Kitchen Gadgets Worth the $ and Space

[daisylu]

I have been eating salads daily, and have been wondering if it is worth it to get a salad spinner. My current process involves a lot of drying. I saw this one this morning: link

Anyone have one who thinks it is worth it? Or any other small kitchen gadgets that you recommend?

[billisonboard]

My wife has been a good kitchen gadget but iffy on the question of worth the price.

[irishpad]

Have used a salad spinner for 20 years.   I live very north so mostly use it just in the summer when I eat garden lettuce, don't use it much on lettuce from the grocery store.  Absolutely worth is on the garden lettuce as it needs to be washed well before eating.  When I am in houses with little kitchen storage, I put in "away" in basement or other out of the way storage out of the summer season.  

[azucena]

I find that salad greens keep longer when I store them in the spinner in the fridge.  I think it's the airflow allowed.

[saveinla]

I have one - the oxo. Have had it for 21 years now. Its the best tool that I have bought and used other than my knives

[CCL]

I have an Oxo spinner, too. I bought the smaller size so it would fit better in the fridge. That thing is great! Lettuce and other greens stay fresh much longer with it. Much better having salad fixins ready to eat.

Go buy one!

[moon/Laura]

I like salads a lot too, but I always lazy out and get the kits from the produce section. Been on a real Caesar kick recently, but I also like the Steakhouse Wedge from Taylor Farms.


No help on the gadget aspect, sorry. I did buy a Ninja blender to make my own "frappucino" drinks and milkshakes and that's been worth the money and counter space.

[saveinla]

Jul 13, 2022 10:23:42 GMT -5 moon/Laura said:

I like salads a lot too, but I always lazy out and get the kits from the produce section. Been on a real Caesar kick recently, but I also like the Steakhouse Wedge from Taylor Farms.


No help on the gadget aspect, sorry. I did buy a Ninja blender to make my own "frappucino" drinks and milkshakes and that's been worth the money and counter space.

Get yourself some fresh greens from a farmers market and you will never go back to salad kits again . 

[Deleted]

I have a salad spinner which gets a lot of use since I buy whole heads of romaine. I also use it a ton in the winter for turnip, mustard and collard greens and Swiss chard.

I'm not a big gadget fan as I have a small kitchen but I do love my garlic peeler (silicone tube you put the unpeeled cloves in and roll on the counter), my garlic press, my jalapeno corer, and my ThermoWorks instant read thermometer. These get very frequent use in our house so they earn their space.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jul 13, 2022 10:31:12 GMT -5 saveinla said:

Jul 13, 2022 10:23:42 GMT -5 moon/Laura said:

I like salads a lot too, but I always lazy out and get the kits from the produce section. Been on a real Caesar kick recently, but I also like the Steakhouse Wedge from Taylor Farms.


No help on the gadget aspect, sorry. I did buy a Ninja blender to make my own "frappucino" drinks and milkshakes and that's been worth the money and counter space.

Get yourself some fresh greens from a farmers market and you will never go back to salad kits again . 

For me, I need the salad kits for time-saving purposes. I still have fresh salads once or twice per week, but during work days I don't have time to prepare a fresh salad. 

[daisylu]

I have been on a Caesar salad kick lately, which is super easy to make! Maybe my tastes have changed - I used to live by the bagged salads, but the last couple of times they had a weird taste to them. Not really weird, but no taste. So I have switched to fresh.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

We've had a Vitamix for 13 years--the same one. We use it almost daily. I'm sure we should have had the blades sharpened at some point, but I've never followed through on that. Whenever this one goes out, we will definitely purchase the latest model. They're expensive, but clearly worth the price tag. 

