are welcome to him at the moment lol!!! I have 2 fractures (foot and ankle) 5 weeks in and only just getting mobile. I think we have driven each other barmy!!! In 35 years together we have never spent so much time in each other's company.

Auntieflo Sat 14-Jul-18 16:33:04

GrannyGravy, sorry to hear about your foot, here's hoping you mend soonest. Anyway, if I borrow him, he may just be fed up enough to come swiftly back to you. ( nothing like the devil you know, eh?)

GrannyGravy13 Sat 14-Jul-18 16:47:31

???