I have acquired a lot of kitchen gadgets. Pretty much, if you make an infomercial about it, I'm gonna buy it. So I have had a lot of duds over the years, most of which I will not detail here (I'll just leave you with this: Set it, and forget it).
But there are are few things which I continue to use on a daily basis, years and years after I purchased them, and I thought I'd share them.
The Farberware electric kettle - I rejected the idea of an electric kettle for about a million years. But in 2020, I started drinking a LOT of hot beverages, and got squicked using the microwave all the time. I saw this at a friend's house, and never looked back. I use this at least twice a day, every day. It is super fast, super easy, and also, really really cool with the bright blue lights that let you know across the room if it's still heating or done. Also, it was only $20.00!!
The Mueller Austria Onion Chopper - I love to cook, and really, for most of my life did not really understand who was lame enough that they could not chop things up with a knife. But once we started chopping onions almost every day, at the recommendation of another friend, I gave this a try. Oh My Goodness!! I don't use this every day, and I still chop a lot of stuff with a knife, but this thing is just amazing for onions, or for making any kind of chopped salad or dish with a lot of chopped veggies. Also, it's kind of fun to use and easy to clean up!
Nordic Ware Naturals Big Baking Sheet - I have purchased probably 50 cookie sheets in my lifetime; they warp, they turn black, icky things happen to them. Then I bit the bullet and bought these (thanks to yet another friend - who knew I had so many friends?). They are not cheap, but these things look and act just as good as the day I got them more than 5 years ago. Still like new, they have held up to everything. I thought I'd buy more, but I don't need to, because these things will apparently last forever!!
Martin Yan's Cleaver - I have lots of knives, but this seems to be the one I always go to, after more than 20 years, day after day.
The Lemon Squeezer - It's not like I am incapable of squeezing a lemon or lime by myself, I just don't understand why it took me so many years to realize there was an easier way!!!
