I worked part-time at Williams-Sonoma for 18-months, I was able to afford a nicer place and I wanted better kitchen tools. The amount of crap that would be put-out every season AND people would load-up their shopping baskets:

Egg timer
Avocado peeler
Pineapple peeler
Apple slicer
Onion slicing googles
Garlic skin remover
Meat tenderizing forks

It could go on, and then come in different colors for the seasons. I don't know who's worse, the retailers that put out these 'must have' 'perfect tool' devices or, the rubes who buy them thinking it's better than learning a few fundamental cooking techniques.

We have the Magic Bullet, it does make a good margarita, or smoothie, and is simple to clean and use.

Wife got a few things from the women show one is a garlic press cleaner thing, works great and is easy,

quote:

Originally posted by gearhounds:

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
I would like to find something that will open a large, maybe 4" or 5" diameter, jar lid.

The Guillain Barré has left me with decreased grip strength and it is sometimes a struggle to open a new jar, especially with a larger size lid.

I’ve heard rubber strap oil filter wrenches work, but have never tried one.

I think the best tool of this type is the Craftsman Strap Wrench.

www.amazon.com/dp/B00K92810A/r..._api_i_QqGNDbFQXBBKV

I have the small one – opens every thing from bottle tops to large jar lids. I also used it to tighten my kitchen sink faucet.

Thanks a lot, Pipe Smoker...you just cost me $20...I ordered a set of 2 of the Craftsman from Amazon.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
I would like to find something that will open a large, maybe 4" or 5" diameter, jar lid.

The Guillain Barré has left me with decreased grip strength and it is sometimes a struggle to open a new jar, especially with a larger size lid.

I use this big piece at home. No experience with the smaller tool.

https://www.amazon.com/Keeptop...d=1570638452&sr=8-24

A Food Umbrella!!!

https://www.amazon.com/Umbrell...dExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

I'm really happy with this that we got as a wedding gift 7 years ago, it's so much better than trying to use a zester or a grater:

This doohickey

Got it at some chef party Mrs Mike hosted ten years ago...it’s moved TWICE. First thing I did when we said we were moving to Texas, I took it down from under a cabinet and put it in my luggage.

Got one for my bro who has arthritis since he was 7, he loves it. You grab the bottom of the can or jar, shove it in there and twist, easy peasy.

ETA: Mrs Mike just said it’s from pampered chef. It says it can open jars from 3 1/2” or smaller...will this help VTail? If so INSTANT KARMA I will have one sent to you.

Send me an email if you can use it, my email is in my profile, please put sigforum in the subject line

This message has been edited. Last edited by: MikeinNC, October 09, 2019 08:19 PM

quote:

Originally posted by KDR:
Electric Tea Kettle: Gets used several times a day and heats the water fast and to the perfect temperature.

Immersion Blender: My wife had wanted one for a while, so I picked one up on whim. She used the heck out of it for about a week. I don't think she's touched it in over a year.

This, but I use my immersion blender all the time. Great for soups and sauces. I got mine at Costco at a great price. The whisk and other crap it came with got binned, but the adjustable immersion blender part get used at least twice a month (or more) during the fall - spring cold and wet season here in the PNW.

My best bit of kit -that isn't a knife, is an Aeropress coffee maker. Makes a great brew, quick and easy to clean with no mess.
https://aeropress.com

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
I would like to find something that will open a large, maybe 4" or 5" diameter, jar lid.

The Guillain Barré has left me with decreased grip strength and it is sometimes a struggle to open a new jar, especially with a larger size lid.

Under cabinet jar opener always there when you need it and out of sight as well as one less thing in the drawer. Works great, mine is 20+ years old.

quote:

Originally posted by Rosahane:
My best bit of kit -that isn't a knife, is an Aeropress coffee maker. Makes a great brew, quick and easy to clean with no mess.
https://aeropress.com

No gimmick, that's the device of a true coffee aficionado, compact and handy, great when you're in the backcountry.

quote:

Originally posted by Southflorida-law:
Wife and daughter bought a Magic Bullet juicer and damn if that thing doesn't work great. Use it all the time. I has to be at least 3 years old and will grind up 2x4's! Well, maybe not 2x4's.

I'm on my second one. The first one broke after 15 years. I use the thing just about every day.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mark123, October 19, 2019 07:33 AM

Depending on the user, this is the best or worst kitchen gadget ever.
https://www.amazon.com/Hutzler...-reviews_feature_div

quote:

Originally posted by PeteF:
Depending on the user, this is the best or worst kitchen gadget ever.
https://www.amazon.com/Hutzler...-reviews_feature_div

The reviews are hysterical

Our local pineapples are delicious. This does a great job and gets a lot of use.

This $9.99 microwave egg cooker. You can put 2 eggs in it for 2 minutes in the microwave (with a touch of cooking spray on the surface) and 2 perfectly cooked eggs like in an egg mcmuffin come out. Or you can beat them a little and put whatever ingredients you want with them and get perfectly scrambled eggs or omelette.

https://www.bedbathandbeyond.c...microwave-egg-cooker

Microwave egg cooker. Great for making a quick egg sandwich.

https://www.amazon.com/Old-Hom...TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

Everyone makes fun of the commercials... but the Slap Chop does, indeed, do a great job with nuts, quickly. Good for holiday cooking.

quote:

Originally posted by gearhounds:

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
I would like to find something that will open a large, maybe 4" or 5" diameter, jar lid.

The Guillain Barré has left me with decreased grip strength and it is sometimes a struggle to open a new jar, especially with a larger size lid.

I’ve heard rubber strap oil filter wrenches work, but have never tried one.

They work very well. The set of two (large and small) I bought about 10 years ago were advertised as jar openers, but they work well for oil filters and even the metal cap that comes on gas bottles from the welder's supply place. I keep the smaller one in the kitchen (it will do most jars), and the larger in the garage. They are all over Amazon.