Weird and Wonderful Gadgets and Gizmos
Honestly, there are a lot of kitchen tools on the market that we really don't need. On the other hand, a lot of them really do make cooking easier.
Let me say this loud and clear - I do not own most of these gadgets. I do own everything in the "essentials" list, but bare bones, all you really need to cook with is a heat source, something to cook on or in, and possibly a knife. Everything else is just icing on the cake, so to speak.
So follow me into the world of the weird and wonderful gadgets and gizmos that populate kitchens.
This is more a list than a definition guide. I separated them by category - some are in more than one category. And I didn't, by any stretch of the imagination, list everything.
Essential tools
tongs: I actually have several - bamboo toaster tongs, angled tongs, and long handled grilling tongs. In doing research for this diary, I stumbled across a pair of straining tongs and I think I'd like to get those, too. But they aren't essential. And it really doesn't matter what sort of tongs you have, if they work for you, then they are good tongs.
basting brush: My favorite one is actually a nice 1" paint brush, but those silicon ones look like they'd work, too. I use mine for brushing butter onto phyllo dough, onto the tops of breads, to spread milk over the surface of my famous yeast cake, to brush marinades and sauces onto grilled foods, and to brush melted butter over the surface of bread I'm about to sprinkle with garlic seasoning for turning into garlic bread.
thermometer(s): Unless you have some other way of determining the exact temperature of ovens, refrigerators, freezers, boiled candy, chocolate, taffy, meat, etc. thermometers are handy to have. I have an infrared point and read thermometer for meat and candy making, and special thermometers for the oven, refrigerator, and freezer.
cutting boards: Yes, plural. I have one that is only used for meats, one for fruits, one for onions, one for other vegetables, one for breads, and small individual ones for open-faced sandwich making. Most people can probably get away with 2 cutting boards - one for meats and one for everything else.
french whisk: This is the most common type of whisk, the long oval shaped wires looped into a handle. It will handle almost all your whisking needs - beating egg whites, fluffing eggs for omelets, making batters, smoothing sauces, and so on. There are many, many kinds of whisks, some are cute, with little wire squirrels and ducks inside the whisk, some have wires that end in balls instead of looping back into the handle, some are flat and even flip open like tongs. I have 2: a small french whisk for whipping up one egg for omelets or the batter for a couple of pieces of french toast, and a larger one for sauces and such.
jar opener: OK, this may not be essential for other people, but being one handed, I need help opening all kinds of jars and containers, especially since Itzl is an awesome service dog, but he only weighs 4 pounds, so I can't expect him to pop open these containers. I have several: the EasiTwist, the Kuhn Rikon Multi, and this one on my keychain for opening bottled water and such.
ladle: I have several of different sizes for soups, gravies, and whipped cream. One of them is a silicon ladle, and I kind of like that one almost more than any other one I have.
measuring cups: I have a set of stainless steel graduated ones, the equal measure cup, and a 4 cup Pyrex measuring cup. Yes, one is a joke cup, but I use it and it works just fine.
measuring spoons I only have one set of measuring spoons, also stainless steel.
silicon spatula: I have three of these in different sizes, one skinny enough to get into narrow jars, one general sized one, and one that is like a shovel. I like the silicon ones better than the rubber ones.
spatula: Again, I have several, a wide round pancake turner/cake lifter, a widely oblong fish turner, an angled one for icing cakes, a general purpose one, and a long handled one for the grill.
water filtration: I didn't used to think this was essential, until my kids were testing the tap water for a school experiment, and the very next day I went out and bought a Brita water filtration pitcher. It's been long enough that I no longer remember what the problem was, but the Brita filtered it out. And our water is considered "sweet" and has less wrong with it than tap water in many other places. I admit, I do still drink straight from the tap, but when I bake or cook, I use the filtered water, I get more consistent and better results when I do. You may or may not want a water filtration system.
wooden spoons: I can't cook without my wooden spoons. I have a lovely long handled tiny bowled one I picked up in Italy decades ago. It's a bit scorched and the handle is a bit baby-chewed, but it works just fine. I have two from Germany, one was my maternal grandfather's and one my aunt gave me. I have one from Wales, carved by a friend. I have a horn one that was in my father's family for 3 generations - not wood, but still a good spoon. I have a lovely wooden tasting spoon given to me by a chef in France.
