Tell me the kitchen gadget you can't live without

Swing A Way was purchased by some junk manufacturer and despite an explosion of new models, none of them work right. Cheap, but junk. The patent has apparently run out and a US company is making them as the original can opener was made. Twice as expensive, but it actually works.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075X45LCC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Instant pot definitely, I have 2!

Ninja Foodi... an electric pressure cooker and air fryer in one. Plus other functions. I use it almost every day.

Mine was a rice cooker, but we recently got an Instant Pot. The Instant Pot can do dual duty but I keep the rice cooker because I literally use it 2-3x week and what am I supposed to do when I want rice WITH an Instant Pot meal? I eat 6 small meals a day so I meal prep 10 servings of brown rice and grilled chicken breast on Sunday. I can't cook rice on the stove to save my life.

Mini waffle (for Chaffles) maker for me

Items used the most besides stove-
Vitamix
Pizza stone - used for baking everything!

FAVORITE: my stand mixer; i use it many times a week (and i am not a baker of breads or cakes, etc); i use it for prepping all kinds of foods and recipes (shredding meat, putting together tuna/chicken/egg salads, mixing spices into ground meat, whisking eggs, etc.).
Next favorites: my handheld blender and air fryer, although i don't use these nearly as much as the stand mixer.

i don't have an instant pot- my favorite is my air fryer- just love it

1. Food Scale
2. Air Fryer
3. Meat Thermometer

Toaster oven with bake/broil/airfry/toast function. Haven't used my oven and hardly my stove in over a year and a half.

Blender/chopper for me. I have a VitaMix and use it every day. My daughter has a 1000 watt Ninja blender/chopper that she also uses every day. Chops up vegs for any use, makes hot blended soups, makes perfectly blended smoothies. If you plan on eating a lot of vegs in salads, soups, or smoothies, this is invaluable.

Mine would be my Crockpot. I have had it since my parents gave it to me when I moved into my first apartment in 1981 and I still use it almost weekly (yes, same pot, just had to buy a new lid about 5 years ago).

I live alone and eat better when I have something already prepared so I make a lot of stews with 4-6 servings. I eat it a few days in a row, then freeze several portions for weeks when I am too busy to cook. I love being able to dump stuff in it when I get up and have dinner ready when I want it. It was great when I worked and it is still great now that I am retired. I also have excellent recipes for things like meatloaf and lasagna and use it as a rice cooker, it isn't just for soups and stews.

Before you decide, look at what you like to eat and how you like it fixed. I can see an air fryer becoming a staple in someone's kitchen (just not mine). The blender/chopper is utilitarian and can be very handy although I am happy using my immersion blender and a decent selection of knives. My Ulu knife is probably one of the more indispensable of those, as is the cook's utility (kind of looks like a mini meat cleaver).

My appliances/gadgets in order of usefulness (I don't see a food scale as an appliance but I do use mine daily):

1. Crock Pot
2. Decent knives
3. Immersion Blender
4. Hot Air popcorn popper
5. KitchenAid mixer
6. Toaster

Things that stay in the cupboard or garage and get used a couple of times a year:

• Regular blender
• Pasta machine
• Food mill
• Mini food processor

Things I got rid of:

• Bread machine
• Deep dish pizza maker
• Apple peeler/corer

This pull-string food chopper. It chops things to various sizes, depending on how many pulls you give it. Six or seven pulls and radishes, carrots, tomatoes or onions are very finely diced. It washes up easily, and stores small.

I am much more likely to eat vegetables if I don’t have to pull out the knife and cutting board, or a big electric device,

try2again wrote: »

nighthawk584 wrote: »

1. Food Scale
2. Air Fryer
3. Meat Thermometer

I know the OP had in mind more small appliances, but the meat thermometer was my first thought. My cooking became a zillion times better once I was able to start cooking meat to the point of actual doneness and wasn't letting things go a little longer just to be safe.

Same here re meat thermometer. I have a CDN, which was recommended by ATK five or so years back when I bought it.

I use my food scale all day long.

I use my food processor about every day late spring - early fall, and less regularly when veggie smoothie season is over. Will be using it tonight to make Cod Cakes.

Normally this time of year I use my slow cooker a lot. I work from home and prep at lunch for dinner ready the instant I get off work, but I got a nice Dutch oven for my birthday so have been experimenting with recipes for that. I've been enjoying them, but they don't lend themselves as well to week nights so moved the recipe testing to Saturdays.