When I shop at Target or Walmart, I often make an unnecessary detour to the kitchen section to check out the latest tools and gadgets. But I already have Limited kitchen storage spaceI know bringing home any of those cool gadgets will only create more clutter!
Instead, I do my best to make do with the kitchen tools I already have, which I find is mostly a matter of creativity! If you’re willing to think outside the box, you can dream up dozens of ways to use 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 you don’t have commission, use a glass bottle instead. They are both heavy and easy 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 some flour and press. The glass is the same size as a cookie cutter and 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! First wrap the bottom of the can with plastic wrap, then remove the pound. 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 cherry eaters don’t need a special cherry pitting tool, as a small funnel does the job just fine! Place the funnel upside-down, place the cherry over 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 may seem like a “uni-tasker” kitchen tool, they are quite versatile! You can use a waffle iron to make delicious quesadillas, paninis and more. (Check out the post below for more things you can make in a waffle maker!)
Related: 15 Surprising Foods You Can Make in Your Waffle Maker
A device that separates egg whites from egg yolks? It is as precise as kitchen equipment. 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 pass through the slot leaving the yolk behind.
7. Use tongs as a citrus reamer
Use your kitchen tongs to squeeze the lemon and lime juice! Simply cut the fruit in half, clamp it in your tongs and squeeze onto the bowl. The extra pressure from the tongs will help extract more juice than squeezing by hand. Just be 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 will enhance the look of your table, and they will cost you nothing.
9. Use pizza cutters as herb shears
I once bought a pair of herb shears that looked like scissors with multiple blades, and I don’t think I ever figured out how to use them successfully. (I mainly just glued the blade and potted my herbs.) Fortunately, A pizza cutter Here’s one that works like a charm – set your herbs on a cutting board and turn the cutter over it. Simple!
What’s your favorite “alternative” way to use your kitchen tools?