Baking
adjustable dough divider
angled spatula
bakers blade
biscuit cutters
cake and cookie lifter
cake stencils
cake tester
cannoli forms
cookie cutters
cookie press
cookie scoop
cookie spatula
cookie stamps
cookie stencils
cooling rack
crème brulee torch
dough beater
dough scraper
doughnut cutter
flour sifter
hot pads
icing spatula
lattice dough cutter
mixing bowls
oven mitts
paper baking cups
parchment paper
pastry bag
pastry bag supporter
pastry brayer
pastry brush
pastry cloth
pastry mat
pastry wheel
pie bird
pie crimper
pie lifter
pie shield
pie weights
proofing bowl
rolling dogh docker
rolling pin
rolling pin cover
rolling pin rings
silpat mat
springerle rolling pin
Cleaning
air dry mat
baking stone scraper
compost bin
crock pot liners
dish drainers
dish washing basin
paper towel rack
plastic bag drying rack
recycle bins
scrub brushes
sink caddy
sink mat
towel rack
trash can
Coffee
coffee filters
coffee grinder
coffee maker
coffee scoop
frothing pitcher
percolator
permanent filter basket
Cooking, General
baster
beer butt chicken rack
bouillon strainer
butter injector
chocolate spatula with thermometer
flour duster
food injector
funnel cake pourer
microwave bacon rack
mixing paddle
pancake dispenser
pancake pourer
pancake ring
pancake turner
pasta basket
pasta ladle
pizza paddle
potato masher
potato ricer
rice paddle
rissoto spoon
roasting rack
rosette timbale set
rotary egg beater
roux spoon
simmer mat heat diffuser
slotted turner
spaetzle plane
steam rack
tasting spoon
thermometer fork
wok chuan (wok spatula)
Electrics
automatic egg cooker
blender
can openers
chocolate fountain
chocolate melting pot
cotton candy maker
crock pot
deep fryer
egg poacher/muffin toaster
food processor
food slicer
hand mixer
hot plate
hot water dispenser
ice cream maker
ice shaver
immersion blender
indoor grill
juicer
knife
knife sharperner
mini donut factory
panini press
salad shooter
salt and pepper mills
sauce boat warmer
skillet
spice and nut grinder
stand mixer
toaster
wine cooler
wok
Food Prep
apple and potato peeler
apple cutter/corer
avocado slicer
bagel cutter guide
bamboo skewers
banana slicer
batter bowl
box grater
bread slicer
burger press
butter molds
butter slicer
ceramic garlic/ginger grating plate
cherry/olive pitter
chestnutter
chinese dumpling maker
citrus peeler
corn kerneler
dough bowl
egg piercer
egg separater
empanada press
fish turner
fishbone tweezers
food punches
french bean slicer
french fry cutter
garlic crusher
jalapeno corer
mango splitter
marble chocolate board
marinator
meat grinder/mincer
meat pounder
meat tenderizer
meatball tongs
melon baller
mortar and pestle
nut chopper
nut cracker
nut picks
nutmeg grinder
pasta maker
pasta rack
pierogi maker
pinch pots
pinch tongs
pineapple corer/slicer
potato/apple peeler
prep bowls
ravioli maker
ravioli rolling pin
rice baller
rolling nut harvester
salad spinner
sandwich cutters
sausage funnels
scale
seafood cracker and forks
shaker mixer
spaghetti measure
spiral slicer
sushi mat
sushi molds
taco press
tart tamper
tortilla press
tovolo manual hand mixer
Garnishing
aspic cutters
butter curler
carrot curler
channel knife
chocolate shaver
crinkle cut knife
melon ballers
more vegetable cutters
paring knives
peeler
spiral slicer
strawberry slicer
twin curl tool
zester
General
bowl scraper
cheesecloth
chopsticks
colanders
cookbook stand
flex neck funnel
foil
funnels
grease pot
ice chest
ice cube trays
ice pick
jar lifter
jar spatula
jell-o molds
lemon squeezer
lunch meat slicer
meat forks
oil spritzer
popsicle molds
push up pop molds
sieves
strainer funnel
strainer tongs
sugar/flour shaker
thermos
toothpicks
tweezer tongs
vegetable brush
vegetable cutters
waxed paper
wide mouth funnel
Storage
"keepers" - containers for storing portions of citrus fruits, bananas, onions, apples...
