Gadgets Galore - Non-electric.

Discussion in 'Ask ChitVish' started by Chitvish, Sep 28, 2008.

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  1. Chitvish

    Chitvish Moderator IL Hall of Fame

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    Chips Slicer

    Friends, this is the most simple slicer which is sold in every shop & which is there is every house! It used to come in wood; but now the plastic ones are easy to clean.
    slicer.jpg
    Slices onion, cabbage, potatoes
    sLICER 2.jpg
    Slices Senai for chips
    chenai chips 2.jpg
    Slices banana for chips
    slicer-banana.jpg
    Excellent for cabbage - also go to http://www.indusladies.com/forums/a...ead-chitvish-recipes-post-113.html#post475707
    chips slicer 1.jpg
    For onion slicing, please go to
    http://www.indusladies.com/forums/a...ead-chitvish-recipes-post-115.html#post476505
     
    Last edited: Nov 20, 2008
  2. Chitvish

    Chitvish Moderator IL Hall of Fame

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    How to "julienne" ginger?

    Friends, ginger juliennes take the pride of place in our cooking when it comes to garnishing any sabji.
    Juliennes with Julienne Cutter 1
    ginger julienne.jpg
    Next sizr juliennes with Shredder-1
    ginger juliennes 2.jpg
    Very thin juliennes with Very Fine Shredder
    24thNov 002.jpg
     
    Last edited: Nov 25, 2008
  3. Chitvish

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    Potato Masher

    This is a very basic kitchen gadget. Buy a sturdy one with a good grip. Mine is a metal one, 30 yrs old, but is quite good. Now, non-stick ones are available.
    Mashes potatoes
    potatomasher 2.jpg
    To level sweets

    pot mash-sweet.jpg
    To press stuffed parathas to help them puff up.
    potato masher 3.jpg
     
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  4. Chitvish

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    Tomato Knife

    Tomato knife, as such, by that name is available. It is slender & very sharp & should be used exclusively for tomatoes. The knife, locally bought by me in Big Bazaar, is seen in the last photo.This is how, to chop tomatoes, free of seeds & pulp, for salads.
    First select a firm red tomato & chop off a slice from the top & bottom.
    tomato-1.jpg
    Hold it vertically & make a cut across (only) halfway through.
    tomato-2.jpg
    Wit both hands, split open.
    tomato-3.jpg
    Scoop out the pulp & seeds (can be used for cooking).
    tomato-4.jpg
    Chop the rest into long or square pieces.
    tomato-5.jpg
     
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    Measuring Cups and Measuring Spoons

    The cups are 200ml (1 cup), 100ml(1/2 cup), 67ml(1/3 cup), 50 ml(1/4 cup). In all my recipes, wherever I have given cups, please refer to this. This is not by weight measurement.
    The metal cups with handles are available only outside India.
    cups-2.jpg
    The plastic ones are available in all leading Supermarkets & Departmental Stores.
    cups-1.jpg
    The following spoons are, 1 tbsp(15ml-3 tsp), 1 tsp(5ml), 1/2 tsp(2.5ml), 1/4 tsp(1.25ml).
    cups-3.jpg
    The following set has 1/2 tbsp as well s 1/8 tsp as well - less commonly available.
    cups-4.jpg
     
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  6. Chitvish

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    Salad Spinner

    The greens if taken for a spin in the salad spinner get completely drained of water and we get crisp and delicious ingredients.
    A salad spinner is a plastic bowl with a removable plastic strainer and special top, that when closed and activated, spins the strainer inside the bowl. When the strainer is filled with freshly washed salad, the spinning motion pulls excess water from the salad, flinging it through the walls of the strainer to the sides of the bowl where it collects in the bottom, free of the salad.
    Using a salad spinner is simple. Once you've prepared the salad just follow these steps:
    • Remove the strainer from the spinner.
    • Place the salad inside the strainer.
    • Hold the strainer under the faucet to thoroughly rinse the salad.
    • Place the strainer back in the spinner bowl and secure the lid.
    • Activate the spinning motion.
    After several seconds, stop the spinner, and remove the top. Your salad will be free of excess water and ready for a plate! Now add cheese or any other toppings & use.

    </SPAN>
    </SPAN>I bought this in Singapore. I have not seen this in Chennai.
    saladspinner 1.jpg
    saladspinner 2.jpg
    Preparing mint:
    saladspinner 3.jpg
    Washing & draining greens:
    saladspinner keerai.jpg
    The lettuce is so much crisper in a salad after using this spinner.
    saladspinner lettuce.jpg
     
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  7. Chitvish

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    Different types of strainers.

    These are with me for many years, except the plastic ones. I am showing below how to clean them & maintain well.
    Left biggest - mainly for rice & dhals
    Centre - for coconut milk, rava consistency as shown in Mysorepa
    Right smallest - ghee & oil
    strainers-1.jpg
    Left steel - soups & tamarind-tomato mixture
    The other two plastic - for sugar syrup ( to be shown in gulabjamun, coconut burfi etc)
    strainers-2.jpg

    Left plastic - dust tea
    Second from left - normal leaf tea
    second from right - milk
    right last - sundry use!!
    strainers-3.jpg
    How to clean - ONLY THE METAL STRAINERS CAN BE CLEANED.
    Show them in the gas till all dirt catches fire & turns ash.
    strainer-burn.jpg
    Then "bang" it on a plate till dust leaves the strainer!
    strainer-cleaned.jpg
     
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    Onion Chopper

    This is an extremely useful gadget in eberyday cooking. This is from the US & is available through ebay india. Onions are normally cut into 2 and very big ones into 4. Just follow the pictures.
    onion chopper-1.jpg

    onion chopper-2.jpg

    onion chopper-3.jpg

    onion chopper-4.jpg

    onion chopper-5.jpg
     
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    Kitchenqueen or Kitchenpress

    This gadget is used to simultaneously puree & blend as well as strain.
    kitchenqueen.jpg
    There are 3 blades. The first with big hole is ideal for making karasev or ganthiyas.
    The second is ideal for making fruit purees for jams & juices.
    kitchenqueen-fruit.jpg
    The one with the smallest hole is ideal for mashing potato, kozakatai dough etc, totally free fromn lumps.
    kitchenqueen 1potato.jpg
     
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    Candy Thermometer

    Candy thermometer or sugar thermometer leads the way in accuracy when making a burfi or fudge by measuring the temperature & therefore the stage of a cooking sugar solution.
    Any fudge or toffee (western recipe) is based on temperature measurements.
    I find it foolprof to determine the right stage when it should be removed from the stove.
    All instructions are given in the pamphlet which comes with it.
    I have been trying this for Indian sweets likeanfel cake, coconut burfi,mysorepak etc . The temperature varies for each sweet & I am editing the recipe & adding the temperature for it. I have added it for
    Angel Burfi
    (plan to post step by step)
    Coconut Burfi
    Cornoil Mysorepak
    Verkadalai & Pottukadalai Urundai
    I have also tried for chocolate fudge, banana fudge etc, which are very simple to make - just assembling the ingredients & cooking till the correct temperature is reached.
    As far as I know, it is not available in Chennai. I have 2, one is Taylor
    5983-66
    0809
    V3043
    CT-1.jpg
    The other is Hamilton Beach

    CT-2.jpg
    Making Cornoil Mysorepak
    Mpak-2.jpg
    Mpak-A.jpg
     
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