[Tiny]

I use this kind of salad spinner  ( I get a lot of use out of it - for salad greens, fresh spinach, parsley, etc...) :

My link isn't working well --- it's a    Progressive Prepworks Gray Plastic Salad Spinner    if you want to google it... 

www.acehardware.com/departments/home-and-decor/kitchen-utensils-and-gadgets/miscellaneous-kitchen-utensils-and-gadgets/6038822?x429=true&utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic-shopping&utm_campaign=organic-shopping

ADDED:   here's another one  I think this is the one I have - there's no branding on mine.    abundantkitchen.shop/amp/salad-spinner/  

It has holes in the outer bowl so that water flows out the bottom.   I use the spinner for the last steps. 
First, I wash/rinse and then let my lettuce/greens  soak in a bucket* or large bowl of fresh cold water.   When I'm ready to use - I do handfuls of the "salad" in the spinner (and all the water goes into my sink)  I can spin batch after batch.   I let the spun "salad" continue to dry/drain in a colander.  I sometimes use a paper towel or two to get it all really dry if I think it needs it. 

Letting the greens sit in cold water for a while restores "crispness" and helps me to use up any greens that still look good but are wilted. 


I sometimes use the spinner with freshly washed blueberries or raspberries, too.  

*I have a "kitchen bucket" that is ONLY used for cleaning, soaking veggies.... it's a food grade plastic.    I found it helpful to revive greens that have wilted or just don't seem so crisp to soak them in cold water for 15 or 20 minutes.   The bucket is great for dealing with a big bunch of kale or chard or parsley or dill (get it all cleaned off and ready for use or for drying).  You will be amazed at how much grit and dirt come with some types of veggies (even when they say they have been pre washed.) 


I get a lot of use out of a microplane grater = parm cheese, lemon zest, chocolate shreds.      

I love my ThermoPop  meat thermometer too. 

[NoNamePerson]

Jul 13, 2022 8:48:31 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

My wife has been a good kitchen gadget but iffy on the question of worth the price.

 And I was thinking the best kitchen gadgets are the ones in someone else’s kitchen. 

[CCL]

Jul 13, 2022 10:31:12 GMT -5 saveinla said:

Jul 13, 2022 10:23:42 GMT -5 moon/Laura said:

I like salads a lot too, but I always lazy out and get the kits from the produce section. Been on a real Caesar kick recently, but I also like the Steakhouse Wedge from Taylor Farms.


No help on the gadget aspect, sorry. I did buy a Ninja blender to make my own "frappucino" drinks and milkshakes and that's been worth the money and counter space.

Get yourself some fresh greens from a farmers market and you will never go back to salad kits again . 

I grow mine in the backyard. Yummy!

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

I have a Vitamix too.  Well worth the $$ IMO.  

Other than my knives, the single gadget that you’ll have to pry out of my hands is my microplane.  I have 3 and at least 2 of them need to be washed at any one time if I’m cooking.  

I do have a well used salad spinner.  

[NoNamePerson]

Jul 13, 2022 16:49:30 GMT -5 CCL said:

Jul 13, 2022 10:31:12 GMT -5 saveinla said:

Get yourself some fresh greens from a farmers market and you will never go back to salad kits again . 

I grow mine in the backyard. Yummy!

I grow mine in my sons back yard. Romain is my fav and they had so many recalls I quit buying in store. Only disadvantage of growing here is a short growing season due to very little cool weather season. But I get enough to keep me happy.  I’ve learned to use baby spinach but don’t buy bagged stuff. Have a store here that keeps  small bundles of baby spinach in stock. It seems to have fallen out of favor in most stores here   

[lurkyloo]

Love my Thermomix.  It’s a blender with similar specs to Vitamix, also weighs, kneads, cooks, and cooks while stirring    I make custard, spaghetti or bread dough in it on a weekly basis.

I sort of justified it bc it delayed me purchasing a stand mixer for several years, but then I bought a Kitchenaid anyway 

[moon/Laura]

Jul 13, 2022 16:49:30 GMT -5 CCL said:

Jul 13, 2022 10:31:12 GMT -5 saveinla said:

Get yourself some fresh greens from a farmers market and you will never go back to salad kits again . 

