Best LC helper at Bed Bath and Beyond?

[Britt1975]

I received a $50 Bed Bath and Beyond Gift Card for Christmas, and I'd love to spend it on something that will help with a low carb lifestyle. Does anyone have any suggestions of favorite tools or gadgets that I could look for?

I already have silicone muffin cups, muffin top pans, a great food processor, a digital food scale and basic cooking tools - but I'm looking for other things that you guys just love.

[svenskamae]

Do you have a supply of excellent knives? Good knives making cooking a lot faster and easier, IMO.

I use a spiral cutter for vegetables to make zucchini noodles, and I'm glad that I got that.

I drink a lot of different flavors of tea, and I like having tea accessories like a metal filter that fits into my cup and a Cuisinart electric tea kettle that you can set to beep at the different temperatures that are best for different kinds of teas.

I use a really heavy Le Cruset Dutch oven/stockpot for cooking all sorts of things; it cleans easily and it's practically impossible to burn the food in it.

[Britt1975]

I'm ashamed to say that I wouldn't know a good knife if it bit me. Years ago when I moved into my first apartment, I bought a set of Miracle Blade knives and my favorite has always been the 'rock and chop' knife. It's my go to knife when I'm cooking. I received a knife block set when I got married - but the only thing I use it for is the serrated bread/tomato knife - and I used to sell Pampered Chef, so I have their knives that are in the self sharpening holders... but I always return to my rock and chop. Do you have any knife suggestions?

[muncheechee]

Digital probe thermometer is a great tool when you cook large pieces of meat so you can stick the probe in the meat and connect it to the thermometer outside the oven or grill and set it to alarm when the desired temp is reached.

Also a foodsaver can be a great tool. I got the wide mouth jar attachment and keep lettuce vaccine packed in jars. It keeps it fresh for two weeks.

Don't forget to find and print a 20% off coupon before shopping... they are always available online and arrive in the mail frequently too.

[greybb1]

Don't forget to look for a 20% off coupon that they have in mailings.

[Ladysilverpatch]

I love that store. Large (14") frying pan, nonstick. Good for so many uses. How about your dishes? Do you really like what you have? I've found that 'special' pieces enhance my dining experience. Indoor grill, George Foreman style. Lots of food storage items. I could go on and on... Happy shopping.

[lterry913]

Magic bullet type blender...cant live without.
A hand good mixer for baking and making meringue.
If I could afford a cream frother for my coffee...the good electric pot style...the hand held ones are ok but the electric one looks as if it works much bettter.

[Beeb]

A spiral slicer for veggies!! Makes great "noodles" for LCers!!!

[svenskamae]

Originally Posted by Britt1975

I'm ashamed to say that I wouldn't know a good knife if it bit me. Years ago when I moved into my first apartment, I bought a set of Miracle Blade knives and my favorite has always been the 'rock and chop' knife. It's my go to knife when I'm cooking. I received a knife block set when I got married - but the only thing I use it for is the serrated bread/tomato knife - and I used to sell Pampered Chef, so I have their knives that are in the self sharpening holders... but I always return to my rock and chop. Do you have any knife suggestions?

I got my good knives at Williams Sonoma. I use a small paring one and a big chopping one for all my cooking. I think the brand is Wusthof; they are pricy but they work really well.

[Britt1975]

Ya'll are awesome - but I'm starting to realize I have more stuff than realized!

I just got a new fabulous Calaphon dutch oven for Christmas - I love it!

I have a digital probe thermometer - but mine is awful, becuase it seems to measure the oven temp rather than the meat temp, as soon as the oven reaches 140 or 160 it goes off, even though it's buried deep in a piece of chicken or pork. So frustrating - maybe I need to look for a better one.

I have a Spirooli for making zucchini noodles.

I love my cookware and I have really nice china for special occasions - but I would love some new 'everyday' dishes - mine are just boring white.

I have (and love) my Magic Bullet - DH uses it every night to make flavored whipped cream - and I have a decent hand blender - but an immersion blender might be a good thing to have.

So now I'm thinking about a new probe thermometer, some new everyday dishes, an immersion blender, a Food Saver.

[Wendy T]

How about a salad spinner?

[marieze]

Immersion blender.

[socaligirl714]

i love my magic bullet...
i really really really want a salad spinner.. i HATE baged lettuce but when i cut my own i feel the lettuce welts fast cause theer is too much water when i wash it
i also love my pyrex bowls for storing leftovers.. nothing like glass!

[Britt1975]

I have and love my salad spinner - I'm on my third one actually! I think I might be guilty of some kind of salad spinner abuse - because they only last me about 3 years before they break.

[flappa1016]

My downfall was pop. I've made it my mission over the last few months to try to eliminate artificial sweeteners from my diet, and diet pop was one of the last holdouts. I got a Sodastream for Christmas. That thing has gotten more use than most of my other kitchen items. I've been using the unsweetened all-natural essences that you can buy at BB&B, but I'm not 100% sure of what is in them - label just says "all natural flavors". To me that is a red flag that there may be other things that are not so good for you that they can list as all natural. After I finish the 3 bottles that I have, I'm going to just start buying lemons and limes and creating my own essences.

