IonAddis

Are there any household gadgets you found unexpectedly useful after you'd gotten them?

https://lemmy.world/post/15382214

Are there any household gadgets you found unexpectedly useful after you'd gotten them? - Lemmy.World

I was thinking about how I missed having an indoor thermometer that measures humidity. It’s such a small specific thing, one I’d never think of getting unless pushed to it (which I was by one particularly dry winter). But I like having one now. What are your small, “random” or “junk drawer” type of gadgets that you actually use or like having around?

May 14, 2024 at 4:14amWeb
Show threadCall me Lenny/LeniMay 14, 2024
Air fryers!
Unconventional kitchen utensil you can't live without? - lemm.ee

What are your unconventional kitchen tools/utensils you were skeptical of at first but feel you can’t live without?

Show threadfievelMay 14, 2024
Indeed, being Belgian and an adept of the real French fries (double cooked) I was not convinced at all. In the end, I still prefer real fries but I find the air fryer very practical to cook (or warm up quickly - unlike microwave oven it does not make stuff soft) all sort of food.
Show threadNateNate60May 14, 2024
I’m an American, so I can’t say how they’re cooked in Belgium, but I can say that boiling them in water for ten minutes before frying reduces the workload significantly and produces similar results.
Show threadevasive_chimpanzeeMay 14, 2024
Belgian fries (and any good fries in America) are fried once in low heat for a little while to cook the potato through. Then they are allowed to cool, and they can be frozen to use later, or you can fry them again at higher temp to crisp them up.
Show threadNateNate60May 14, 2024
I’m aware of the double-fry technique, I’m just saying that similar results can be obtained by boiling in lieu of the first frying step
Show threadlivusMay 14, 2024
Yes! I did not want an air fryer. I now really like the air fryer.
Show threadPotatos_are_not_friendsMay 14, 2024

Came here to share air fryers.

I hate kitchen gadgets. Even toasters.

But I like this!

Show threadpHr34kYMay 14, 2024

My kitchen has a solid ban on any product with the word “maker” in the name. They’re all junk that take up space and do a worse job than conventional methods.

An air fryer though. That was money well spent.

Show threaddingusMay 14, 2024

I was gifted an air fryer a while back. While it’s generally useful, cleaning if after each use is really obnoxious imo and so I hardly ever use it.

It’s a lot easier to clean a pan I used in the oven because I can just pop it in the dishwasher. I can’t pop the air fryer in the dishwasher. It would destroy it.

Show threadedricMay 14, 2024
You can buy air fryer liners to minimize cleanup.
Show threaddingusMay 14, 2024
I recently found out about these and they have been a huge help, but I found that food still manages to make it’s way into the rest of the basket, even if it’s not as much.
Show threadUllallullooMay 14, 2024
Thank you for this knowledge. This will honestly help me eat more chicken instead of less-messy frozen meals.
Show threadMinnesotaGoddamMay 15, 2024
Mine came with a little pan or tray that we can line with foil easy peasy. Much less to clean.
Show threadNoel_SkumMay 14, 2024
Small electric fan oven doesn’t sound as magical as air fryer. Good product, great marketing.
Show threadmikyopiiMay 14, 2024
I got a carbonization machine. I’ve been drinking way more water these days. I always thought I liked soda because of the sugar. Actually I liked the fizziness. It gets fizzier than anything else I’ve ever drank.
Show threadCatoblepasMay 14, 2024
Cold, fresh seltzer water is the nectar of the gods. If you get unflavored seltzer in a can it has a noticeable unpleasant aftertaste, which I guess is why almost all of them are flavored. But plain filtered tap water in a seltzer maker? Glorious.
Show threadAsclepiazMay 14, 2024
I can’t agree more! I have tried both soda stream and drinkmate and would recommend the drinkmate. It’s just better, you can fizz juice and non-water drinks. Soda stream is also a consumer boycott target if you don’t want to support the genocide in Palestine. 😬
Show threadDharma Curious (he/him)May 14, 2024
I’ve been wanting to get one for forever, but was told you couldn’t carbonate non water drinks, and to mix flavor into the carbonated water (which, to my thinking, would make it go flat…). In the drink mate, could I make Kool aid (with Splenda) and carbonate that? Cause if I can have fizzy cherry drink, I’ll be a happy boy.
Show threadKnoLordMay 14, 2024

You can carbonate non-water drinks with anyone of those, regardless of brand - heck, Sodastream even sells you flavoured syrup to mix with your water.

