#1 Toast Tongs
Whenever I'm visiting someone's house and making toast there (which, you know, I do a LOT), I wonder how they can stand NOT having some Toasty Toast Tongs at the ready!
Bread comes in oh so many different sizes, so no toaster can pop every piece of bread far enough out of the toaster for you to grab with your bare hands without getting burned. Enter the tongs, which are guaranteed not to cause electrocution if you stick them into your toaster. They slide right in and out with ease, grabbing bread, bagels, crumbly English muffins, and even Pop Tarts (which can somehow reach flesh-melting temperatures in mere minutes!). And there's a magnet on the back. Since my toaster is right next to my fridge, I have a safe and handy toast-removal tool within reach at all times. I'll toast to that!
#2 Gryptonite All-Purpose Wonder Blob
Believe it or not, I discovered this little gem at a crafting tradeshow. This little guy does EVERYTHING, and it's kind of a cute blobby shape too. Mine clings to the tile behind my stove, so it's handy if I need to peel garlic or an onion, use it as hotpad or trivet, or use it to open a jar! Apparently it also transforms into a funnel and can be used as a mat for a glue gun or soldering iron. I'm sure it does other things, too, like clean my kitchen while I'm asleep—I haven't quite tapped into its full potential yet.
#3 Magical Mitt
My mother-in-law, who is also responsible for the Toasty Toast Tongs, gave me some Dexas oven mitts (mine are red) and I'll never use another pot holder again. I have a 1958 kitchen with some of the original appliances, and my stove top is frustrating, to say the least. I can actually reposition a red-hot burner (which, yes, I have to do on occasion) with one of these things on my hand, and the heat doesn't reach my fingers! (Caution: do not then wipe your brow with the oven mitt, as I did once, because you know the outside DOES get hot. It just takes a while for the heat to tranfer through to the inside, if it ever does.) I'm half convinced I could pick up molten lava with one of these things. Do you dare me?
With all these tips to avoid getting burned, one might wonder if I'm catching myself on fire left and right. Really, I'm not. Because I have all this great gear!
#4 Mini Colander
I picked up a little 6-inch colander like this one at Target (mine's light green), and I'm shocked how often I use it! It's perfect for holding one can of something, like black beans that you need to rinse, or corn or hominy that you need to drain. And it's great for rinsing tiny things, like lentils, since the holes are so small. I bet it would also make a great hat.
#5 Salad Spinner
Boy oh boy is this thing handy! It helps me thoroughly wash my lettuce (even my garden lettuce, which is often full of dirt and bugs) and spin all the dingy water right out. And salad stays fresher much longer when I store it in the basket within the bowl. (There's an interchangeable lid.) I also recommend an accompanying Lettuce Knife
What about you? What are your inexpensive kitchen essentials? Tell me, because I'm in the mood for some new gadgets. :)
