Favorite old school/cheap kitchen item that you love & use often?

[Anonymous]

Manual eggbeater. Use it daily.

Actually never used one growing up, this is something I got as an adult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That IKEA rainbow pack of plastic kid plates, bowls, and cups. They’re the perfect size for snacks and don’t take up much room in the dishwasher. Everybody uses them in my house, not just kids.

You're not concerns about leaching, especially with them going in the dishwasher?

Not at all. They’re BPA and phthalates free, and dishwasher safe.

[Anonymous]

Yes, to the peeler - I have a much crappier one then OXO that we use almost daily.

But the ultimate score are the set of knives I bought like a million years ago (in college!) when I was enticed by one of those "these will cut through a can" infomercials. (Are there even informercials anymore for the kids these days?) Many of them have literally stood the test of 20 years. Perhaps not quite as nice as the Wursthofs I got for the wedding, but those steak knives, serrated edge knives, and a sort of dough scraper deal - I use them all the time. Among the best $$$s I've spent....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wooden spoons for stirring almost every time I cook. Manual can opener which is 30 plus years old. I just replaced my box grater because hub put it in dishwasher and it started to rust- before that it had been going strong also for 30 plus years.

Wooden spoons are unsanitary.

https://www.marthastewart.com/8100664/wooden-cooking-utensils-safety - Actually, you are wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That IKEA rainbow pack of plastic kid plates, bowls, and cups. They’re the perfect size for snacks and don’t take up much room in the dishwasher. Everybody uses them in my house, not just kids.

I still have and use the small plates. My kids are 24 and 27.

[Anonymous]

+1 to wooden spoons, peelers. Also ice cream scoop.

Oldest thing in our kitchen might be the cookie sheets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The 4 sided metal grater. It’s at least 30 years old and definitely didn’t cost very much. The jar opener by OXO is at least 20 years old, and gets used almost daily.

I've had my box grater for decades, too, along with my zester, can opener, and peeler.

[Anonymous]

I like the old-fashioned skinny stainless steel vegetable peelers. I purchased one at Williams Sonoma, made in Sweden, late 1980s? It was the bomb. It lasted maybe a decade (or more). I found them again at Crate and Barrel, and purchased one. It lasted at least another decade. Then I found them at the online Vermont Country Store, and bought a bunch - enough to last me the rest of my days, lol, and have a few leftover if anyone wants them. They stay sharp and work great at peeling potatoes and carrots. Caution - I found them on Ebay and bought one, but suspect it was a knock-offs because they were cheap and didn't peel well.

[Anonymous]

I have a very beat up aluminum colander that belonged to my grandmother. It’s missing a foot and dented. Prefer it over a much schmancier one that holds our onions. I had a box grater that was probably 30+ years old. It finally rusted out and had to replace it, the new one is not nearly as satisfying though it’s stainless and very fetching.

[Anonymous]

My moms old orange juicer from the 60s
Her ice cream scooper
Rip mom. You were the best cook!

Also waffle iron gets use

[Anonymous]

I have a very beat up aluminum colander that belonged to my grandmother. It’s missing a foot and dented. Prefer it over a much schmancier one that holds our onions. I had a box grater that was probably 30+ years old. It finally rusted out and had to replace it, the new one is not nearly as satisfying though it’s stainless and very fetching.

I use an identical colander every day. Like it so much better than the heavier ones. Also like the tiny whisks (we call it "the baby whisk" at my house). And I use a hand-held mandolin daily to thin slice all sorts of veggies. Also get a lot of use out of the citrus zester (the skinny plane one) for lemon and parmesan.

[Anonymous]

Hamilton Beach blender, cost $12 about 18 years ago.
A couple of knives from Wal-mart that 25 years old and like new.
OXO peeler is 20 years old too and is still in perfect shape.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I have a very beat up aluminum colander that belonged to my grandmother. It’s missing a foot and dented. Prefer it over a much schmancier one that holds our onions. I had a box grater that was probably 30+ years old. It finally rusted out and had to replace it, the new one is not nearly as satisfying though it’s stainless and very fetching.

I use an identical colander every day. Like it so much better than the heavier ones. Also like the tiny whisks (we call it "the baby whisk" at my house). And I use a hand-held mandolin daily to thin slice all sorts of veggies. Also get a lot of use out of the citrus zester (the skinny plane one) for lemon and parmesan.

We ARE kitchen twins. Same on all of those things. Also a cheapie lemon juicer, grocery store potato peeler, and a nonna knife.

[Anonymous]

My grandma's turquoise pyrex baking dishes with lids. They're over 50 years old and I use them every day! Dishwasher safe, microwave safe, oven safe.

[Anonymous]

My kitchen shears. They came with a very inexpensive knife set that I bought around 1995. I use them almost daily.