Just, be careful to clean those nozzles more, as sugary drinks are sticky by nature.

Show threadlemmyngMay 14, 2024
You can carbonate and then add Kool aid liquid drink mix. That will keep the carbonating nozzle clean while still giving you your choice of flavor.
Show threadAsclepiazMay 14, 2024
I’m lazy AF, so I just give it a gooood rinse in hot water after every use. I will say it is one more step than the soda stream but there is the added benefit that you never will need to play against the clock when dumping syrups it after you’ve carbonated. I always ended up with a sticky mess after failing to seal in time with the soda stream.
Show threadValmondMay 14, 2024

If you corbonise rose wine in the soda stream, put less than you would have put water. Like 80%. Or the bottle might like get a bit stuck. Or so I have heard.

Also guess don’t put sugary wine in it, never knew why you shouldn’t though, CO2 doesn’t react with sugar, right? Please do tell if you know!

Show threadTodayMay 14, 2024
It dislodges and shoots red wine all over your kitchen.
Show threadwhynotzoidbergMay 14, 2024

I have a Soda Stream and use powders. The trick is to turn your powder into a “syrup” first.

Mix your powder with 1-2 oz of water, stir it well (I use a hand held milk frother), and then put that into your bubbly water.

Show threadDieinaholeMay 14, 2024

You can totally carbonate non-water. But be careful.

Wine is pretty nice, rum and whiskey will take ten times the amount of gas and then explode all over, 'fallen soldiers' will still taste stale...

Fruit juices are good too, but also will take more gas than they can hold

Show threadinterrobangMay 14, 2024
Thank you for already trying the things i was curious about
Show threadmarx2kMay 15, 2024
I’ve had a hacked up sodastream for over a decade. I get a 20lb co2 tank connected to it. Seltzer all day for months for like $30/refill
Show threadrenrenPDXMay 15, 2024
Ide recommend an in line filter for that co2 tank. Had a 20# set up for my kegerator (had a tank just for carb water) The gas should be clean but there was definitely an odd taste to it until I installed a filter. A bit expensive at <200USD but highly recommend.
Show threadmarx2kMay 16, 2024
Interesting. I haven’t noticed any weirdness and the place refilling it advertises it as ‘food grade co2’. I also use it for my beer kegs. No issue. I used to get refills from a wedding shop. That was a bit sketchy but also no issues with taste.
Show threadrenrenPDXMay 17, 2024
I was under the impression that my source was food grade as well, but I noticed it when coming from soda stream to kegged carb water having a slight bitter taste. Disappeared with the filter and subsequent refills for both soda and beer. It could very well be how strong I made the carb water too.
Show threadmarx2kMay 18, 2024
That’s really odd. I’m glad I never did deal with that.
Show threadAwkwardLookMonkeyPuppetMay 15, 2024
We used a soda stream for a little while until we realized how stupid expensive they are. Then we donated it and went to the local beer brewing shop and asked how we can make our own carbonated water. He hooked us up with a 5 lb canister of Co2, a valve, a hose, and a connector that goes on 2 liter bottles. Now we can make carbonated water in larger quantities for pennies on the dollar compared to soda stream. It costs about $35 to refill the Co2 canister and it lasts 6-8 months worth of constant use.
Show threadgregorumMay 14, 2024

The idea of getting something before I know its usefulness confuses me. Do you mean finding that something is more useful than you expected?

If that’s the case, I once had an alarm clock which curiously had a thermometer in it to measure the temperature in the room. I was able to use it - for years - to hold my landlord to account for being shitty on the heat during the winter.

Show threadPotatos_are_not_friendsMay 14, 2024

Sometimes its a gift. My bread maker was a gift, and it brings me a lot of value, but I prob won’t pay for it.

Other times it’s something pushed on you for fun. My wife made me buy a thermostat gun and now I love it. I test it on the kids too for fun.

Show threadDicskaMay 14, 2024
I have a digital clock with thermometer feature and a dedicated thermometer. I’ve been logging the measurements every half an hour for months. The clock is ~1.5-3 degrees off (or the other way around, who knows). Just be aware they are not always super accurate.
Show threadGrayBackgroundMusicMay 15, 2024

The idea of getting something before I know its usefulness confuses me.

My spouse buys things because they seem neat. Uses them once or twice, then not again.