bag cinchers
baker's rack
banana saver
binder clips
bread box
brown sugar softener
butter crock
can crusher
can tracker
canisters
cling wrap
cookie jar
cup and mug holders
fruit holder
honey jar
ice tray rack holder
knife rack
lazy susans
lid rack
match holder
napkin holder
pepper mill
pot rack
refrigerator magnets
salt mill
shelf liners
shopping bag rack
shopping bags
spice grinder
spice rack
storage canisters
storage container organizer
straw dispenser
syrup dispenser
toothpick holder
twist ties
under shelf basket
utility drawer organizer
vacuum sealer
zip top bags
Serving
appetizer tongs
asparagus tongs
baking shells
bottle gripper
bread plate
cake carrier
cake server
cake stand
cereal bowl
chocolate pot
condiment fork
condiment tongs
corn holders
cream injecter
cruets
cupcake carrier
cupcake stand
cutlery
dessert plate
deviled egg carrier
deviled egg dish
dinner plate
egg slicer
egg topper
egg wedger
fondue/chafing burner
fruit rack
glasses
gravy separator
hanging baskets
honey spoon
ice cream scoops
ice molds
lasagna server
locking tongs
milk frother
napkins
olive spoon
pie carrier
pizza wheel
placemats
popsicle sticks
punch ladle
raclete tongs
reusable ice cubes
reverse grip tongs
rotary cheese grater
salad tongs
salt pig/keeper
salt spoon
scoops
serving dishes
serving spatula
serving tongs
serving utemsils
serving utensils
soup bowl
soy sauce containers
spaghetti tongs
straws
tablecloths
taco rack
toaster tongs
truffle slicer
turkey lifter
whipped cream chargers
Safety
aprons
dish cloths
finger guards
floor mat
kitchen towels
knife rest
lid rest
microwave food cover
potholder
silicon pinch grips
splatter guard
splatter screen
spoon rest
turkey lifter
Tea
bombilla
ice tea machine
matcha whisk
tea bag dispenser
tea bag tongs
tea balls
tea box
tea caddy
tea cozy
tea cup and saucer
tea drip catcher
tea mugs
tea strainers
tea warmer
teapots
Different Kinds of Whisks
ball whisk
flat whisk
master sauce whisk
rapid whisk with ball inside
silicon balloon whisk
spring whisk
squirrel whisk
tong whisk
tornado whisk
wire balloon whisk
Bento
I firmly believe eating should be fun as well as nutritious, and so I did bento for my children before I knew there was a name for it. Their school lunches were cut and shaped and filled with fun foods in interesting containers, and I used thermoses to provide them with hot and cold foods as well as the room temperature foods they got. And I make my own lunches the same way. And yes, before you ask, Itzl and Xoco get "fun food" too - not that they care that I cut their meats and veggies into little octopuses and Hello Kitty faces and all, but I still do it.
Rather than explaining what all these things are, I linked to them so you could see for yourself.
a variety of bento boxes
egg mold
vegetable cutters
fork picks
rice ball molds
"grass"
sauce containers
nori punches
decorative cutters
quail egg molds
larger sauce container
food decorator pen
banana case
chopsticks
takiyaki pan
wiener cutters
microwave rice cooker
egg yolk shaper
sandwich face cutters
ramen bowl/cooker
mayonnaise cup and spoon
furukaki bottles
bento bottles
Beverages
5 gallon carboy
6.5 gallon food grade mash bucket
ball lock
beer bottles
beer thief
bottle brush
bottle capper
bottle caps
bottle filler
bottle tree
bottom fermenting yeast (lager yeast)
champagne yeast
cider press
corker
corks
degassing rod
dekkera - lambic yeast
fermentation lock
filtration kit
grape press
hydrometer
kegerator
refractometer
scale
siphon
soda chargers
soda stream
top fermenting yeast (ale yeast)
wine bottles
yeast nutrient
Pastas
cavatelli maker
drying rack
gnocchi board
pasta attachment for stand mixer
pasta cutter
pasta machine
pasta roller
pasta shape presses
ravioli press
ravioli rolling pin
ravioli stamp
Sausage making
meat grinder
meat grinding attachment for stand mixer
meat grinding disks
sausage casings
sausage stuffer
sausage tubes