Very small kitchen gadgets

[Daisy]

Have you got a drawful of little gadgets, things that probably didn't cost much but have very specific uses? If so, whichg ones are the most useful - and which ones sit at the back of the draw unloved and unused?

I've got two absolute runaway favourites. One is a little spoon-like thing that scoops the green tops off strawberries neatly and easily. It only gets used in the strawberry season (obviously!) but it's worth a lot more than its weight in gold.

The other is a little plastic measuring thing, like a tiny jug but with no handle. It measures up to 60 ml in millilitres, fluid ounces, teaspoons and table spoons. It's unbelievably useful and I don't know how I managed most of my life without it!

[Oma]

Oh yes we have a small gadget drawer , lots of stuff only gets used occasionally like a Jam thermometer, Butter curler and Melon baller , and Honey twirler spoon.

Bottle and jar openers I use a lot not being able to grip jars with force , a small measuring jug sort of thing that only measures up to a quarter pint so useful don't need to get big jug out ,must be like yours Daisy but mine has a little handle .

We collect some crap I can tell you but they all come in handy at some point in time

[Lizzie48]

I worked in a charity shop a few years ago, we used to get so many of those small gadgets brought in! I do have a "puller" for strawberries from Tupperware, when DS2 saw it, he said "how on earth can you buy something like this mother" !!!!! I told him it was from the shop. I haven't many really, I have got rid of what I never used.

[Grauntie Mag]

I have a drawer full too. A strawberry huller, an onion spiker, it holds the onion while you slice it, egg slicer, tomato slicer, various bean slicers, 2 different kinds of zester, a pineapple corer to name a few. I did inherit some from my Ma and Ma-in-law. Believe it or not, I actually use most of them!

[Gemini]

is that a strawberry huller Daisy? It sounds very useful.

We use a little potato peeler, for potatoes which need peeling, for mash. It saves time and money as if I use knife I'm careless and peel thickly!
A little skewer for cake testing. I have used ordinary skewers for years, the ones we do baked potatoes on, but the one I bought is thinner (and had a little red heart on the top)
We have one of those bottle and jar openers too, Oma. It was OH's Mum's.
We use the potato masher a lot too, we both love mash!

[Glammanana]

I've had a "Jamie Oliver" stainless steel veg peeler for quite a few years and would be lost without it,no more thick skin on the veg I remember buying it from TJ Hughes for £2.50 and John said who on earth would pay that much for a peeler ?? I also bought an ice cream baller for mash x carrots and turnips the always look nice on the plate x

[Nanto2girls]

We have an ice cream scoop which never gets used, we usually use a spoon.
Also got a scraper thingy for getting sauce from the bottom of jars,that never gets used either.
The jar opener has never been used,as far as i know.

[Plantaholic]

I also have the ice cream scoop, can't remember using it. I have a plastic gadget for removing the core from a pineapple, I don't even like pineapple very much. Collection of measuring spoons, I do use those. I have something in the cupboard which is for slicing and spiraling but not sure now how to use it, lost the instructions. My most favourite item in the drawer is a very small knife in a badly stained cardboard sleeve which I think I was given for attending a Pampered Chef party years ago. I must have had it almost 20 years and use it for slicing the lemon for my G&T, it is very very sharp. I must buy that little gadget for taking the hull out of strawberries. Oh and of course I have a cherry pip remover.

[Gemini]

We do use the ice cream scoop for ice cream. I should get posh like Glamma and try it on the mash

[Daisy]

Gem, yes it is a strawberry huller - very sharp and does a great job!

I only use the ice cream scoop for ice cream. But there are other things you could use it for - my latest, overcooked rice pudding could be one of them! I forgot it was in the oven.

I haven't got a very good grip, so I use the jar opener a lot. I use metal skewers for all sorts of things. The last one was a couple of days ago. When we go out we always take the keys out of the back and utility room doors. I put the utility one on the work surface, beside the tumble drier, and forgot it. So when I came to use the tumble drier I managed to knock the key off and down the side of the washing machine! I could just reach it with a long skewer!

Grauntie - I'm impressed with all your slicers. I often look at things like egg slicers, then remind myself that I don't often slice eggs, but still think it would be a nice thing to have.

Plant - I've got one of those old peelers where you pull the metal part off and turn it round to the other end to core apples with, and a garlic press (which I never use for garlic) but has a cherry stoner in the handle.

[Gemini]

I now want a strawberry huller 😊

[Oma]

Me too Gem

I remember school dinners when they used a ice-cream scoop for potatoes , it always seemed to taste better that little ball of potato hahaha

[Daisy]

This is my strawberry huller. One of my SIL's gave it to me - she had one the same. Then she lost hers and she's never been able to find one as sharp as this, so I guard this one like the crown jewels!

[Gemini]

Oma, now she's just showing off!

[Oma]

Agree Gem , posh bird she is