casii
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,588 
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Post by casii on Jul 10, 2017 15:31:53 GMT
I live in a 100+ year old house, so small kitchen. Probably won't get an expansion because I don't have an extra $100k to throw at it, so I need to simplify what I do have. I know a lot of fancy dancy chefs say we don't need all of our kitchen gadgets and we only need a cast iron skillet and a good chefs knife, but I'm not a fancy dancy chef.
What items have you thinned out? What kitchen gadgets have you donated or tossed? How do you take very little space and organize what you must have?
I really enjoy cooking, especially for company and even with a small kitchen, everyone ends up hanging out in there. Anyone been able to shoehorn in hang out space with a tiny area?
Gadgets I was given that almost instantly got donated or were tossed: a pineapple corer/ring cutter. It wasted too much of the edible fruit. The thing that dices onions and potatoes. It broke pretty quickly. Old dishes and cutlery that we were given when we were first married over 28 years ago. It was cheap and supposed to be temporary, but DH fought me pretty hard on this. He's a saver wannabe hoarder. A cutesy shaped waffle maker that was used maybe 3 times. And how we got a bazillion mixing bowls, I don't know, but I've passed several down to my kids and I still have more than I need.
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Post by Tammiem2pnc1 on Jul 10, 2017 15:44:15 GMT
I'm very picky about what I buy for our kitchen. It's really gotta be worth it for me to spend my money on. Right now there is nothing that I would toss or give away. We use everything we have, fairly regularly. Our kitchen is rather small as well and I don't want a lot of gadgets in there collecting dust.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 20:12:09 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2017 15:49:10 GMT
Those slicers that can do different types of cutting. I dice food with a good knife and cutting board. A small food processor ( mine is by ninja) is more useful than those multi slicers things. I can think of the name but can't get the spelling right.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jul 10, 2017 16:07:37 GMT
Well, my MIL was the queen of weird kitchen gifts so quite a few of those things hit the Goodwill pile! Among them would be: the spaghetti forks (tines had a weird zigzag pattern to supposedly hold the spaghetti on better?), the serrated grapefruit spoons (I'm the only one who eats grapefruit--precut sections in cups from Costco--and I eat it with a fork), the cheapo plastic refrigerator organizer things for cans (I think?) that broke before we could even get anything loaded into it, a plastic microwave potato baker thing (seriously? Just poke holes in it with a fork, throw it in a bowl and nuke it that way), a microwave bacon cooker, I can't even remember it all.
As for the stuff we spent money on that has (or should be) pushed to the wayside would be: all storage containers that don't nest and stack neatly in the cabinet or cupboard (we purged all that before we moved), a French press coffee maker DH won in a raffle, a big and deep stoneware baking dish that I think I used once (it was free or very cheap when I ordered some other stuff from some MLM consultant), and a $300 Breville juicer that makes a huge mess on the counter every time DH tries to use it. I don't think it's been out of the box once since we moved here in 2012.
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Post by lesley on Jul 10, 2017 16:14:04 GMT
I have given away many electric gadgets over the years. A crepe maker, a pie maker, a yoghurt maker, a bread maker, a fancy food processor. Some of them got more use than others; for a long time I made bread every night. The ones I've held onto are my classic Waring blender, a handheld mixer, my trusty steel wok, and food tongs I've had for 33 years! I've bought other tongs in that time, but none as good. I now have a kitchen less than a quarter of the size of my last one, and I don't have a cooker so I've had to buy some extra gadgets that I don't really have room for - an Airfryer, an Instantpot (naturally!) a halogen oven, and a hot plate. I plan to put in a new kitchen once I have enough saved, and I didn't want to waste money on a cheap cooker in the meantime.  |
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Post by gar on Jul 10, 2017 16:27:40 GMT
Most of them...
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Post by lisacharlotte on Jul 10, 2017 16:40:14 GMT
I'm also in a small, old house with small kitchen and limited storage. i pared down a few years ago. I have good pots and pans, a crock of utensils, toaster, coffee maker, slow cooker, mixer. Baking pans/sheets are the hardest to figure out storage. I did get a mandolin for Christmas just so i could slice potatoes super thin.