I grow mine in the backyard. Yummy!

I don't have the time or space for a garden, other than maybe some tomatoes or something small that can be done in pots. Growing up, half of our large backyard was garden and I *hated* going out there to weed and harvest. There were times we had so many tomatoes that we could have had them for every meal. I couldn't stand them for a long time because of that but I love them now. Homegrown have the best flavor, but I haven't grown any for years. Thinking about doing some this year even though it's kinda late.

I like farmer's markets too and do visit them, but I don't have a huge fridge so storage is an issue.

[nittanycheme]

I really like my oxo salad spinner.  The push-spinner locks inside the spinner so its easier to put away since the lid is flat.  I use it quite a bit.    I do have a few kitchen gadgets I use.  My main source of new gadgets is the list on Buzzfeed.  Its basically what I use it for.    I found a zoodle maker that is actually relatively easy to clean without shredding my fingers or my dish scrubber, a gadget that that helps to crack and peel hardboiled eggs, etc.  I also like those Debbie someone  (myer?) Green bags - they really do help my produce last a lot longer.

And to supply my kitchen - my tertill weeding robot.  My DH got it for me for Christmas as sort of a joke, but I love it.  I have a raised bed garden that I re-designed so it can more easily reach everywhere.  Its basically a roomba for weeds that is solar powered.  I put it out in the spring, and leave it out until I'm ready to plant, so basically March-ish to May.  For my early plants (peas, lettuce, etc) I just block off that section of the beds, and then leave it in the area I'm planting later (tomatoes, peppers, etc).  All the little weeds keep trying to come up in the spring, and tertill gets them all.  Then when I plant I usually end up having to take it out since I plant pretty closely together, but then I have hardly any weeds the rest of the year.   My DH is just amazed that it actually works, and how much I like it.  I'm not sure how much they cost now - he got it as part of their kickstarter campaign.  It actually is designed by people who came from iRobot.

[NoNamePerson]

Aug 8, 2022 9:30:04 GMT -5 nittanycheme said:

I really like my oxo salad spinner.  The push-spinner locks inside the spinner so its easier to put away since the lid is flat.  I use it quite a bit.    I do have a few kitchen gadgets I use.  My main source of new gadgets is the list on Buzzfeed.  Its basically what I use it for.    I found a zoodle maker that is actually relatively easy to clean without shredding my fingers or my dish scrubber, a gadget that that helps to crack and peel hardboiled eggs, etc.  I also like those Debbie someone  (myer?) Green bags - they really do help my produce last a lot longer.

And to supply my kitchen - my tertill weeding robot.  My DH got it for me for Christmas as sort of a joke, but I love it.  I have a raised bed garden that I re-designed so it can more easily reach everywhere.  Its basically a roomba for weeds that is solar powered.  I put it out in the spring, and leave it out until I'm ready to plant, so basically March-ish to May.  For my early plants (peas, lettuce, etc) I just block off that section of the beds, and then leave it in the area I'm planting later (tomatoes, peppers, etc).  All the little weeds keep trying to come up in the spring, and tertill gets them all.  Then when I plant I usually end up having to take it out since I plant pretty closely together, but then I have hardly any weeds the rest of the year.   My DH is just amazed that it actually works, and how much I like it.  I'm not sure how much they cost now - he got it as part of their kickstarter campaign.  It actually is designed by people who came from iRobot.

Never heard of this so off to google. My son has raised beds - it's easier on my old bones. I am assuming that this works in the raised beds if I am reading correctly. Off to check this out. See one learns so much from this board.  Thanks!!  

[nittanycheme]

Aug 8, 2022 9:35:16 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Aug 8, 2022 9:30:04 GMT -5 nittanycheme said:

I really like my oxo salad spinner.  The push-spinner locks inside the spinner so its easier to put away since the lid is flat.  I use it quite a bit.    I do have a few kitchen gadgets I use.  My main source of new gadgets is the list on Buzzfeed.  Its basically what I use it for.    I found a zoodle maker that is actually relatively easy to clean without shredding my fingers or my dish scrubber, a gadget that that helps to crack and peel hardboiled eggs, etc.  I also like those Debbie someone  (myer?) Green bags - they really do help my produce last a lot longer.

