A P-38 can opener and a set of Ontario's Old Hickory knives. Buy both (actually a set of the latter and a handful of the former) for $50.

It's dome shaped, and you put it over the stubborn jar lid, and twist.....and off comes the lid!

Also, my non-electric can opener...

My Mouli hand grater!

These have been essential for me.

A grater that is powered by my hand, silly!

It has a most excellent design.

I also love the little rubber tube that you put garlic cloves in. Roll it on the counter for a minute and PRESTO! Husk free!

Oh, and a decent knife set.

and a pile of cutting boards

That, and the fact I even clicked on this thread, does not bode well for bluedigger.

They fit my hand, are perfectly balanced and the handle is integrated into the blade so food doesn't accumulate behind the blade.

In a Jeffrey Archer novel, an assassin goes to a Tokyo cutlery shop to buy a Global GS-5 (for non-culinary purposes), which is my favorite knife in the drawer (for purely culinary purposes!).

...on an expedition to the Afghanistan wilderness--was compelled to live on food and water for several days!



(apologies to W. C. Fields!)

It can slice 25 bananas a minute.

manual ones, I prefer to do it by hand. I guess I am just old fashioned.

But sadly, I could only find the manual one.

For the uninitiated:

http://www.amazon.com/Hutzler-5717-571-Banana-Slicer/dp/B0047E0EII/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1355442056&sr=1-1&keywords=banana+slicer

and bamboo cooking utensils.

I don't use metal anymore except for stir frying in the wok.

My manual can opener that doesn't leave a sharp edge.

And digital meat thermometer.

... I use case iron whenever possible. Stuff is the only way to go.

Also
a set of stainless steel nested mixing bowls I bought for $8.00 30 years ago.
Use one or more of them almost daily.

and my Krups coffee bean grinder.

Some things just work.

We have picked up a few things from them and always enjoy the catalogs.
They are what Smith and Hawken was 20 years ago.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

Nothing is better for quickly dicing or mincing fresh spices (cilantro, garlic parsley, ginger, etc.).

My Nespresso


my Froth au lait professional milk frother


and my Vitamix 5200 blender/food processor


I've had all three for > 5 years, use daily and running strong.

The Vitamix, btw is AMERICAN-MADE.

The Nespresso, is clearly not, but hey, George Clooney does ads for them in Italy...LOL

It looks similar to this, but mine has been modified with electronic temperature control:



Grinder:



I also have a commercial Blendtec, which gets used quite a bit.

I love using a meat cleaver for cutting just about anything -- bagels, chopping vegetables, nuts, etc., and a spatula for scraping/stirring things is indispensible too.

Battery operated can opener for the cat food.

I prefer to eat with my hands, but it doesn't go over well with dinner guests.

Not kidding. Eating with your hands makes food taste better. Yes, even ice cream. I think it has something to do with the physical bond you create with the food. You 'love' it more when you can touch it.

Get your minds out of the gutter.

I can't use the sideways kind at all without a disaster happening. I am just too clumsy and do not want bits of finger in my vegetables.

So, I use one shaped like this kind:


I actually need a new one, because I have literally worn places on the handle from using it so much.

There is also a large stainless steel spoon that I use the most of any of my large spoons. It actually has a flat edge worn into the rounded part.

I don't have room for a dishwasher where I live. So, my Paula Deen skillet is my new favorite toy to use when cooking most 1 pot meals.

But, if I had to pick only one thing I cannot live without in the kitchen, it would be the veggie peeler.

A lime squeezer which is awesome when making anything requiring fresh Key Lime Juice. I love my coffee press, coffee grinder, but also my Moka pot and milk frother.

My very most indispensable item is a good knife.

I use probably more than I should!
I have a bathtub outside, (hot springs) but there is a space between the deck and the tub things are always falling in between and the only way I can get them is with those 2 objects! So, hey I'm a lady with multiple talents!

sage

Using the thick Greek style as a starter, amazing how incredibly good home made yogurt tastes when compared to the store bought stuff.

and a whisk with teflon coating. I can't do without either in my kitchen, because I like to make sauces.

Two of the greatest inventions in human history.

Which, sadly, appear to be off the market at the moment. Here's some data, and a picture -

http://www.amazon.com/Oster-385182-4716-Egg-Cooker/dp/B00006IUUP/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Had an earlier version of this thing that I got back in the mid-70s. It finally died in the late 90's, early '00s. Then, miracle of miracles, they came out with a slightly updated version (basically, the dome was plastic instead of glass, and the poacher made four pie slice shaped eggs, instead of three round ones). Snagged one off Amazon a few years back. And now, they're off the market again. I've tried other designs of the same basic item, and they just don't measure up.

This thing is great for singles or a couple. Assuming that you like, and eat, hard boiled, soft boiled, and / or poached eggs.

The only thing I've come across in recent years that comes close to the utility of this thing, and it costs quite a bit more, is a higher end Keurig coffee maker. It, and this egg cooker, allows small households to knock out a quick breakfast that beats the hell out of a bowl of Count Chocula, or whatever.

On edit: Oh, they ran $25 - $30.

Butter into the microwave in a container, 30 seconds later it is melted, spreads easily and deliciously.

The teflon finally wore off, and I got a much better replacement.

or my turnip twaddler

in stainless steel, $45. on amazon and cuts cooking time and fuel use by 50 to 70%.

I simply can't get the picture to come up on this forum.

Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker
by Presto
4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (842 customer reviews) | Like (114)
List Price: $59.99
Price: $45.97 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. Details

PS. You can get pressure cookers that are electric but they are more than $50.00

small net book to look up recipes etc when you can't shift the other lump off the real computer. Although that may a bit more than $50.

Got it on sale.

I have many of those mentioned and really use them all, depending on what I am cooking. I would add a wire whisk and a rubber spatula if anything.

A well seasoned cast iron fry pan can be a baking dish and cooking dish so that is my most essential. The Dutch oven for very primitive cooking is essential. But the most critical thing is something to go into the pot.

Love it! Only infomercial purchase that was ever worth the $$$.

http://www.buythebullet.com/

On Edit: Used it to make homemade baby food before they came out with extra parts for that; the easy dishwasher clean up HUGE part of why this is an awesome tool.