We have a kitchen reno planned in the next year or so and i expect to pare down even more then.
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Post by pondrunner on Jul 10, 2017 16:50:27 GMT
Instant pot for me. I know it's the current thing but I never made friends with using it. Everything tasted bland and underdeveloped. I gave it away.
I also gave away a mandoline and any pots that couldn't go in the dishwasher
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 20:12:09 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2017 16:50:57 GMT
We were given a quesadilla maker for our wedding. That went back pretty quickly.
I bought the zucchini noodle maker thing and it went to goodwill soon thereafter
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casii
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,588
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Post by casii on Jul 10, 2017 16:54:46 GMT
Well, my MIL was the queen of weird kitchen gifts so quite a few of those things hit the Goodwill pile! Among them would be: the spaghetti forks (tines had a weird zigzag pattern to supposedly hold the spaghetti on better?), the serrated grapefruit spoons (I'm the only one who eats grapefruit--precut sections in cups from Costco--and I eat it with a fork), the cheapo plastic refrigerator organizer things for cans (I think?) that broke before we could even get anything loaded into it, a plastic microwave potato baker thing (seriously? Just poke holes in it with a fork, throw it in a bowl and nuke it that way), a microwave bacon cooker, I can't even remember it all. As for the stuff we spent money on that has (or should be) pushed to the wayside would be: all storage containers that don't nest and stack neatly in the cabinet or cupboard (we purged all that before we moved), a French press coffee maker DH won in a raffle, a big and deep stoneware baking dish that I think I used once (it was free or very cheap when I ordered some other stuff from some MLM consultant), and a $300 Breville juicer that makes a huge mess on the counter every time DH tries to use it. I don't think it's been out of the box once since we moved here in 2012. Wow, so far I think you win with a spaghetti fork! I'd never heard of that one. My grandmother in law used to give all the grandkids 'as seen on tv' kitchen gadgets, but that stopped a couple of years ago. Now we kind of miss wondering what must-have item she found for Christmas. |
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Post by Katie on Jul 10, 2017 17:02:18 GMT
I don't have a lot of gadgets or appliances. I've had the same breadmaker machine for over 15 years. After sitting in the closet for a couple of years, one day I came across a cinnamon roll dough recipe that uses the breadmaker so now I only use it for that.
I could easily part ways with my Spiralizer (brand name). I wanted that thing for months, told everyone how awesome it was and I couldn't wait to get one. One day out of the blue a package was on my front steps and there was a spiralizer, gifted from my sister. I have used it three times in the six months I've had it.
I also parted with my stir-crazy popcorn popper, as well as a hot-air popper. Sold my pineapple corer at a garage sale, and more recently I got rid of my small Ninja food processor. Oh, and another gadget I just HAD to have was a fancy milk steamer. Again, waited months to decide to spend the $$, and have used it twice. I think what it comes down to is I am one of those plain and simple chefs. I am easily drawn to all the fancy products, but I'm too practical for all of that stuff. If there is a good enough deal on it, I'm going to order an Instant Pot on Prime Day, but part of me worries it will not get used nearly as much as I like to think it will.
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Post by Restless Spirit on Jul 10, 2017 17:07:15 GMT
Airfryer. Total waste of money. I'm giving it away to my sister -in-law.
I have an older version of what people call an Instant Pot. Not sure why people love them so much. It's destinted for next year's garage sale.
I know there's more, but they are long gone. I refuse to keep things I don't use.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 20:12:09 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2017 17:35:36 GMT
The cotton candy machine.
I wanted to top cupcake cone with cotton candy. Yes I did forget that cotton candy melts.
The many ice shaver machines. We use use them once. Too much of a hassle.
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Post by bosoxbeth on Jul 10, 2017 17:42:28 GMT
Pineapple corer. Dumb!!
