Favorite Kitchen Gadgets?

[JoyNChrist]

We draw names on my mom's side of the family, and I got two of my aunts. They both love to cook, so I'd like to do some baskets of nice, handy kitchen gadgets. So far, I have the apple corer/slicer mentioned in the favorite things thread, and the W-S pancake pens. I also got some nice bamboo spoons.

Any other ideas? I'd like to keep the items around $10 each so I can buy several things without spending a ton.

[Uno-Mom]

micro-grater? Perfect for fine-grating hard cheese, zesting citrus, grating spices...

[AnnieW625]

W-S spoonulas, I believe they are $9.
W-S potholders, they are $7 and come in a variety of colors. I love mine. Ask in the back if they have orange (if you want orange) because they don't keep all of the colors on the floor at the same time.

[crl]

I love extra measuring cups and spoons--I have three sets of each. I wish I had more quality wooden spoons.

Catherine

[trales]

I got my sister some salts from salt-farm on etsy. They are really cool. $20 gets you 6 different kinds of salts.

[misshollygolightly]

LOVE my pampered chef garlic press, and I can always use another decent paring knife or jar gripper

[anonomom]

pampered chef sells a pot-top strainer for $11. i have a similar one that i found years ago, and i use it constantly instead of a colander.

[Kymberley]

I found these (http://www.amazon.com/Campbells-Pop-Pull-Can-Lifter/dp/B001F3BCK8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323303785&sr=8-1) at Kroger for $4. Each grandmother will receive one.

[katydid1971]

OK more than you wanted to spend but they are so awesome and its the kind of thing people might not buy for themselves so they make a great gift.!!!
Onion Goggles http://www.amazon.com/RSVP-International-Onion-Goggles-Black/dp/B0014SQU1A/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1323304076&sr=1-1

[justlearning]

If they like to cook, they may very well already have a lot of the most useful gadgets. My mom doesn't cook much and I was just visiting her and trying to help in the kitchen. Here's what I have that I missed at her house:

* good knives--my favorite is my Wusthof Classic 7" Santoku
* big cutting board--hers were too small to be useful
* silicone basting brush (got mine at Crate and Barrel--use it all the time)
* bamboo spoons and stir-fry spatula (can't recall the name)--got mine from Pampered Chef
* nice spatulas--got mine from Williams Sonoma
* nice spoonulas
* bamboo toast tongs--Pampered Chef
* orange peeler--Pampered Chef (only $1 but I seriously missed it at her house!)
* nice tongs--mine are OXO brand
* Cuisinart Griddler--I got mine at Costco with a coupon, they have another coupon now
* lots of measuring spoons and cups

I do have other gadgets that I use at times like a Microplane, cherry/olive pitter from Pampered Chef, garlic press, etc. but I didn't need any of those for the meals we made at her house. I also recently purchased the WS pancake pen (for $5) and used it for the first time tonight but didn't feel any love for it--maybe next time it'll be better. I also purchased a pineapple corer from them (on sale for $10) but haven't used it yet. Oh, I also bought an apple pie press from them for $2.50 (these specials were all shown to me on the bottom of the page about a week ago when I put something in my cart and went to check out). I think I'll return it, though, because it's not in line with my desire to cook healthier.

[hillview]

strawberry huller
avacado cutter

I LOVE both of these.

Also the little sharp paring knives are great
/hillary

[mjs64]

I love, love, love my double ended silicone spatula. One end is wide, for traditional work (scrambled eggs), the other is skinny (perfect for getting the last bit out of jars).

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002848G2K/ref=asc_df_B002848G2K1811935?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395093&creativeASIN=B002848G2K

[mikala]

Microplane grater, serrated peeler. The Messermeister was a Cook's Illustrated pick a few years ago and is awesome for things that are traditionally harder to peel like butternut squash.

http://www.amazon.com/Messermeister-Touch-Serrated-Swivel-Peeler/dp/B00020H30S/ref=sr_1_14?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1323310251&sr=1-14

[happymom]

If you want something fun to add in, this oven rack pull is cute and usefeul too!
http://www.amazon.com/Joie-Kitch-Gadgets-Devil-Oven/dp/B004MKY64A/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1323311711&sr=8-3-fkmr0

My mom actually got it for when she was on vacation somewhere- she knows I like silly kitchen gadgets. It sat in the drawer for a while, and then one day I pulled it out and used it and realized its actually quite useful! Its perfect for when you just want to take a peek at your chicken, or baste your meat quickly. Instead of putting on oven mitts, you just use the little devil- his mouth hooks onto the rack to pull, and his horns help you push it back in.

[csnoop]

OK more than you wanted to spend but they are so awesome and its the kind of thing people might not buy for themselves so they make a great gift.!!!
Onion Goggles http://www.amazon.com/RSVP-International-Onion-Goggles-Black/dp/B0014SQU1A/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1323304076&sr=1-1

This looks awesome. I might just have to get these for DH for Christmas. I am the designated onion dicer at home since he can't stand them.

CC

[csnoop]

I love my garlic press and this spatula: http://www.amazon.com/Tovolo-80-11410RD-Silicone-Spatula-Red/dp/B000ILNHGU/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1323312422&sr=1-1
They work really great.

CC

[connor_mommy]

I love my jar opener: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/kitchen-and-food/kitchen-helpers/6-way-opener/s256269

microplane grater
meat thermometer

[justlearning]

strawberry huller

Oh, yes, I love my strawberry huller too from Pampered Chef! I just didn't miss it at my mom's because we had oranges there but no strawberries.

[essnce629]

A lot of the Amazon kitcten items are eligible for the 4-for-3 promotion, which is buy 4 qualifiying items and get the lowest priced item free. You can get more bang for your buck that way.

Magnetic measuring spoons
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001GAQKKW

Microplane grater
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004S7V8

One piece spoonula
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RYR9D0

Oval utensil holder
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AMXW44

Nice can opener
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005O65T

Lemon squeezer
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002V23BG

Strawberry huller
http://www.amazon.com/Joie-Stainless-Steel-Strawberry-Huller/dp/B004NYB53U/ref=sr_1_19?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1323327472&sr=1-19

Garlic keeper
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004UE6M

Oven liner
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001DTP6G0

Pepper Mill
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006GSXYS

Olive Oil Pourer
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001DTNEBO

Grater with attached container
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007VO0CQ

[fumofu]

Can't live without my Microplane, and most of all, jar opener (http://www.amazon.com/Amco-Swing--711BK-Comfort-Opener/dp/B000HMC5JA/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1323330289&sr=8-6).

[new_mommy25]

My favorite kitchen towels ever are from W.S.