What gadgets have become an essential part of your kitchen? If you've got a widget that your food prep cupboard would be bare without, let us know. Any ideas for gadgets that make particularly good gifts for moms would also be welcome.

We could not live without our electric griddle - easy to get going and to clean, and we can do six grilled cheese sandwiches at a time or eight pancakes.

But are you sure it's a good idea to buy mom a kitchen gadget? I have found it best to let my wife pick that sort of stuff out, even though we share cooking 60/40.

The whine from the Cuisinart Grind and Brew shifted into a higher register. I turned to discover that the gadget, in its whirring frenzy, had kicked open the basket compartment and was spraying fresh coffee grounds all over the kitchen. It was also saturating a generous heap of grounds dumped onto the carafe.

It only took three or four repetitions of this for me to take action. I called Cuisinart, hoping for a refund. I was informed they don’t do that with seven year old coffee makers.

In its first three or so years -- pre iPhone era -- the Grind and Brew reigned supreme as my favorite material possession. In its dotage, the Cuisinart grew a bit grumpy, as Frenchmen will, reluctant to release the grinding mechanism for cleaning, but I still loved it. So it was clear I would get a new one.

Last weekend I picked up the new and updated Cuisinart Grind and Brew at my local Costco for $99. The first two pots were spot-on perfect brews. I really like the improved grinding mechanism with a half-pound reservoir for coffee beans. You only have to brush out the mechanism every ten pots or so -- a huge step up. I am bummed that the mid-level model available at Costco has a glass carafe and heating element. I loved the insulated aluminum carafe on my old one. This meant no burnt coffee or charred smell when a few drops of brew were spilled on the heating element. My metal carafe would keep the coffee warm most of the day.

I like the feature, but wasn’t willing to go to William Sonoma and pay double in order to get it.

The honeymoon is still on, but I’m encouraged that the Grind and Brew may make its way again to the top of the gadget hierarchy.

I do 99.9% of the cooking(100% now that my baby mama is on bed rest..). The most important thing would be my Polder instant read digital thermometer. Gotta be "Serve Safe" especially because my wife has a bun in the oven. Second, I frequently use my Kitchen Aid stand mixer for everything from mashed potatoes to cakes and cookies. Third would probably be my Warring Pro Belgian waffle maker... OK I'll stop.

Are there any gadgets or widgets that help you include kids in the kitchen? I think I'm jumping ahead a little but that's one of the things I most look forward to.

Also I don't think it would be a good idea to buy my wife a gadget for a gift. Best to check first... It might go over as well as a new vacuum or tread mill.

For me, it used to be my wok, "The Flaming Wok of Doom!" but now it's probably an assemblage of things. Dutch oven, assortment of cast iron, The Ex, or maybe the electric water kettle my wife got for me for our first Christmas dating so I could make her tea. The best "gadgets" I have, though are my smoker and my new high output (220,000BTU!) burner. I use the burner for making beer, obviously, but it does a heck of a job canning, too. Being able to take high heat activities outside in the summer is really nice.

What I really need are knives. I lost two full sets of Cutco in the aftermath of my divorce. I don't know how I was able to afford such a collection, but having had them, I miss them dearly.

@BobJr79

From the "don't buy kitchen gadgets for presents" file, my big X-mas gift for my wife last year was a KitchenAide stand mixer. I felt like her passion for cooking was such that a gift of this nature wouldn't backfire (like the carpet shampooer did). Alas. The problem was that this thing is a BEAST. Our tiny kitchen just couldn't handle this big dude. There is room for a Cuisinart, a toaster. and a coffee maker and that's about it in our spot.

Another Costco purchase. So they took it back, fortunately. Because they also don't give those things away.

Ice Cream Scope...Bowl...Spoon...That is really all that is needed ...maybe the wine opener...

@nevetsrush2112 I would also need a helmet with that approach. And maybe a lawyer. )

Daddy Clay wrote:The honeymoon is still on, but I’m encouraged that the Grind and Brew may make its way again to the top of the gadget hierarchy.[/quote]

I snagged one of these bad boys for my wife's Christmas Haul today. At Sam's Club, it was about half what Amazon wanted for it. I was looking for other's too and the insulated carafe looked to be in high supply for pre-Christmas shoppering. It came down to price, availability and that for us, a carafe would probably increase the chance of nasty growths in the pot.