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Post by SockMonkey on Jul 10, 2017 17:42:41 GMT
I have a spiralizer sitting unopened in a box.
😬
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Post by peano on Jul 10, 2017 17:45:34 GMT
I can't get into silicone baking sheets like Silpat. They're hard to clean, hard to store. I'd rather just use parchment.
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Post by Basket1lady on Jul 10, 2017 17:52:22 GMT
I think you are referring to unitaskers. Gadgets/appliances that are only used for one purpose (like that pineapple corer--never did understand why a knife couldn't do the same job!) I do have a few, but it needs to be something that I'd use weekly (like that spaghetti server--I use mine at least weekly, but DD is a pasta fiend and that's what she makes for dinner on her nights.)
Pay attention to what you use in the next year. Put items you aren't sure about in a plastic bin in the garage or basement. If you need it, it's there. Donate everything left in it at the end of the year.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 20:12:09 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2017 17:58:55 GMT
I also have a tiny kitchen with little storage. AND I have one of those pineapple corers that I've used once. I'm going to go toss it in the garbage! I have a drawer full of bakeware that I rarely use & a few pieces of Pampered Chef stoneware that I don't use. But I do have a deep cabinet to store the stoneware in so it's not in the way.
One thing I did do was cull out a bunch of mixing bowls. I don't need that many sizes of bowls.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jul 10, 2017 17:59:29 GMT
The cotton candy machine. I wanted to top cupcake cone with cotton candy. Yes I did forget that cotton candy melts. The many ice shaver machines. We use use them once. Too much of a hassle. Ha ha ha! I have a big commercial cotton candy machine that DH bought for me from someone closing a concessions trailer business. It's in the basement and rarely gets dragged out, but I would never even consider getting rid of it!  |
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Loydene
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,639
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Post by Loydene on Jul 10, 2017 18:02:16 GMT
All of those stone cooking things
The electric wok
The bread making machine
But -- I'm really not the best person to ask since I have (among other stuff) several sets of dishes,two crockpots, and still have a waffle iron somewhere in the cabinets. But I am currently purging my frying pans.
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Post by compwalla on Jul 10, 2017 18:04:17 GMT
We were given a quesadilla maker for our wedding. That went back pretty quickly. I bought the zucchini noodle maker thing and it went to goodwill soon thereafter I have a quesadilla maker. It looks like this:  I also have the zoodle maker but I actually use it quite a lot. I have an abundance of home grown summer squash and the zoodles are one of our favorite ways to use them up. I also use it to make nifty little potato nests and I regularly spiral other veg for salads and other stuff. I'm notoriously anti-unitasker but I feel like we get our money's worth from it. When I was a newlywed I had more interest in kitchen gadgets but years of military life and one intense period of purging cured me of that. I saw a thing at HEB the other day that was a plastic gadget for cutting hot dogs into slices. "Hot dog slicer." How inept do you have to be that you need a curved plastic slicer to cut hot dogs into smaller pieces? And I don't want to hear any bullcrap about it being for children. If they are capable of handling a heated meat stick, they are capable of handling a knife sharp enough to cut a cooked hot dog. If your kid isn't, he probably isn't coordinated enough to swallow said hot dog without choking to death so bad idea all around. *snort* |
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 20:12:09 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2017 18:09:10 GMT
Garlic press
Garlic roller thingy
Mandolin
Small strainer
Silicon cookie scooper
Lemon juicer
Various sizes of colanders
Food processor
Ice cream maker
Stove top griddle
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Post by JustCallMeMommy on Jul 10, 2017 18:16:59 GMT
I gave away the hand crank spiralizer (I used it enough to upgrade to a Kitchen Aid attachment), and I don't think I have an ice cream maker anymore (it may have just gotten sent to live in the garage). I can't keep an electric can opener alive, so I keep going back to the old trusty twist kind.
I usually don't buy the latest gadget. It has to be something I really think I'll use for more than one purpose (thanks to Alton Brown for that tip).
