9 Grandma-Loved Kitchen Gadgets

My 90-year-old grandma, Mimi, has been cooking for decades. Even now, her roasted potatoes with caramelized onions and paprika conjure memories of family dinners from 20 years ago, complete with my grandpa bribing my (vegetarian) sister to eat steak and my grandma cajoling me to brush my hair. My sister folded long before I did, but that’s neither here nor there. 

With so many years of cooking Thanksgiving turkeys and holiday briskets under her belt, Mimi is an expert in the kitchen. And since I want to emulate her in all things, I listen when she recommends a product — as should you. Read on to score nine of her most-loved, most-used kitchen gadgets, starting at just $6.  

9 Grandma-Loved Kitchen Tools 

• Hiware Grapefruit Spoons, Set of 4, $6 
• Cuisinart Food Processor, $248, originally $300 
• Hamilton Beach Power Elite Blender, $40 
• Black+Decker Electric Skillet, $55
• Farberware Electric 4-Cup Coffee Percolator, $59
• Kingsford Heavy-Duty Large Aluminum Pans, $10 
• KitchenAid 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, $350, originally $450
• Cuisinart 12-Quart Stockpot, $70, originally $90 
• OXO Good Grips Corn Cob Holders, Set of 8, $11

Hiware Grapefruit Spoons, Set of 4

I have vivid memories of Mimi and my late grandfather, Zadie, eating grapefruit at their kitchen table. To this day, I love the ceremony of cutting a grapefruit in half and pulling out a serrated spoon for easy scooping. Trust me when I tell you that it’s much more efficient than using a paring knife to carefully slice along the tough membrane. 

Cuisinart Food Processor 

With four kids, 11 grandkids, and 14 great-grandkids, my grandma has a lot of hungry mouths to feed. For years, she’s relied on her Cuisinart food processor to break down up to 14 cups of vegetables at a time. She loves how easily it tackles this onerous task, ultimately saving her what would have been hours of chopping over the decades she’s owned it. Mimi calls it her sous chef in the kitchen.   

Hamilton Beach Power Elite Blender 

Mimi prefers the look and feel of a blender with a glass jar. While the brand she used for years is no longer available, Hamilton Beach’s model has over 41,000 perfect ratings at Amazon. Shoppers love its affordable $40 price tag, dishwasher-safe construction, and wide pour spout.    

Black+Decker Electric Skillet 

Both my mom and my grandma pull out their electric skillets to make everything from lemon chicken to veal chops. My mom, in particular, likes to use it when she’s frying something that has a strong smell, like potato latkes or fish. She loves the flexibility of taking it outside, plugging it in, and cooking in the backyard instead of in her kitchen.     

Farberware Electric 4-Cup Coffee Percolator

Mimi used Farberware’s electric coffee percolator for years, preferring its quick speed to the slower pace of a drip coffee maker. It also produces a stronger, more robust flavor than other methods of making coffee. Available in three sizes, ranging from 4 to 12 cups, you can’t go wrong with this basic brewer.  

Kingsford Heavy-Duty Large Aluminum Pans 

Mimi’s beef brisket is legendary. She makes it every year around the holidays, cooking it at her place and transporting it when she’s ready. To make it easier on herself, she’s learned that a portable, disposable aluminum pan is the best hack for traveling with food. It's lighter when full and one less dish to wash after dinner.

KitchenAid 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer 

For 45 years, my grandma was the proud owner of a KitchenAid stand mixer. It finally gave out, but this was an impressively long run for an oft-used and much-abused kitchen product. If you’re hesitant about spending hundreds of dollars on a stand mixer, rest assured that it will last for a shockingly long time. 

Cuisinart 12-Quart Stockpot 

Making matzo ball soup for such a large family isn’t for the faint of heart. Luckily, Mimi mastered the art before I was even born. It’s magical what she can do with boxed matzo ball mix, homemade stock, and a stainless steel stockpot. Follow her lead and invest in a long-lasting pot that’s great at conducting heat and dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.  

OXO Good Grips Corn Cob Holders, Set of 8 

Corn on the cob was a staple in Mimi’s house while I was growing up. They were always served straight from a pot of boiling water, with butter and corn cob holders on the side. OXO’s set is a step up from the slippery yellow ones Mimi used to own, thanks to its slip-resistant handles and prongs that snap together for safe storage. Grab them now before the summer crop finds its way to your local farmers market.