Does anyone have a kitchen gadget (besides the standard pots, pans, spoons etc.) that they can't live without? I was just thinking as I was washing my zester today - no-one else I know has one, and yet I think it's the perfect tool, does exactly what is needed. (That is, before anyone asks, peel off narrow little strips of lemon or orange peel, with none of the white stuff)

The tool for removing stones from olives and the rotary action cheese grater.

I don't think I'm familiar with a rotary action cheese grater. I'm picturing something like a pencil sharpener(?)

My favourite is the multi purpose wife.

The garlic crusher....I love garlic...

..and I live alone, so I can put garlic on everything and not worry about the consequences...

(SOTHC, where do I get one of these "wives"? I have reasd about them, and from what I hear they are far more useful and pleasant to have around then "husbands").

Tanzen, my garlic press gets a pretty good workout, too. I cook for a daycare centre, and I sometimes wonder what the parents think when they pick up their little darlings, just reeking of garlic!
tellywellies - I've never seen anything like that grater. Does it work on softer cheeses too, or do they just smear?

agony - I'd say the cheese grater would work with any yellow cheeses but not with white ones. I think white cheese would still go through OK but the flakes would tend to stick together.

Have to agree with SOTHC - but next most important Kitchen utensils are the Tin Opener and pair of scissors to open the tins or packets! At least that's one better than the telephone to order take-aways.