What's the most useful tool in your kitchen?

United States
July 18, 2008 1:04pm CST
Is there one item in your kitchen that you couldn't live without? For me, the most useful tool in my kitchen, would be the George Foreman grilling machine! Years ago, when I first saw them on TV, I thought "What a waste of money!" But since buying two of the grill machines I've come to love them. Now, I can prepare entire meals on my George Foreman machines. And, we're all eating healthier too! Not that I have much choice, since my regular stove top stopped working! In fact, I think that I'm a better chef since! What's the most indispensable tool or gadget in your kitchen?
6 people like this
56 responses
@luvstochat (6907)
• United States
18 Jul 08
I suppose my most useful tool would have to be my microwave. It is great to cook popcorn and to heat things up and when money is tight you can buy those cheap frozen dinners taht you cook in the microwave. I used to have a George Formen grill but to me evertying tasted dry on it so I gave it away.
2 people like this
• United States
18 Jul 08
I had the same problem with mine until I learned to wrap up everything in foil. That seals in the juice and helps steam veggies too! Thanks for your post. Microwave is second on my list, followed by my chopping knife!
• United States
18 Jul 08
And it works like a charm! You can even wrap up chopped veggies with your meats and add spices. Everything cooks together! Of course, you would add frozen veggies during the last five or ten minutes of cookign or they will turn to mush! The lid won't shut completely on so much food, but as long as it's touching one of the grill plates, it will cook. You can even prop the lid and cook bread.
@MOMMASAM (1004)
• United States
19 Jul 08
what luck to find this post ! i just bought my first foreman grill this week. it was $99 on sale for $30 @ Penneys, so i could not resist. i do not have central air conditioning and it is so hot in my kitchen that cooking is impossible. i felt it would not add additional heat in the room. and, today i am learning how to keep foods from drying out. would have never thought about the foil either.
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Jul 08
Wow! That is good timing! My secret for cooking in foil is to add a little bit of water especially if the meat is low fat or lean cut. That will hydrate the meat. If you prefer a grilled taste, uncover the meat during the last few minutes and sear the surface. Often, I wrap the meat up along with chopped or frozen veggies and some spice with a tablespoon of water. And then grill until done. The taste is divine! And I get so many compliments. Best of luck with your new grill! You got a really good deal!
1 person likes this
@MOMMASAM (1004)
• United States
20 Jul 08
that's why i could resist buying one ! i mentioned this today to my co-worker. as soon as i said George Foreman grill, she replied, " I hate mine. I threw it away." why, i asked? well, because the meat was always dry. So, of course, i told her about this nifty tip i just read about. she seemed almost sad..cause now she wishes she still had a grill ! one aluminum package with meat and veggies in it would be awesome.
@GardenGerty (157695)
• United States
18 Jul 08
I finally got a foreman grill this year, and I bought a huge one. I wish I had a small one as well. It saves so much time and heat in the kitchen. Next would be my various sizes of crock pots, third would be my stick blender. I like crockpots cause they cook slow, and Foreman grills cause they cook fast. The stick blender because it is easy to use then clean up.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Jul 08
Other than my microwave, those would be in my top three!
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
18 Jul 08
To me that would be the microwave. It is nice to make coffee faster then to have to wait for a coffee machine to do it. It is also nice to have somethng to help thaw out food instead of having to wait for it. I can also cook my tv dinners in it and warm up left overs. So i am glad that I have a microwave. Although I agree with you on a George Forman grill. They are good to have.
• United States
19 Jul 08
I couldn't live without my microwave!
@twallace (2675)
• United States
18 Jul 08
I would have to say the microwave and the Toaster Oven Broiler. The broiler is used in place of the oven. It's small and sits on the counter and that is a good thing and very easy to keep clean. The microwave is used for just about everything to warm food and other things. Now the George Foreman, I just started using it and that is just as good as having a frying pan but better to clean and nothing sticks to it. With out those three things I would have to say I would be washing dishes all of the time.
1 person likes this
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
19 Jul 08
Beauty..i couldn't live without my spoon cause then i couldn't eat my ice cream..LOL..chocolate here i come!!!
• United States
19 Jul 08
You always have the most amazing answers! I love talking to you! Have a beautiful evening!
1 person likes this
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
18 Jul 08
I would actually love to get one of those but my husband seems to think I have an addiction of some kind to kitchen gagets LOL...Maybe I do a little bit but not enough to NOT get a GF grill damn it.. My most useful...my fridge!!
• United States
19 Jul 08
I tried living without a fridge for about a week once just after I moved. This was years before my daughter came along. I had relocated and lived in a hotel (till I found a house). They didn't have fridges in the room. I had to eat just fast food. Totally turned me off to fast food for a long time. Still don't like the stuff! But, at least there were no dishes to clean!
@carolscash (9492)
• United States
18 Jul 08
Well, I love my Foreman grill and I love my blender. I would say that it is a toss up as to which one that I like the best. I also have a Magic Bullet that seems to get a lot of use around here. The kids really like it and use it more than I do. I think it is for sure my daughters' favorite item.
• United States
18 Jul 08
Does the magic bullet puree fruits, like for juice?