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 20:12:09 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2017 18:18:47 GMT
compwallaI think the hot dog slicer is for those people who need every piece to be the same size. I am sure my brother had one for his son.
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Post by compwalla on Jul 10, 2017 18:53:37 GMT
compwalla I think the hot dog slicer is for those people who need every piece to be the same size. I am sure my brother had one for his son. Hot dogs themselves are unnecessary. It's three steps off the cliff to say a plastic hot dog cutter is measurably better than a knife. Half, half, half the hot dog and you're done. Then you can use the same knife to cut your quesadilla. *snort*  |
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Post by Scrapper100 on Jul 10, 2017 19:02:26 GMT
Fun thread of course I have and use a lot of the thing listed here as well as owning others that I use. I store a lot in the garage as I just don't want to take up room in the kitchen. We use a pineapple corer, kitchenaide mixer, cuisinart, mini cuisinart, keurig, rice cooker, egg cooker (I know I could just boil in a pan but something happens every single time and I get pulled away and then they get overdone so for me this is wonderful - its fairly small to), multiple sized crock pots, ninja cooker, ninja blender - that doesn't get used often, the magic bullet, waffle iron and Belgium waffle maker, we have a really old air popper and used to use it and will use it once DS gets his braces off. We have a bread machine that gets used several times a year, the hot oil fryer rarely gets used so it is buried in the garage. Oh and we have an old fashioned juicer from my husbands grandmother it must be 50+ years old but we use it as we have a lemon tree - its also small. No way I would want to juice 50 lemons by hand. I just remembered I have a foodsaver to - love that thing. So we use all of these things often enough that I want to keep them around other than the deep fryer and the regular waffle maker. Those would be the first to go if I didn't have a space for them but I use everything else. Oh and we have stoneware - some we use regularly and others that we really don't. I think what you keep will depend on how you cook. I grew up in a tiny house with a tiny galley kitchen and my grandmother still had gadgets but she had storage for some on the back porch and some things were stored in cabinets in the garage - probably why I don't mind storing extras in there. I am considering getting rid of some old corning ware I think they are called as I haven't used most of them in a long time - they were old and were my grandmother's. ETA we have the cuisinart ice cream makers as well - with several extra bowls |
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PrettyInPeank
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,691
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Post by PrettyInPeank on Jul 10, 2017 19:22:35 GMT
Garlic press Garlic roller thingy Mandolin Small strainer Silicon cookie scooper Lemon juicer Various sizes of colanders Food processor Ice cream maker Stove top griddle It's funny because I used almost everything on that list this week. I hate how my fingers smell like garlic if I have to peel and chop it, so I always use the roller and press. The food processor I used for salsa, the juicer for the lime, the mandoline for brocolli salad (super thin onion slices), strainer for pressing red enchilada sauce to remove chili skins. I never used the griddle though. Tossed that one. I use my cast iron insread. |
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PrettyInPeank
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,691
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Post by PrettyInPeank on Jul 10, 2017 19:24:09 GMT
Alton Brown calls them unitaskers, like someone above said. If it has only one job in your kitchen, think really hard about how much space it takes and if it's worth it.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 20:12:09 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2017 19:30:27 GMT
compwalla I think the hot dog slicer is for those people who need every piece to be the same size. I am sure my brother had one for his son. Hot dogs themselves are unnecessary. It's three steps off the cliff to say a plastic hot dog cutter is measurably better than a knife. Half, half, half the hot dog and you're done. Then you can use the same knife to cut your quesadilla. *snort* The boy was/is a really special snowflake. He would only eat foods that he could stick on a toothpick. They had a press for meatballs. They had tons for special tools. Because he had to have everything the same size. |
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used2scrap
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,147
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Post by used2scrap on Jul 10, 2017 19:44:08 GMT
Spiralizer sitting in the box still after a year, and a bread machine never used but moved twice.
The kids do love and use the apple slicer shaped like an apple, it's huge in the drawer, but they use it quite often. They are fans of the quesadilla maker too lol.
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