What is the kitchen utensil/gadget you can't live without?

[hoffsquared]

My family always likes me to give them a list of ideas for holiday gift giving. I think cooking and upgrading cooking stuff will be my theme this year.

So what is the kitchen utensil/gadget that you can't live without? Looking for brand specifics.

One of my favorite items is my Zyliss garlic crusher. After many broken ones - this one is the best I've found.

Thanks in advance!

[Tuckervill]

I waited 20 years for a Kitchen Aid stand mixer, and now that I have one, I want a bigger one! So that's what I wouldn't do without.

Karen

[GLC1968]

Hmmm, I have a couple of bamboo spatula type things that I bought over 20 years ago that still look brand new even after years of cooking with them...I love them! (No idea on brand anymore...)

I also love my food mill, but most people probably don't have need for one of those. Mine is a hand crank one that really does an amazing job. Cuts canning and making preserves into half the time.

And I love my little mortar and pestle (sp?). It's marble, cleans up with the wipe of a cloth and makes dried spices sing.

Lastly, I have a silly little plastic food chopper thing that works like a charm. I got it from an infomercial because I cannot be within a yard of onions without tearing up, but I find I use it all the time. I'm not going to recommend it though because I think they've changed the manufacturer since I got mine and the new ones are apparently pieces of junk. Mine is still chopping strong after 6+ years of almost daily use though.

It's this thing:
http://www.amazon.com/Genius-USA-ND0.../dp/B000HEBCEM

[ASammy1]

I would die without my crock pot, plain and simple...

[OakLeaf]

One good 6" or 8" chef's knife.

Anything else I could live without if I had to.

Oh, and a cutting board that won't dull the blade.

A honing steel, and a sharpening jig is gravy.

[oxysback]

I love cooking in my cast-iron skillet. Cornbread, desserts, burgers...it's a great all purpose item to have.

[tulip]

this:

[shootingstar]

A high quality:

*peeling knife for veggies (wide blade, not narrow)
*1-2 high grade paring knives.
*sharp medium sized chef grade knife strong enough for slicing meat and veggies, -- haven't bought Japanese sushi knife grade which I understand even better than German Henkel's quality. I have used Henkel for last few decades.
*Collapsible collander for draining pasta, veggies, etc. ...and for easy storage if not used.
*a medium sized saucepan with 3" high sides and lid ..for sauteeing, stir-frying dishes with sauces. Ok, you don't need a wok for stir frying or frying pan for pan frying if one is desperate to do cooking.

Have you ever cooked with long handled plain wood chopsticks? They are incredibly useful for quick whipping of eggs, sauces, stirring, or plucking out veggie/pieces of meat from a pot, etc. I would argue that untreated (unvarnished) wood chopsticks are safer than sticking in plastic utensils in hot liquids/mixtures.

[HoosierGiant]

My Green Apple non-stick glass bakeware -- eliminates the need to grease the pan, and nothing sticks -- not cakes, not cheesy potatoes, not gooey pies. Anything that reduces clean-up time is a plus in my book, but then I still don't own a dish washer...

[7rider]

So what is the kitchen utensil/gadget that you can't live without? Looking for brand specifics.

Oxo salad spinner.

This, and our 3.5 qt. Analon Straining Saucepan, gets used daily.

[Pax]

Sharp knife and a cutting board.

[papaver]

brands in my kitchen:

Le creuset (you guys call it a Dutch oven >>> dunno why )
De Meyere cookware http://www.demeyere.be/default.asp?SLID=1
Peugeot peppermills http://www.psp-peugeot-usa.com/products/mills.htm
Solingen knives: http://www.knives-from-solingen.com/
Laguiole knives: http://www.laguiole-french-knife.com/
Wüsthof chef knives: http://www.wusthof.com/desktopdefault.aspx

[indysteel]

brands in my kitchen:

Le creuset (you guys call it a Dutch oven >>> dunno why )
De Meyere cookware http://www.demeyere.be/default.asp?SLID=1
Peugeot peppermills http://www.psp-peugeot-usa.com/products/mills.htm
Solingen knives: http://www.knives-from-solingen.com/
Laguiole knives: http://www.laguiole-french-knife.com/
Wüsthof chef knives: http://www.wusthof.com/desktopdefault.aspx

I don't have a Le Creuset (too rich for my blood), but I do have a Dutch Oven that I love! It's very versatile.

I only recently started cooking in earnest and had no idea where to start in terms of buying the things I might need in the kitchen. I finallyl subscribed to America's Test Kitchen/Cook's Illustrated online content. Their online equipment reviews have proven very helpful, especially since you can often find recommendations at various price points. I use their ingredient reviews a lot, too. My BF gave me a subscription to Cook's Illustrated magazine for my birthday. I learn a lot about food prep and technique from just reading their recipes, even if I don't ultimately follow them to the letter.

[papaver]

I know that quality kitchen stuff is really expensive... I save money for the stuff I want, sometimes I ask something for my birthday like a Peugeot Peppermill, or I look out for special sales (like stores that have to close down...). And i participate in contests... that's how I won my creuset.

I just take my time.

[indysteel]

I know that quality kitchen stuff is really expensive... I save money for the stuff I want, sometimes I ask something for my birthday like a Peugeot Peppermill, or I look out for special sales (like stores that have to close down...). And i participate in contests... that's how I won my creuset.

I just take my time.

It does pay to be patient. My BF and I recently combined a sale with a rebate to finally get a KitchenAid stand mixer for over $100 less than what it typically sells for. Same with my roasting pan. I've signed up for a couple of sites like Cooking.com that have good sales here and there. I got a good deal there on my stainless 12-inch skillet. I do think quality pays off with certain items.