@mummymo (23706)
20 Jul 08
Oh we have had 'Big George' as we call it for years and we all love it! When I say we have had it for years it has been replaced several times as we have worn several out we use it so much! We would be totally lost without ours too! Even our toasted sandwich maker got discarded after we discovered they were much nicer when made in Big George! xxx
@mummymo (23706)
18 Aug 08
Definitely worth while - we love it! xxx
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
1 Aug 08
I really must look into getting a 'Big George' for myself.
1 person likes this
@chrislotz (8137)
• Canada
3 Oct 08
I think for me it is my George Foreman grille also. I probably use mine about 5 times a week. I couldn't live without it. If it ever broke down I would buy another one that same day. I would make a special trip just ot buy one. Another thing that would be a close tie, is my blender. I use it every morning to make my protein shake and I use it in the evenings to make my fruit shake. Another thing is my coffee pot. I make myself, about 4 times a week, a pot of four cups, of vanilla coffee. I buy the beans and grind them, so I guess my grinder to I couldn't live without, and make my coffee fresh. It is a treat for me so I only do it about 4 times a week. I put lots of cream and a pack of sweetner in it and whip it till it is foamy and then add the coffee. It is kind of like a lautee. So there are a few things in my kitchen that I couldn't live without. My George Foreman grille, my blender, my coffee pot and my grinder.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
18 Jul 08
hi beauty queen it would have to be my new microwave as I can cook veggies, and bake potatoes and do all sorts of neat things with it. I love it as it cuts down on the t ime spent cooking and saves some vitamins in my foods as well. so yes its my microwave for sure.
• United States
18 Jul 08
I'm at a loss without my microwave. I brag about my George machine but it's the microwave that keeps me sane!
@DCMerkle (1281)
• United States
18 Jul 08
I have a Foreman grill also and I use it when ever I can, but the other most used item for me is the blender. I'm trying to eat healthier; more fruits and veggies. I've found that I can make my own fruit juices and smoothies. I also have found that a vegetable smoothie tastes just as good as a V8 if not better and I am getting more of my fruits and veggies that way. Now if I could just figure out if fish could be made into a smoothie......not...just joking. I don't like fish other than tuna or if it's breaded. Not exactly the healthy way to diet...lol DCMerkle
• United States
19 Jul 08
And you can make those in a regular blender? I am wondering cause my daughter does not like eating veggies, so I have been considering veggie/fruit juice. But I don't want to get the kind from the store cause it's loaded with sugar and salt. I might consider buying a blender if I could make it at home!
@DCMerkle (1281)
• United States
19 Jul 08
Hi, When making the veggie smoothies, the more ice you can add, the better. Use any veggies that you daughter would like, with the exception of onions, radishes, scallion, anything that is spicy. Start out with a tomato/celery/shredded carrot combination and if she likes that, experiment. With the fruit smoothies, I use a base of vanilla yogurt and applesauce. Again, a lot of ice. It's an unending combination of fruits that you can use from there. Hope that this helps! DCMerkle
@naseeha (1382)
• India
19 Jul 08
I dont have many modern gadgets in my kitchen. I use the gas stove for cooking . But i think that my knife is the most indispensable thing in the kitchen. Without it i would not be able to do anything...
• United States
19 Jul 08
I had gas stove once and the recipes always came out right!
@mandykaren (2040)
18 Jul 08
i heard good things about those george foreman machines but of yet not bought one.. Think the prize put me off lool but i suppose if it was used often and for more then just grilling meat it wouldnt be waste of money.. well going by what i have in kitchen lool it be the microwave for me.. i can do most things in that, from making drinks to cooking food :)) and love microwave popcorn, only takes 3 minutes hehe
• United States
19 Jul 08
Check your local pawn shop or second hand store. We got two perfectly good George Foreman grills for $15 each at a pawn shop. A real deal!
@kellys3ps (3723)
• United States
21 Jul 08
The most useful tool im my kitchen is my tupperware ice cream scoop. We love it!
• United States
22 Jul 08
crockpot. throw some stuff in it,add some water,walk away for a few hours,have a meal. i
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
23 Jul 08
I would have to say, the chopsticks is an indispensable tool in my kitchen! It is good for frying, stir frying, picking up food, arranging them on the plate, eating with them, beating my mixtures and eggs... the list of things my chopsticks can do is endless! Cannot imagine cooking or moving around my kitchen without them! Two little sticks of miracles that churned out meals after wonderful meals each time I cook! The best invention ever!
@gtdonna (1738)
21 Jul 08
Simple - A Knife. Don't have one or try to do without one for a day and see just how indispensiable it is
@michelyn (717)
• United States
17 Aug 08
Right now, the most useful tool would be my Magic Bullet. My husband and I both love it. It's so useful for so many things. We've made salsa, relish, smoothies, omelets, etc. with it. Of course, when we got ours it was before the Blender add-on that they have now. I've been trying to locate just the Blender portion online, but so far have been unsuccessful. I don't see any reason to purchase the base unit all over again just for the blender cup.
@jdyrj777 (6530)
• United States
21 Jul 08
Ya know at one time in Iowa for some reason just about every garage sale you'd go to there'd be a hamburger cooker. I dont remember what it was called. The juice would all collect in the bottom part. I loved them because of that. I even had one that was a double. I guess you could make grilled cheeses too. Your mentioning the grill reminded me of that item. I dont eat meat anymore so im not saying this item is my one useful tool. My most usefull tool is my blender. I love smoothies. I drink one just about everyday. A huge one. Like 32 oz. So i'd have to say my blender.