Kitchen tools that are a big fat waste of money
Do you get seduced by garlic peelers? I do. I look at them wistfully, whether I'm flipping through a cooking catalog or wandering the aisles of a Sur la Table. I'll pick one up and turn it over in my hand. But then I force myself to put it down and back away, reminding myself that I don't need another questionable gadget in my kitchen drawers, which are already cluttered with questionable gadgets.
If you are not easily offended, check out this humorous take on kitchen tools that just aren't worth the money. (There's some salty language in there.) I don't agree with the entire list. I love a melon baller. Although. Um. I have to admit that I have never actually used my melon baller. So maybe I do agree with this list after all.
What do you think? What kitchen gadgets do you find absolutely useless? And if you just can't live without your garlic peeler, please let me know about it.
ALSO:
Times Food Editor Russ Parsons on kitchen 'essentials': What's worth it, what's not
It's a nonstop beach scene at Bear Flag Fish Co., baby!
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-- Rene Lynch
Twitter / renelynch
Photo: Resist the urge. Credit: ayahthetiger via Flickr
I received a garlic peeler as a gift. I use it a lot. I used to have bad experiences of being stabbed by garlic underneath my fingernails from trying to peel it (yes, I would smash it most of the time, but some times I like intact garlic)
Posted by: Ali | May 20, 2011 at 05:24 AM
Kiwi scoop? Are you frellin' serious?!? Thought garlic peeler was bad...
Guilty of 2 out of 11: flour sifter and garbage disposal. The sifter I bought before I bought a mesh sieve and I haven't tossed it out. Probably should. Now, I do like having garbage disposal but I don't blitz the veggie peels--I scoop that out and toss into the trash can...like we all are supposed to do.
Posted by: oakley | May 19, 2011 at 11:44 PM
I defer to the commenters who love their garlic peelers -- I've never felt the need to have one, and really don't mind peeling garlic. I use my melon baller and apple corer for many things, love having my apple peeler on hand for the dozens of apples I use in pies, and would prefer to use my 2 cake testers over and over rather than using many toothpicks. My biggest disagreement, however, is about the garbage disposal -- I can't live without one. Over the years, I've learned not to overload the disposal with peelings, but if you've ever lived in a non-airconditioned apartment with a trash can containing uneaten cat food, you'll know how valuable it is. A buzz through the disposal prevents a myriad of horrid creepy-crawlies.
Posted by: Jessica | May 19, 2011 at 10:59 PM
the garlic peeler tube works great
the cranky writer of the linked blog also doesn't want you to have garbage disposals because they help "pollute" the earth
it's not garbage disposals - it's all the dumbass babies you foolish suicidal earthlings keep pumping out
Posted by: call me Osgood Conklin | May 19, 2011 at 10:41 PM
I love the garlic peeler too. And it's purpose isn't just so your hands don't reek of garlic. It peels the cloves perfectly when a recipe calls for WHOLE GARLIC CLOVES not smashed as the author states in his article. His article is a joke.
Posted by: Anne | May 19, 2011 at 10:03 PM
How dare you undermine the value of the garlic peeler! Granted, I received mine as a gift, but it's been a great addition to my kitchen gadget arsenal.
Posted by: Melbee | May 19, 2011 at 09:24 PM
Jalapeno corer/seeder.
Posted by: Rich | May 19, 2011 at 08:20 PM
I LOVE my garlic peeler and have used one for years! I would not be without it.
Posted by: Cherokee_Crow | May 19, 2011 at 07:41 PM
Some Indian dishes require over 50 garlic pods - and they have to retain their shape after peeling. No better way than the garlic peeler. Sorry!
Posted by: TumTum | May 19, 2011 at 07:25 PM
Egg separator. I tend to break the yolk if I try to separate the egg using the shell halves.
Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | May 19, 2011 at 07:19 PM
Just smush the garlic a little with something heavy (like the bottom of the bowl you were going to put the pieces in) and the peel comes right off. No peeler needed or to clean later.
My most used gadget is a giant stainless steel spoon. I never use it as a spoon, but it is great for most everything else (ex. to open pop top cans, as a scraper to clean out pumpkins for halloween, to smush garlics with, whatever).
Posted by: Anonymous | May 19, 2011 at 06:23 PM
I love my garlic peeler (works great) and get compliments from house guests all the time. This article is actually a waste of money....although I didn't pay for it....you get the idea.
ebhp
Posted by: John | May 19, 2011 at 06:14 PM
What is the point of this 'article'?
Most of the stuff we buy is actually a big fat waste of money.
Posted by: yoyo | May 19, 2011 at 06:12 PM
love my garlic peeler - use it all the time and the flour sifter too!
Posted by: birdsofafeather | May 19, 2011 at 05:46 PM
I use my melon baller all the time! I use it to core apples, scoop out larger eyes from potatoes and roll ganache for truffles.
Posted by: Stefanie L. | May 19, 2011 at 04:04 PM