Kitchen Gadgets, Aides, & Tools

[Max]

What slicers, dicers, cutters, and other kitchen aides make meal time or prep much easier?

I would normally hate acquiring a bunch of gadgets but I want to do a lot of fresh fruits and veggies, so I'm open to the idea of anything that can save time!

[jenboo]

What slicers, dicers, cutters, and other kitchen aides make meal time or prep much easier?

I would normally hate acquiring a bunch of gadgets but I want to do a lot of fresh fruits and veggies, so I'm open to the idea of anything that can save time!

My husband ::
He is a chef and now works with me. He can chop, dice and slice so quickly!

[Baby Beluga]

What slicers, dicers, cutters, and other kitchen aides make meal time or prep much easier?

I would normally hate acquiring a bunch of gadgets but I want to do a lot of fresh fruits and veggies, so I'm open to the idea of anything that can save time!

I buy fresh fruits and veggies on the weekend and will wash, peel, cut, dice, etc on the weekend so it is ready for the week. For example each week in my fridge I have:

washed and thinly sliced celery, carrots, bell peppers, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes.

Washed and cut grapes, pineapple, melon, etc

And I wash and prep salad that I keep in the fridge.

Everything else is kept whole and I wash and prep on an as needed basis. Apples, pears, peaches, berries, etc don't take long to wash and slice.

As far as gadgets go - I have a set of ceramic knives I love. They cut well - almost too well! I've cut myself quite a few times using them

ETA: I also keep cooked shredded or diced chicken in the fridge, hard boiled eggs and I cube and shred cheese to keep in the fridge (I don't like the pre shredded stuff). It makes pulling together a last minute lunch or snack easy.

[Leigh]

A good, big pizza cutter and kitchen scissors are necessities! I can cut so much with those two things! I do find that I use my potato masher a lot, too, but mostly for meat. I'll cook 6 or 7 roasts at a time, then put them in a bowl while hot and mash them instead of picking them apart after cooling-so much faster, and it separates the chunks of fat better, too. Other than that, a good chef's knife.

[Unregistered]

I think you just have to get used to the best ways to cut everything. For example pineapple: i cut off the top and the bottom, then cut the peel off in strips going downward, then lay it on its side and slice, then cut pieces off around each ring away from the core... I didnt know an efficient way to do this at all my first year teaching. Now, I just bang them out. Same with a lot of recipies. I don't really use gadgets, just using efficient methods and having some practice at those makes it go faster. I like having a few trays for cutting and gathering supplies and serving. That really is the one thing: good plastic trays. I got mine at smart and final and i use them constantly. I have "Art" trays others for food projects (mine and the kids'). I don't allow painting or playdoh or anything like that on my food trays. We will make guacamole or the kids cut fruit or whatever on the food trays.

[Blackcat31]

I gotta go with husband too. Mine is a woodworker and not a chef but still....

He cuts, dices, chops and julienne's like no one's business.

[mommyneedsadayoff]

Besides my old school grayer, i just use a great chef's knife. I love chopping food...it's so therapeutic, imo. I have a food processor too, but only use it for grating large amounts of cheese and cauliflower (for cauli rice).

[DaveA]

Good variety (not a set- but what you like/ need) of kitchen knives, pizza cutter, box grater, microplane, and a good solid peeler. If you're doing a lot of veggies a rice cooker with a steamer basket is handy.

[DaveA]

I gotta go with husband too. Mine is a woodworker and not a chef but still....

He cuts, dices, chops and julienne's like no one's business.

So THAT'S why DW keeps me around!!!!::

[Blackcat31]

So THAT'S why DW keeps me around!!!!::

See? Hang around here (predominantly women) long enough and you start to get it!

[DaveA]

See? Hang around here (predominantly women) long enough and you start to get it!

Yep- another 500 years or so and I'll understand how y'all think.

[midaycare]

Mandolin slicer. I have some joint pain now and again, and this thing slices and dices as thick or thin as I want.

[ColorfulSunburst]

What slicers, dicers, cutters, and other kitchen aides make meal time or prep much easier?

I would normally hate acquiring a bunch of gadgets but I want to do a lot of fresh fruits and veggies, so I'm open to the idea of anything that can save time!

an assistant whose main job is cooking lunch from scratch, and washing everything (kitchen, dishes, dining room) after breakfast and lunch. Her work hours are 10am-3pm.

[TheMisplacedMidwestMom]

An ulu knife. I have two and use them daily. I also use the bowled cutting board you can get with them on the regular.

http://www.theulufactory.com/

-I have the Inupiat Style

[laundrymom]

Knives. Nice big sharp ones. A hefty knife will make chopping so much easier. A good vegetable peeler, kitchen scissors. A big pizza cutter and quality cutting boards. I also love a pizza stone and silpat for baking sheets.
Pyrex dishes w lids, good silicon spatulas and spoonula's, and a nice coffee pot for when the day seems so so long. Lol.