Find new uses for your kitchen gadgets
When it comes to kitchen gadgets, there are plenty of options out there — and many of us have overflowing drawers and cabinets as a result.
What you likely didn’t know is that many kitchen gadgets can be used in multiple ways, making them cross-functional, and even more of them are being used incorrectly, says Cathy Reid, owner of Absolutely Fabulous at Home in New Minas.
Knowing her way around the kitchen and the most popular gadgets, Reid offers some advice on ways to rethink how we use common kitchen tools.
PROPER KNIFE USAGE
“The kitchen tool I see used incorrectly most often is the paring knife,” says Reid.
It is meant to be used to peel fruits and vegetables, but in most East Coast kitchens, that’s not what happens.
“I see paring knives with the tips snapped off because the knife was used to pry apart something frozen, like burger patties. The steel can’t take the temperature shock and becomes very brittle,” she explains.
“I also hear from people who are using a paring knife to do everything from peeling to cutting up a roast — yikes!”
There are knives for every purpose, and it makes the job safer and easier with the right knife, says Reid.
ALTERNATIVE USES FOR KITCHEN TOOLS
So many kitchen tools can be used for more than the one purpose intended by the manufacturer, says Reid.
Have a small electric coffee grinder? Sure, use it for grinding coffee beans, but then whirl some stale bread in it and use the crumbs in a stuffing or use it to chop nuts or herbs. Just use stale bread after each use to clean the oils and scents from whatever you were grinding.
HERE ARE SOME OTHER SUGGESTIONS:
1. A grapefruit spoon has a serrated tip, perfect for scooping out kiwi from the fuzzy peel.
2. An ice cream scoop serves several purposes besides scooping ice cream. Use one to portion out muffins as you fill a muffin pan, or to scoop out the gunk in a squash or pumpkin.
3. A cheese grater works well for cheese, but it also does a fabulous job grating frozen butter for biscuits. “I tell everyone how my biscuits were very puck-like until I found this trick,” says Reid. Just score all around the frozen butter after you peel the wrapping away to indicate the amount of butter you have — a half cup, one cup, etc. Then, grate to the score mark that indicates how much you need. 4. Ice cube trays are another versatile kitchen gadget. Whenever you have leftover fresh herbs, chop up that basil or parsley, stuff it into the ice cube tray, add water, and freeze. Pop the herb cubes out when they are solid and keep them frozen in a baggie for future use.
5. Put grapes in the freezer to use as white wine chillers. “Although this is not really a kitchen hack, it’s still very useful,” she says.
NON-TRADITIONAL KITCHEN TOOLS
Go outside the box to stock your kitchen — there are several things you likely have around the house you’ve never thought to use in the kitchen that will make your life easier.
“Dental floss is an essential kitchen tool,” says Reid. “Use it to slice soft cheeses such as brie or goat cheese as it slices without squishing.”
This technique is also good on cinnamon roll dough once
you have it rolled and ready to cut, she adds. It will also work on any soft dough that tends to flatten when you try to cut it with a knife.
A dishcloth, wetted and wrung dry, will keep a cutting board from slipping all around if you lay it flat on the counter under the board.
“I saved the cardboard tubes from wax paper to store my rolled-up beeswax wraps in. Just roll the wraps up once they are cleaned and dry and slide them in. This keeps them sorted and ready in the drawer with all the boxes of foil and wax paper,” says Reid.
By following a few of these simple tips, anyone can be an expert in the kitchen, she adds.