14 Common Kitchen Gadgets You’ve Been Using Wrong

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When it comes to kitchen gadgets, we often assume we know how to use them when they land on our countertops. After all, a garlic press or peeler can’t be that difficult, can it? However, right under our noses, are everyday tools which you’ve probably been using incorrectly for years. Many of us are making our kitchen adventures harder, as well as less effective, without even realizing it by the way we use our tools.

But here’s the good news: All of these mistakes are so easy to fix! Tweaking how you use these common gadgets will save you time, effort, and maybe even get you to enjoy cooking a little more. That being said, take your favorite cup of coffee or tea and get ready. It’s time to rethink how you deal with those trusty tools in your kitchen.

Potato Peelers

Although we may take a humble potato peeler for granted in the kitchen, are you using it for both jobs? The majority of peelers will work both ways, down and up. Many people only peel downward, kicking precious seconds (and patience). Next time you’re peeling a bag of potatoes, try to use short, back and forth strokes. Essentially, it’s like a mini spa treatment for the vegetable.

Box Graters

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Chances are that you’ve been grating your cheese the hard way – vertically. The trick is to lay the grater on its side, however. This way, you can grate horizontally instead of scattering everywhere and let the cheese pile up inside the grater. There’s actually less clean up involved and it’s actually easier on the arms.

Garlic Presses

Don’t peel the garlic cloves before pressing them. That’s double work for you. A good quality garlic press crushes the cloves without the need to remove the skin. After a little while, the skin naturally separates and you have fresh minced garlic, and one less thing to mess with.

Blenders

It might seem like a good idea to throw everything in a blender at once, but it’s a recipe for disaster—literally. The best thing about blenders is that you just layer ingredients the right way. Begin with liquids, followed by softer ingredients, and end with those items that need to be added at very cold temperatures. Consumer Reports found that this method keeps the blender from clogging and blending smoothly.

Can Openers

Did you know you can use your can opener horizontally? It’s mostly placed vertically on the lid of the can, but used horizontally along the rim not only opens the can, but also leaves a smoother edge. It also keeps the blade away from food, making cleanup a breeze.

Whisks

Scrambling eggs isn’t the only use for whisks. Balloon whisks, for example, are great for working in air into batters; flat whisks are great for deglazing pans. You may have been using a one size fits all approach, time to branch out. When a chef once joked, “whisks are like shoes — there’s one for every occasion,” the joke was on us.

Kitchen Shears

These aren’t a pair of oversized scissors! Kitchen shears can snips herbs, cut pizza slices, and trim pastry dough. But here’s the catch: Many shears come apart so you can clean them, and most people never do. Skipping this step means you’re missing out on proper hygiene and longevity.

Microwave Covers

Everyday Items You're Using Totally Wrong — Image Credit: Deposit Photos

That stuff that you throw on top of your leftovers and calls it a meal… those plastic lids or covers. They’re not supposed to seal the dish airtight, they’re supposed to sit on top loosely. Leaving them loose helps steam to escape, but also stops your microwave from becoming a Jackson Pollock painting.

Ice Cream Scoops

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Do you dunk your ice cream scoop in hot water every time? Yes, it might be easier to scoop, but that means the weaker the scoop will get over time. Rather, let it sit out for a minute or two until it softens naturally. Patience is a virtue and a little goes a long way!

Mandolines

These kitchen tools are lifesavers for quickly slicing vegetables, but they are dangerous if you don’t use the hand guard, as you’d be playing with fire… or more accurately, the ER. The safety attachment should always be used, even if it feels awkward. Pro tip: wet the hand guard to lightly ease gliding.

Citrus Juicers

Did you know that rolling citrus fruits on the counter prior to juicing isn’t just a hack, it’s a game changer? It melts down the inner membranes, and makes more juice come out. But here’s a clever trick: juice the fruit cut-side up. It does a fantastic job of keeping seeds out of your juice, while maximizing extraction.

Measuring Cups

Genius Measuring Hacks Every DIY Enthusiast Needs to Try! — Image by m-s-y via Flickr

If you are measuring sticky ingredients, such as honey or peanut butter, try greasing the cup first. Sound like overkill? Maybe, but it’s a breeze to slide the ingredients out, eliminating the never ending scrape fest.

Tongs

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In the kitchen, tongs are an extra set of hands – why not employ the lock mechanism? Lots of people don’t think about this, but locking the tongs when you put them away helps them last longer and keeps your drawer from becoming a giant messy pile.

Rolling Pins

30 Genius Hacks You Won't Believe Are Hiding in Everyday Items! — Image Credit: Klaus Nielsen/Pexels

Finally, the rolling pin. Did you know that you can use a rolling pin without lifting it so many times? Rather then beginning in the middle and rolling out in small fits and starts, try rolling from one end to another without stopping. Not only is it easier, but you get more control over thickness.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.