It is a true pleasure to cook a great healthy meal, please your guests and satisfy your family. However, there is a great rush from delivering a tray, a plate or a dish from the kitchen to the table and receiving a host of "ooooohhs" or "wows!". The beauty is that there are a few goto gadgets that make it all so much easier. Now be aware they won't test the salt, they won't know when to flip the fish, and they won't replace your natural cooking ability. They will only accent it! Here are my thoughts on the top 5 gadgets to get a rise from your dinner party guests:
1. The Japanese Mandolin
Perhaps the most underused home tool, and most popular professional kitchen tool. You can shave a potato razor thin for chips, or julienne a carrot in seconds for salad. A true french trained Chef may throw you out of his kitchen for such a tool, but who's going to know?
- Where to get it
Most kitchen stores will have them, or you can order it online from Amazon.com for under $25.00!
2. The iSi Basics Silicone Scraper Spatula
At under $5 this easy no handle spatula will clean any bowl, cup, plate or tray better than that $15 thing from the fancy kitchen stores. The best part is that it will fit in your pocket. Just keep it clean, huh!
- Where to get it
Again a professional kitchen store will carry variations, but its also available from Amazon:
3. The Vegetable Spinner/ Turning Vegetable Slicer
Kin to the Japanese mandolin, is this quirky looking tool. Put a root vegetable on it crank the handle and let the shoestrings spin right out the other side. Great for making garnishes, or using a potato to wrap a fillet of fish. Remove the teeth and you're left with discs. Spin a beet into super thin sheets for a salad.
- Where to get it
There are several types and sometimes hard to find, but this is a sturdy model:
4. The Pepper Mill
Yeah, I know it's not an unheard of gadget. However, it is one of the most unused home tools available. Beyond that, most actually already have the pepper mill, but just don't use it. So do yourself and your guests a favor and pick up some amazing peppercorns from Kalustyan's and remember to use it!
- Where to get it
There are a million variations and any home or kitchen store will have it. Here's a classic one:
5. Rubber Gloves
While technically it may not be a gadget, it will save you loads of time spent washing and drying your hands! That's more time for dressing up your plates. I usually down a box a week. Remember to change them as often as you would wash your hands.
-Where to get it
Most pharmacies carry them. Keep in mind some people have silicone/ latex allergies, so remember to ask your guests!
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