Also, a reminder - they will accept those 20% off coupons, even if they're expired I've used some that I've come across that expired more than 4 years ago and they've still been accepted.

They also have a customer loyalty program where you can have 20% off (one item) coupons texted to you each month. When I signed up for the program at the end of 2011, they were offering at 20% (your TOTAL purchase) as an incentive to sign up. Don't know if that's still the case but it was well worth it!

[PianoAl]

I have one of these for making lemonade (juice from one lemon, water, seltzer, + sweetener):



If they sell candy forms, you can make your own chocolate candy.

[LAGril]

Funny, I was just in BB&B today. All of the above gadgets sound great, but I was delighted to find liquid splenda, liquid stevia and a decent assortment of sugar free syrups -- DaVinci and some other brand that isn't coming to mind.

[tymom]

a very good nonstick pan for frying EGGS. Mine is Le Creuset aluminum clad (not iron) and is awesome.

[LoriWants2Lose]

I agree about the Foodsaver. You'll likely have to put a little money with it, but it is worth the investment. I don't know what I'd do without mine.

[Janknitz]

I second the Soda stream. Throw away the sample box of flavors they sell and add a squeeze of lemon or lime to your soda water. YUM! I think the Torani and Davinci syrups would go well with the seltzer, too but haven't tried it since I'm off splenda.

Another suggestion is a Bialetti Mocca Espresso pot (stove top) and a hand frothing wand. Make your own coffee drinks and skip Starbucks temptations. LOVE mine!

How about an ice cream maker so you can enjoy low carb ice cream you make yourself?

Or consider a plastic lunch kit so that it's easy to carry your low carb lunches and snacks when away from home.

[watcher513]

Microplane grater. Use ours all the time.

Look at the Calphanon Katana 7" Santoku Knife in the Santoku/Asian knife section (can see it online). It has a little curve to it compared to others. You really need to Feel how it feels in your hand (is it comfortable?) so check them out in the store.

[Britt1975]

Thanks for all of your suggestions! I spent two hours wandering around picking things up and putting them down again - and I drooled over a stand mixer for awhile. I ended up getting a silpat, a bento box set, a timer that keeps 4 separate times and a giant spatula for my fried eggs and omelets. But what I really discovered was that when it comes time to make my Christmas list this year, I'm just going to go to BB&B with a pen and paper. So many things I *NEED*

[lazy girl]

I'm headed to our BBY this week to look for a cream whipper. Looks like a very nice gadget for LC.

[PianoAl]

I save 90% on kitchen things by buying them at garage sales or on ebay.

CopperPot1.jpg

I rarely pay more than $2 for anything. I got my isi cream whipper on eBay.

A warning about cream whippers: the cream won't stay fresh for more than about 6 days, even if the HWC hasn't expired. Because there is so much more surface area in the whipped cream in the container, it spoils faster.

But they are great, because you can have whipped cream that contains nothing but cream.

[creseis]

Heh I feel the same way--why spend good bike $ on anything for the house? Never know when my tires will die or I'll need a new derailleur!

I was the fortunate recipient of my sister's first wedding collection after she was divorced and didn't have room or need anything she had gotten as a gift.

I got some housewares type gift cards as a phd graduation present last year and I still have money on them.. I ended up buying new pots and pans that I use all the time. On my wish list (below the new bike stuff) is a set of pyrex cookware in all sizes. I make a lot of souffles and they are super yummy. I like the pyrex stuff with lids for the fridge/freezer. So convenient, and microwavable. I don't have nearly enough of this stuff and I have to wait until I've eaten all of one souffle before I make a new one.

Originally Posted by PianoAl

I save 90% on kitchen things by buying them at garage sales or on ebay.

Attachment 48354

I rarely pay more than $2 for anything. I got my isi cream whipper on eBay.

A warning about cream whippers: the cream won't stay fresh for more than about 6 days, even if the HWC hasn't expired. Because there is so much more surface area in the whipped cream in the container, it spoils faster.

But they are great, because you can have whipped cream that contains nothing but cream.

[SpikersMom]

I got an egg cooker at BB&B. Love it! It steams 7 eggs at a time and only take a few minutes.

[lazy girl]

Originally Posted by PianoAl

I save 90% on kitchen things by buying them at garage sales or on ebay.

Attachment 48354

I rarely pay more than $2 for anything. I got my isi cream whipper on eBay.

A warning about cream whippers: the cream won't stay fresh for more than about 6 days, even if the HWC hasn't expired. Because there is so much more surface area in the whipped cream in the container, it spoils faster.

But they are great, because you can have whipped cream that contains nothing but cream.

I am so glad you told us about this. Instead of the pint whipper, I'll get a 1/2 pint version.