Disappointing kitchen gadgets

SephieG · Disappointing kitchen gadgets

I loved "The Pedant in the Kitchen" by Julian Barnes and he mentions the drawer where useless kitchen gadgets collect when you can never quite throw them away. You know, where the chopsticks lie entangled in the ancient egg whisk. You've mentioned your useful gadgets - what about the useless?

I bought a garlic peeler from a glossy brochure which did nothing of the sort. After totally mangling the clove, it shot the garlic across the kitchen and under the fridge.
Someone gave us one of those expensive, elaborate bottle openers but it's such a palaver we're back to the basic 99p supermarket version.
And I still have my Ronco or K-Tel salad cutter - the one that cuts tomatoes etc in half with pretty serrated edges. It also has a thing that cuts carrots and cucumber into spirals (allegedly) but it's still in the drawer, it might come in useful one day, but I did cull the chopstick collection!
What other "useful" gadgets have you abandoned?

Nannyp

Oh dear...I don't think I want to look in the drawer q12

I have one of those runner bean slicers which is bloody hard work, so I don;t bother using it...that's in there. Sorry, I can't look, I'd have to empty it and then, you know what would happen, the very thing we want to use finally would be gone! q21

dingsy

Surprisingly, I can't think of anything, as I had a proper clear out before we moved house last year, and the charity shop benefitted quite well from all my bits.

salt n pepper

I havnt looked in mine for a while and after reading this i dont think i want to i am now horrified what i would find

Jerseygirl

Funnily enough I did mine last week as it wouldn't open as somethingf was jammed.
I binned : loads of chop stinks (why do we alll have them?)
a hard boiled egg slicer
several blunt knives
half burnt birthday cake candles
endless cocktail sticks
2 plastic ice cream scoops
a pasty crimper!
and lots of bits from things that I don't have anymore!

dingsy

Noooo, Angie-I love my hard boiled egg slicer. Great for salad sandwiches. I remember you used to be able to get one that sliced tomatoes-I'd love one of these again.

sparkymarky

can i suggest the wife as a disappointing kitchen gadget...lol

dingsy

shanzi

Gotta think whats in my drawer - I try to keep it tidy. I know I got a carving knife and and odd shaped fork on my bedroom window sill, wondering whether I will ever use it after winning 30 years ago for the funniest teapot competition.
Well now lets see, I have a plastic box of all nick nacks to do with wine, like stoppers, hip flask (don't ask), a trimmer to get that naster plastic paper thing over the cork of the wine bottle, some corkscrews of varyintg sizes, styles, and rust level.
And in the main cutlery tray, the usual knives, forks, spoons - but the spoons of all odd shapes and sizes, some very old can't use now, but still won't throw away. Some Courage bottle openers (two sorts) when they used to give them away, egg whisk the handle one with the wheel, the hand whisk which knocks your wrist about when you flip it back and forth.
Numerous little knives, that are really useless for anything. Oh boy, probably a bit of dust and fluff lurking about as well.
Do we start on the container that sits on the side with all the gadgets now........no best not...getting a bit boring, eh. Those are the ones I use most
q15

SephieG · Ah yes - the cutlery drawer!

Where do all the teaspoons go? and a very strange thing happens in my cutlery drawer. Various items disappear but are mysteriously replaced by mismatching ones. There are only the two of us in the house (and the dog, but he can't reach the drawer). 'Him Indoors' denies all knowledge of course. I also have a drawer which seems to grow biros. I keep taking bunches of them to charity shops, but they always seem to come back. q25

pinkpoppy

Loads of unsed gadgets that I really needed Egg skice Veg peelers apple coreer electric potato peeler, coffee maker, juicer. to mention but afew..

Carole xxxx

angel

I've been looking for a cherry stoner everywhere with no success - so if anyone has one that they don't want, I would gladly buy it from them

dingsy

Dawn, Lakeland sell cherry/olive stoners for £6.50. I'll check our local store in the next few days, and get you one if they have them in stock

http://www.lakeland.co.uk/product.aspx/!7096

dingsy

How bizarre-double checked the link-page can't be found, but if you search for cherry stoner, up it pops!

Gilly C

Buy a good one I got a cheap one it didn't last long then my sis bought me a replacement last Christmas :D I use for olives as well as cherries

angel

Thanks for that, I will definitely be ordering at least one.

Never thought about olives - Lily eats on green olives (stoned) and Eadie only black (Dan and I don't mind but we always seem to get through lots).

SephieG

dingsy

My juicer is rarely used too. Think because I prefer to eat fruit rather than have fruit juice.
But, I'd be lost without my coffee maker. Filter one side , espresso on the other.It's used everyday.OH makes me a cappuccino in the evening(my treat, as I don't drink alcohol), and love to have a filter jug on the go during the day. It's nice to experiment with different strengths and blends.Still use instant coffee first thing, but other than that,tend to use fresh.
Also use my breadbaker 2-3 times weekly.Even although I can't eat the bread (wheat intolerant). Am amazed that so many people seem to get a breadbaker and not use it. It's so easy to do-the bread (from what I can remember) is far superior to shop bought too.

SephieG

My fave juice contains - tomato (4 medium), garlic (1 clove) and parsley (handful). It's brill when you have a cold - and keeps the vampires away!!
Juicing is also useful when the fruit is a bit overripe.
I tend to use my breadmaker for a few weeks and then "Him Indoors" gets a hankering for additive-laden, cottonwool stuff from the supermarket, but I ease the home made back in gradually. I think you can get gluten free flour but I guess you'd have to experiment with the recipe to use it in a breadmaker.

dingsy

I've tried the gluten free-but am quite happy having oatcakes as a bread substitute so don't miss it too much now. Might give it a try again, for some variety-haven't had any in a few years.

pinkpoppy

have found even more. Must have wasted lot of money on gadgets I thought I realy needed but dont. Most come from Lakeland....

loopylisa

An onion cutter - I got it from M&S - thinking no more tears etc - put the onion in push down and remove it from the bottom all sliced - excellent!!!

There were tears ..... loads of tears of bloody frustration not even sure if we still have it

The other thing I have is a drawer full of tea towels - why? I only use about 10 of them, but cannot get rid of them!

dingsy

I've been the same with tea towels Lisa-but have recently donated a pile to the garage -they'll be useful there...

Nannyp

I find I am using all those old, thin and unattractive t towels for dirty jobs around the house

PurpleIvy

that got me thinking.... Im temporary kitchen at the moment.... most stuff is packed away and I have done an initial sweep of some things, but it's a good time to have a purge.

*the thing to make coconut pyramids? my gran used an egg cup, but I don't know why you couldn't just form little heaps.

* How many round cake tins does a person need? I make wedding cakes sometimes, so need a selection, but have an unreasonable number. if you're a good or crafter, people give you 'stuff'.[/list]

SephieG

Crumbs - coconut pyramids! my Mum used to make those years ago - I'd forgotten all about them. She used to stand them on rice paper. I used to love rice paper.

My brother and I used to play secret agents (after the Man from U.N.C.L.E) and we used to write secret messages on rice paper and eat them.

Disappointing kitchen gadgets

Ah yes - the cutlery drawer!