When I shop at Target or Walmart, I often make unnecessary detours to the kitchen section to check out the latest tools and gadgets. But since I already have limited kitchen storage space, I know that bringing any of those cool gadgets home would only create more clutter!
Instead, I do my best to make do with the kitchen tools I already have, which I’ve found to be mostly a matter of creativity! If you’re willing to think outside the box, you can dream up dozens of ways to use the cooking tools you already have at home.
9 (More) Cheap Alternatives to Kitchen Gadgets
1. Use a Bottle as a Rolling Pin
If you don’t have a rolling pin or yours is out of commission, use a glass bottle instead. They’re both heavy and smooth enough to make short work of any dough.
2. Use a Glass as a Cookie Cutter
Can’t find your cookie cutter? Just use a drinking glass (or mason jar), turn it upside down, dip the rim in a bit of flour, and press. A glass is about the same size as a cookie cutter, and it works well for biscuits too.
3. Use Canned Beans as a Meat Tenderizer
You don’t need a fancy mallet to tenderize meat. You can use a can of beans instead! Wrap some plastic wrap around the bottom of the can first, then pound away. The weight of the beans in the can will help break down the tough muscle fibers in the meat. You’ll have deliciously tender and juicy meat in no time!
4. Use a Funnel as a Cherry Pitter
Even the most avid eaters of cherries don’t need a special cherry pitting tool, because a small funnel does the job just fine! Place the funnel upside-down, put a cherry on the small opening, and push. The pit will stay in place, and you can enjoy your cherries pit-free.
5. Use a Waffle Iron as a Quesadilla Maker
Even though waffle makers seem like a “uni-tasker” kitchen tool, they’re quite versatile! You can use a waffle iron to make delicious quesadillas, paninis, and more. (Check out the post below for even more things you can make in a waffle maker!)
Related: 15 Surprising Foods You Can Make in Your Waffle Maker
6. Use a Slotted Spoon as an Egg Separator
A device that separates egg whites from egg yolks? That’s about as specific as kitchen tools get. But you can do the same thing with a slotted spoon. Place a slotted spoon over a bowl and crack the egg into the spoon. The whites will slide through the slots leaving the yolk behind.
7. Use Tongs as a Citrus Reamer
Use your kitchen tongs to juice lemons and limes! Just cut the fruit in half, clamp it in your tongs, and squeeze over a bowl. The added pressure from the tongs will help get more juice out than squeezing by hand. Just make sure to strain out any pulp or seeds!
8. Use Cookie Cutters as Napkin Rings
Want to impress your dinner guests? Use small cookie cutters as fancy napkin rings! They’ll elevate the look of your table, and they won’t cost you a thing.
9. Use a Pizza Cutter as Herb Shears
I once bought a pair of herb shears that looked like scissors with too many blades, and I don’t think I ever figured out how to use them successfully. (I mainly just gummed up the blades and made a mess of my herbs.) Luckily, a pizza cutter works like a charm here — set your herbs on a cutting board and roll the cutter over them. Simple!
What’s your favorite “alternative” way to use your kitchen tools?