And to supply my kitchen - my tertill weeding robot.  My DH got it for me for Christmas as sort of a joke, but I love it.  I have a raised bed garden that I re-designed so it can more easily reach everywhere.  Its basically a roomba for weeds that is solar powered.  I put it out in the spring, and leave it out until I'm ready to plant, so basically March-ish to May.  For my early plants (peas, lettuce, etc) I just block off that section of the beds, and then leave it in the area I'm planting later (tomatoes, peppers, etc).  All the little weeds keep trying to come up in the spring, and tertill gets them all.  Then when I plant I usually end up having to take it out since I plant pretty closely together, but then I have hardly any weeds the rest of the year.   My DH is just amazed that it actually works, and how much I like it.  I'm not sure how much they cost now - he got it as part of their kickstarter campaign.  It actually is designed by people who came from iRobot.

Never heard of this so off to google. My son has raised beds - it's easier on my old bones. I am assuming that this works in the raised beds if I am reading correctly. Off to check this out. See one learns so much from this board.  Thanks!!  

You're welcome!  I think it works best in a raised bed.  You have to "fence" it in, just like a regular roomba since it also hits the side and then turns around.  Since raised beds have a built in fence, it makes it easier than needing to fence in a flat bed garden.

[anciana]

Aug 8, 2022 9:30:04 GMT -5 nittanycheme said:

I really like my oxo salad spinner.  The push-spinner locks inside the spinner so its easier to put away since the lid is flat.  I use it quite a bit.    I do have a few kitchen gadgets I use.  My main source of new gadgets is the list on Buzzfeed.  Its basically what I use it for.    I found a zoodle maker that is actually relatively easy to clean without shredding my fingers or my dish scrubber, a gadget that that helps to crack and peel hardboiled eggs, etc.  I also like those Debbie someone  (myer?) Green bags - they really do help my produce last a lot longer.

And to supply my kitchen - my tertill weeding robot.  My DH got it for me for Christmas as sort of a joke, but I love it.  I have a raised bed garden that I re-designed so it can more easily reach everywhere.  Its basically a roomba for weeds that is solar powered.  I put it out in the spring, and leave it out until I'm ready to plant, so basically March-ish to May.  For my early plants (peas, lettuce, etc) I just block off that section of the beds, and then leave it in the area I'm planting later (tomatoes, peppers, etc).  All the little weeds keep trying to come up in the spring, and tertill gets them all.  Then when I plant I usually end up having to take it out since I plant pretty closely together, but then I have hardly any weeds the rest of the year.   My DH is just amazed that it actually works, and how much I like it.  I'm not sure how much they cost now - he got it as part of their kickstarter campaign.  It actually is designed by people who came from iRobot.

Would you care to share which vegetable spiralizer you got? I've been on a lookout and just can't make up my mind

[nittanycheme]

oxo spiralizer

Its an oxo one.  I just have the one blade option, but you can get others to make different size "noodles".  You can clean out  all the veggie shreds pretty well from the "back" side and then use the soap for a final clean.  I tried others, but it was really  hard to get out the veg shreds even though you could put in bigger squashes.

[anciana]

Aug 9, 2022 14:41:47 GMT -5 nittanycheme said:

oxo spiralizer

Its an oxo one.  I just have the one blade option, but you can get others to make different size "noodles".  You can clean out  all the veggie shreds pretty well from the "back" side and then use the soap for a final clean.  I tried others, but it was really  hard to get out the veg shreds even though you could put in bigger squashes.

Thank you very much for the recommendation. That looks similar to the ones I was looking at. Glad to hear it works well for you!