Before moving to my forever home about a year ago, I was faced with deciding what I *really* needed to bring to my much smaller space (with a much smaller kitchen). To say I was deliberate in my decisions is an understatement; only items I thought I would need to replace if I didn't have them made the cut. What follows is a list of some of my favorite (somewhat unusual) items that made the cut and which I use regularly. If you or a loved one likes to cook, I promise that these will make life in the kitchen a little (or a lot) better.
(While I, personally, prefer to buy from independent stores, I realize the convenience and accessibility of Amazon, which are where the products below can be purchased by clicking on the images. Feel free to check your favorite kitchen store if you prefer to shop local, or check out mine in Manchester, VT (Vermont Kitchen Supply) -- they have online shopping but do not keep the inventory super-up-to-date so call if it looks like you don't see what you want.
OK, I know dredging pans aren't super-exciting or at the top of anyone's kitchen wish list, but hear me out. Dredging pans take up little space and make the life of anyone who ever dredges or breads anything so much easier (hello, french toast and battered everything). Yes, of course you can use a plate or bowl for these purposes, but these interlock (meaning you don't drip egg, flour, breading, etc. on your counter as you go from one pan to the next) and are super easy to clean. I don't bread all that many things, but when I do, these come out. I've had them for probably 20 years and I love them as much today as the day I got them. Click the picture above or here for the link to the product.
Danish dough whisks
Danish dough whisks are my favorite new(ish) kitchen tools! They are amazingly easy to clean, do an incredible job incorporating ingredients (wet/ dry/ wet & dry) along the sides and at the bottoms of mixing bowls, and dough usually doesn't get stuck in the loops (and when it does, it's easy-peasy to get off). I use mine weekly when making my sourdough crackers (https://www.donnaramadishes.com/post/sourdough-crackers-every-week) and whenever any recipe indicates that baking ingredients be mixed, including scone dough which can be a bear to work with as you don't want to use your hands very much (they warm up the dough). I have owned two wooden ones so far -- but after much use (abuse?), the metal heads separated from the shaft both times. I have therefore recently purchased a stainless steel one and we'll see how long that lasts/ how it works, but the wooden ones are traditional. Click above for links to purchase.
Who knew that the utensil above is called a meat masher?!. Well, it is, and it breaks up clumps of raw food as they cook, is super easy to clean (are you sensing a theme??), and has earned a coveted place in the utensil crock near my stove. Now, we all know that it can be a real pain in the butt to break up that mass of chopped meat or sausage as they cook, but this tool makes quick work of it; AND it happens to be extremely useful when making anything which requires the breaking down of tomatoes as they cook, too. If you don't already have one, I highly recommend you get yourself one. Click on the image above if you want this one.
While I am a huge fan of all things silicone in the kitchen, its use as a rolling pin is the one I appreciate the most. As you all know, silicone is inherently nonstick, which means rolling out dough (especially STICKY dough -- like anything with sourdough) is so much easier when using a rolling pin made of it! Plus, it also means you don't need to add extra flour to the dough or rolling pin to keep the dough from sticking, which can help with the texture of your baked goods. And, you guessed it, it's super easy to clean. The one above is pretty wide, which if you have the space for it, is recommended as you can roll things out with no seams. Click the image above for the link to purchase.
What are my other favorite uses for silicone, you ask? Well, I live by baking sheet/ pan liners (silpat was the original but there are lots of options these days -- here's a link for examples), work mats which are big enough to cover a large chunk of my counter and have measurements on them (inches, centimeters, and diameters), pastry brushes, cake and cupcake forms, and storage bags.
So, there you have some of my favorite things for the kitchen. I'd love to learn what some of your favorite unusual kitchen items are, so please leave them in the comments below! And, if you have an olive oil or vinegar cruet you love to keep near the stove, please share that as well.
(Please note that if you do end up buying anything from the links above, I will get a very small commission.)
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