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I also wanted to add that I thought about buying a slotted spoon to drain grease until I realized when I make fries in my large skillet a spatula works just as well for draining the grease, and it lifts out a lot more fries.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use an apple corer to cut up potatoes. I slice the potatoes up first, then use the corer
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use a ziplock baggie for piping cookies & filling deviled eggs vs. buying a tool for that. Just snip a corner of the baggie to whatever size you want to squeeze out.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for sharing this tip! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The cherry pitter works fantastic, and…I had the exact one as in pic!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.To separate eggs just use the shell. Break the shell in two then gently “pour” the egg back and forth between the two pieces over a bowl. The white will drip into the bowl and the yolk stays in the shell piece.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.For a cookie cutter or biscuit cutter cut the other end out of an empty can and use it. Best dipped in a litter flour so dough won’t stick
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You can use a plastic bottle as an egg separater, you just squeeze the bottle, put the open end gently over the yolk and then let the air and the yolk into the bottle…I only found this trick out after I’d bought a gadget that uses the same principle
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi Jillee. I really love your post. I’m a new follower. When I read your article, I want to follow more your others. Regarding to this post, it’s a great ideas for kitchen tools with less money. So, I only buy main kitchen tools, it can make me save a lot of money. Recently, I have just bought some Ceramic Knives as shown here https://www.eathealthyandthrive.com/best-ceramic-knives/. By the way, I’ll follow your post. Thank you for sharing a great idea.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I think ceramic knives are the best!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love all your fabulous tips, and these are noting short of wonderful. Never thought about using a waffle iron to make paninis etc. I will be using most of these tips. Thanks for sharing. The one or two I will not be using, only because I do not have the items in my home
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My 16 yr. old son (he was 14 at the time), found that using the indoor grill makes great grilled cheese and other hot sandwiches. He hates cheese though lol.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve used wooden clothes pins as bag clips for several years. More recently, I’ve been keeping a roll of 3/4” masking tape beside the refrigerator for quick labeling on containers of left overs. The tape works well for resealing bags of chips & crackers, etc. Fold the end of tape roll to make dispensing easy every time.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Me Too!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.When my children were smaller, I used my kitchen shears whenever we had spaghetti to cut it up into tiny bites for them. It was fast and efficient.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great idea Tracey!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Jillee……I just love you!! I am 77 yrs. old.. and I so enjoy all the things you suggest. I have tried several of them and am so happy I have you on my radar. You are the best!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for being you and making life a lot easier for us……keep doing what you do.
Thank you so much for the kind comment, Margo! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Good suggestions, thanks!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use a potato masher with the square holes in the bottom to mash hard boiled eggs for potato salad and tuna salad. I use a egg slicer to slice strawberries, bananas, and mushrooms. A small funnel can also be used as a egg separator.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great ideas!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.what does print friendly involve?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.When you click the “print friendly” button towards the bottom of the post, it will bring up a preview of what you’re going to print. It has already removed all the ads, but you can also change the font size, change the photo size, or remove sections of the post – you can choose exactly what parts you want to print! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I didn’t know that either!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Lots of great ideas, thanks! The only one I totally disagree with is the funnel as cherry pitter. I tried that years ago, and what a mess! My cherry pitter was worth the $7 and little corner of my pantry space!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Definitely love the pizza cutter for cutting herbs idea! I love cilantro but shy away from the fresh kind because I struggle chopping it with a knife. Need to try this!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You can also use a pair of kitchen scissors for fresh cilantro! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I know it’s adding another gadget, but for someone that might benefit with more chopped herbs with less cutting than regular kitchen scissors a pair of herb scissors might be just the thing. https://www.amazon.com/Herb-Scissors-Set-Chefast-Multipurpose/dp/B01BCTDO9G/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1532474266&sr=8-5&keywords=chopping+scissors
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Landon, if I read Jillee correctly, those are the herb cutters that didn’t work for her.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use a pizza cutter to cut chicken nuggets, pancakes, waffles, sandwiches, etc for my grandchildren. No more burnt fingers and its a whiz cutting items for multiple children at the same time.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.A nutcracker is the perfect tool for opening tight lids of mustard, tomato purée in tubes, or any small lids!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.How clever!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love the pizza cutter idea for herbs it’s genius!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks Colene!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.When brewing a pitcher of iced tea for my hubby, I put the tea bags in a lemon juicer and press to get every drop of tea that I can get out of them!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You don’t want to squeeze the tea bags b/c per my Home Ec. Teacher.. it leaches this tannins (bitter) components of Tea and that turns your tea tasting bad! A light wrap of the bag /string is enough!! It will improve the taste of your hot or cold tea!! Also.. if you refrigerate already made tea, as warm/hot water to it snd it will get clear like magic! My Teacher was awesome!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks, Jillee – this is very helpful. Just like your Home Ec teacher, you are Awesome!!
Who says cookies must be round, I just roll back and forth with a pizza cutter and make perfect square or rectangle cookies (or biscuits).
Please log in or create a free account to comment.And no re-rolling the leavings — all done in one step!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Wow! iI can use four of these right away and I never would have thought of them. Thanks!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.These tips are great for a minimalist such as myself (inspiring to be one!). My goal is clutter free clean kitchen drawers. Thank you!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.#6,7, and 9 are great ideas. Thanks.
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