Show threadButWhatDoesItAllMeanMay 14, 2024
Bamboo tongs for taking hot things out of the toaster. They even have magnet built into the handle so I just stick it on the side of my fridge when not in use.
Show threadathos77May 14, 2024
I just use chopsticks ...
Show threadWorxMay 14, 2024
I just get in there with a metal fork. Hasn’t killed me yet, sadly
Show threadBoris NotTooBadinovMay 14, 2024
That’s a great idea! I haven’t burned myself lately reaching into my toaster oven, but it’s only a matter of time
Show threadShadowMay 14, 2024

One of the breville milk frothers: www.seriouseats.com/best-milk-frothers-5189329

It’s paid for itself since I make my own chai latte’s at home every morning.

We Tested 23 Milk Frothers and Landed on Five Favorites for Lattes, Hot Chocolate, and More

We tested 23 milk frothers—including manual, handheld, and countertop models—to find five that frothed the best and were the easiest to use.

Serious Eats
Show threadSerinusMay 14, 2024
How do you do that? Every chai recipe I’ve looked up has been overly complicated.
Show threadShadowMay 14, 2024

I use tea bags, these ones which I find in the international / indian food section of a larger store: www.realcanadiansuperstore.ca/…/21050375_EA

I use a big travel mug so I toss 2 tea bags in and fill it about 1/2 way with water. While it steeps I put the milk in the frother and when it’s done, squeeze out the bags + pour the milk in. Add sugar as desired.

I’ve tried various loose leaf chai’s but I personally don’t find the difference in flavor worth the effort / price compared to these bags.

Show threadSerinusMay 15, 2024
Me, this morning, making plain old coffee, “Man, my milk could be frothed right now.”
Show threadfelixwhynotMay 14, 2024
Kitchen torch is pretty fun and satisfying for roasting veggies and such
Show threadgrueMay 14, 2024
A plumbing torch is even more fun.
Show threadmarreniakazaMay 14, 2024
why not go one step further and use a map gas torch
Show threadgrueMay 14, 2024

Because MAPP gas stopped being manufactured in 2008, for some reason. The new “MAP pro” yellow gas bottles have propylene in them instead.

More to the point, that’s not a step further; it’s the same thing I was talking about to begin with. My plumbing torch (a Bernzomatic TS4000) is compatible with both MAPP gas/MAP-Pro and propane.

(I kinda wish I could still get real MAPP gas. I’ve tried to braze with my torch running on propane, but it wasn’t quite hot enough and I don’t think MAP-Pro would be, either. I might have to bite the bullet and upgrade to a proper oxy-propane or oxy-acetylene torch, but I’m annoyed at the expense.)

Show threadironhydroxideMay 14, 2024
Because real enthusiast use oxy-propane
Show threadtriptrapperMay 14, 2024
I got a set of metal picks from Harbor Freight for like 3 bucks. They’re similar to the pick tool that a dental hygienist uses. I use these things nearly every day to scrape stuff out of a crevice, retrieve something out of a narrow hole, pull stuff out of a tube or straw, precision clean corners of things, etc. I love them.
Show threadtreadfulMay 14, 2024
Every day? fascinating
Show threadthe_thirdMay 14, 2024
Once you have a hammer the world is full of nails.
Show threadevasive_chimpanzeeMay 14, 2024
Can confirm, I have the same set, and I do probably use them every day. It’s one of those tools that you don’t realize how often you need it until you start using it.
Show threadAwkwardLookMonkeyPuppetMay 15, 2024
I wish you would clean my house with those things.
Show threadtimespaceMay 16, 2024
These?
Hook & Pick Set, 6 Piece

Amazing deals on this Pick And Hook Set, 6Pc at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

Harbor Freight Tools
Show threadtriptrapperMay 16, 2024
Those are the ones!
Show threadkrowbearMay 14, 2024
A night light that turns on automatically as it gets dark. No more stumbling around when I have to pee in the middle of the night.
Show threadgramieMay 14, 2024
We have small lights that plug into the socket. They turn on automatically when there is movement and it is dark, or if the power goes out. We can also take them out of the socket and then they become flashlights.
Show threadother_catMay 14, 2024
I think I’d like to get this; do you have a brand you can recommend?
Show threadkrowbearMay 15, 2024
I’ve been using this one: amazon.com/…/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie…. Fun to choose which color or let it change colors on its own.