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?
NEW! Can you guess the 5-letter word related to today’s post?
More Ideas You'll Love
I just separate an egg in the palm of my hand, holding the yolk over my fingers and letting the whites slip through. Sometimes our hands are the most efficient tools!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Naomi, My Aunt worked in a bakery between 1930 to 1950 (approximately – until she married) she was taught to make cake batter with her clean hands; it softens the butter, incorporates all the ingredients very fast, going through the fingers, it aerates similsr to whisking and you can ‘feel’ when the batter was perfect; her cakes were as light as a feather and delicious. She taught me this method when I was still at school, I became a chef, manager then lecturer and explained/demonstrated this to many students. The only thing not advised to mix by hand this way is cream, body temperature raises temperature of the cream, bad on so many levels.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.To some of these I say, give me my kitchen gadgets! The funnel for cherry pitter? Look how messy that is! Mine pits 4 cherries at a time very neatly.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Easiest and quickest way to remove cherry pits.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.on a cutting board place 2 sheets paper towel.
place cherries as a single layer leaving approx an inch of paper around the edges.
place 2 more sheets of paper towel over cherries.
with medium force hit cherries with a tenderizer or rolling pin. just hard enough to break cherries but not to crush them.
peel back top papers! wow!
I am not a tea drinker although for the past year I’ve been brewing my own kombucha. I would love to know a shortcut to squeezing out the tea bags. I currently just used to Wooden Spoons. Any suggestions out there,???
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Not a tea drinker, but my father was. He simply scooped the tea bag with his spoon that he used to add his honey and looped the tea bag string around the spoon and tea bag then pulled the string tight. For added measure he would use the paper tag and press down with his thumb. He was a man of simple means.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It’s actually recommended that you do not squeeze your tea bags, as it releases bitter tannins into your tea. However, I still tend to at least lightly press mine. When I used to give it a good squeeze everytime, I found that those little silicone fingertip oven mitts work great to protect your fingers from the hot tea bag! I wish it would let me post a pic, but here’s a link to similar ones…
Please log in or create a free account to comment.https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/-/32397896657.html
Why don’t the tannins come out when you brew the tea? I don’t see how squeezing them can affect your tea.
I’m not sure, but I think the idea is that the tannins cling to the tea leaves unless forced apart by squeezing. I’m a tea drinker, and I always squeeze my tea bags, almost burning my fingers in the process! Occasionally I use 2 spoons nested with the tea bag between them, but that uses an extra spoon.
First, I’d like to clarify that I was not rude, nor did I make a big deal about proper tea etiquette. I simply stated what’s considered “best practice” and why. Then proceeded to offer a solution to her question based on my experience and included a link to be clear.
Since you could have easily found the answer to your question by typing “should I squeeze my tea bag” into any search engine, I’m assuming your question is not sincere but intended to be as snarky as it sounded. However, I believe in education and recognize I may be mistaken on your intent, so here is the answer with two quotes you will find if you do the above search. Yes. Some tannins are released during brewing. But “The liquid that remains trapped inside the tea bag has even higher instances of tannic acid than what is able to steep out of the bag on it’s own. By squeezing the tea bag, you inadvertently release these tannic acids into your tea and in turn create a far more bitter, sour and acidic cup of tea.”
“Squeezing the bag extracts more concentrated tannins which are bitter. When you squeeze out your bag, you’re releasing the dregs where the tannins are most concentrated straight into your tea, making for a bitter drink.”
Have a good day and enjoy your tea, however you choose to prepare it.
I thought it was just an honest question. Thank you for the explanation.
A GARLIC PRESS WORKS GOOD TO SQUEEZE THE TEA BAGS ALSO, I MADE GALLONS OF SUN TEA AS I AM NOT A COLD TEA DRINKER BUT WILL USE HOT TEA OCCASIONALLY,MY HUSBAND DRANK TEA AND COFFEE ALOT BUT ALAS HE IS GONE SO I DON’T USE IT MUCH ANYMORE.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great ideas. We’ve actually done the waffle iron quesadilla recipe from your blog. It was good. We like it.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m glad you liked it!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.thank you for sharing, almost every day (don’t do instant pot) there is a little nugget of cleverness to make life that little bit better
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks Jane!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.