What Unique Kitchen Gadgets Have Been Used in Your Cooking?

[delphina26]

Hello everyone,

Some truly unique kitchen gadgets have been discovered across cultures, showing how cooking is made easier and more creative by them. Items like bamboo steamers in Asia and stone grinders in India have been used for generations, and their usefulness is still appreciated today.

Now I’d love to know:

1. What unique kitchen items have been used by you in your cooking?
2. Are there any gadgets that are often overlooked but have been found to be incredibly useful in your kitchen

New discoveries about kitchen gadgets are always welcomed!

 

[karadekoolaid]

I immediately thought of something that's fairly unique to the Spanish-speaking Caribbean nations: a plantain press. One of the typical snacks/accompaniments to Venezuelan food is a tostón - a twice-fried round of green plantain. First, the plantain is cut into a thick slice, and fried both sides. Then, into the plantain press, which squashes it flat. Then it's refried until golden. Plantain press

 

[Barriehie]

I immediately thought of something that's fairly unique to the Spanish-speaking Caribbean nations: a plantain press. One of the typical snacks/accompaniments to Venezuelan food is a tostón - a twice-fried round of green plantain. First, the plantain is cut into a thick slice, and fried both sides. Then, into the plantain press, which squashes it flat. Then it's refried until golden. Plantain press

I use my small cast iron skillet.

 

[medtran49]

There's a plantain press that makes little cup/bowl shapes as well.

We have an orecchetti machine, a gnocchi board, a molcajete, a tortilla press, plus a plethora of other kitchen gadgets that have been collected over 30+ years.

 

[Barriehie]

I've had many gadgets and ran out of room to store a lot of them! I've got two different sizes of molcajete, a full size food processor and a mini one, various silicone shaped forms, a complete set of scoops, potato ricer with 3 different ricing plates and whatever I forgot I have.

 

[kaneohegirlinaz]

A julienne peeler
A Japanese-style grater
A Japanese-style frying pan (tamago-yaki , Japanese-style rolled omelet)
Way back in the day, I did pound Poi, very tasty
Onigiri forms of all types (that includes Musubi), I have several different shapes
never used a vegetable brush before, but I do now!
Champagne bottle stopper, fantastic! (sounds stupid, but I never had one until a few years ago, game changer)

 

[badjak]

Thai papaya shredder
Noodle baskets
Pestle and mortars (5 granite + 3 wooden, don't ask why)
Bamboo steamer
Cast iron potjies, jaffe irons and loads more stuff to use over open fire
But I think these are very normal things to have

 

[Barriehie]

...
But I think these are very normal things to have

Just like my 18 linear feet of spices!

 

[badjak]

Just like my 18 linear feet of spices!

Only 18.....