AfterTASTE columnist Cassie Fait informs readers about some basic kitchen gadgets that any cooking enthusiast should possess.
I have come to the realization that I simply cannot live without certain tools in my kitchen. These kitchen gadgets make my cooking process so much smoother. Life becomes a little easier with these nifty inventions. With my garlic press, my preparation time has been conveniently cut in half with less fuss involved.
However, some gadgets just end up taking up more space than necessary. My nearly brand new ice cream machine has sadly been used only a handful of times, and I can recall only one instance in the past year that I have made a cocktail with my steeply-priced Martha Stewart cocktail shaker.
Whether the gadgets are time-savers or space-wasters, kitchen devices allow cooks and chefs alike to experiment. Famous chef Wylie Dufresne delighted many in the culinary scene with his gadgetry to produce molecular gastronomy. Experimentation leads to remarkable discoveries in the culinary sphere. Below are some basic kitchen gadgets that any cooking enthusiast should possess.
- Garlic Press: This tool will forever be my favorite kitchen gadget. After a family friend gave me this marvelous device, I have explored other kitchen gadgets. This was my kitchen gadget gateway drug, so to speak. This easy tool keeps my hands from smelling like garlic and minces like a pro.
- Immersion Blender: My creamy soup-making days were suddenly made much easier with the immersion blender. I no longer have to be scalded as I transfer piping hot soup to a traditional blender. The handheld immersion blender creates a better soup consistency than a blender ever has for me.
- Wine stoppers: Unless I am sharing a bottle of wine, I simply can’t drink an entire bottle of wine in one sitting. Owning reusable wine stoppers may seem like a rather obvious idea for any wine drinker, but this small contraption prevents the waste of wine, saving it for another time. This is a must-have for any folks who drink wine on a regular basis.
- Double-Sided Griddle: The flat top exists on one side; flip it over and there’s a ridged grill on the other. The snazzy device allows for an array of cooking opportunities — pancakes and kabobs among them— and takes up minimal counter space.
Cassie Fait is a senior studying journalism and women’s, gender and sexuality studies. Email her at cf301411@ohio.edu.
