# What Kitchen Utensils Have One Use and One Use Only? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 14, 2016, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761 "2016-05-14T15:51:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2016, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/21 "2016-05-14T17:50:34Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Collanders and sieves: They drain things and I can’t think of another use for them other than perhaps a hat If you include sieves like these [![](http://www.paulnoll.com/Books/5000-Words/7000-pic-sieve.jpg) ](http://www.paulnoll.com/Books/5000-Words/7000-pic-sieve.jpg) I use one as my sifter, and also to sift powdered sugar or cocoa powder over a dessert. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2016, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/22 "2016-05-14T17:50:49Z")
A [Nutmeg grater](http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-335-Nutmeg-Grater/dp/B0000CFOTJ) doesn’t seem to get used for much else. A [Strawberry Stem Remover](http://www.amazon.com/Chefn-102-138-005-StemGem-Strawberry-Huller/dp/B002XOHZWC/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1463248187&sr=1-1&keywords=strawberry+top+remover) works great when you have a lot of strawberries to prepare, but doesn’t seem good at much else. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2016, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/23 "2016-05-14T17:52:29Z")
Sifters and rolling pins tend to be specialty use items. Most people can get through life without a sifter - rolling pins are handy for a bunch of things that need to be rolled out - but except maybe using them to bludgeon meat into tenderness, its pretty much rolling stuff out. Pasta makers are awesome for making pasta - pretty useless for anything other than pasta. My mandolin is very handy when I need to slice up vegetables, I’ve never used it for anything else, but I suppose I could get thin slices of a hard cheese off it. I also couldn’t live without my whipped cream whipper - but I’m not sure what else I’d use it for. Maybe making soda water? Specialty kitchen appliances - waffle irons, ice cream makers, bread machines. Heck I have a ton of stuff I only use for certain things - spritz makers, rosette irons, rose nails, wedding cake pans - but they are as likely as a cherry or olive pitter to be found in most people’s kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2016, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/24 "2016-05-14T17:54:16Z")
Slotted spoon. Not much you can do with that except lift chunks out of liquid medium. Clothes pins. All you can do with those in the kitchen is re-close plastic bags. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2016, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/25 "2016-05-14T17:57:23Z")
My mother in law seems to think I need a gravy spoon. And a gravy boat. So I keep getting them. I think my glass measuring cup worked great for my mother and works great for me and I don’t want the gravy spoons and boats taking up room - that I need for the rosette iron and the spritz maker and the ice cream maker and the melon baller :). ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2016, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/26 "2016-05-14T18:04:42Z")
Nutmeg graters zest citrus fruits really well. And can be used for other hard spices (cinnamon, ginger root). ---
**Author:** ![12mgdaily](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/f08c70/32.png) [@12mgdaily](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/12mgdaily)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2016, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/27 "2016-05-14T18:04:47Z")
corn cob holders rolling pin citrus juicer ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2016, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/28 "2016-05-14T18:19:45Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > A can opener? Not including the bottle-opener part, but the actual mechanism that opens cans. Could it be used for anything else? Used mine to remove a stuck lid from a homemade jar of tomato sauce. But then again I’m an expert on Kludge. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2016, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/29 "2016-05-14T18:29:18Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > A [Nutmeg grater](http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-335-Nutmeg-Grater/dp/B0000CFOTJ) doesn’t seem to get used for much else. I bought a [microplane grater](http://www.amazon.com/Microplane-40020-Classic-Zester-Grater/dp/B00004S7V8) specifically for grating nutmeg. And I do use it for that. But mostly I use it to grate parmesan cheese. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2016, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/30 "2016-05-14T19:17:49Z")
Mark off anything that can be used to open a beer, like a garlic press, slotted spoon, lemon zester, etc. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2016, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/31 "2016-05-14T19:27:13Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > rolling pins are handy for a bunch of things that need to be rolled out - but except maybe using them to bludgeon meat into tenderness, its pretty much rolling stuff out. White sugar that comes in paper sacks has a tendency to cake together if stored in humid conditions. My mother taught me the solution: beat the bag with a rolling pin before opening it, then pour it into a sifter. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2016, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/32 "2016-05-14T20:08:06Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > White sugar that comes in paper sacks has a tendency to cake together if stored in humid conditions. My mother taught me the solution: beat the bag with a rolling pin before opening it, then pour it into a sifter. That I’d file under “using it to tenderize meat” (I learned the “put it in tin or tupperware with a slice of bread” - which I still keep a slice of bread in my brown sugar - with air conditioning the white sugar doesn’t tend to cake) ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2016, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/33 "2016-05-14T22:00:47Z")
Pizza cutter. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2016, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/34 "2016-05-14T22:06:45Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > Pizza cutter. Hah, Alton Brown called that his favorite kitchen multitasker. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2016, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/35 "2016-05-14T22:32:33Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > Sifters and rolling pins tend to be specialty use items. Most people can get through life without a sifter - rolling pins are handy for a bunch of things that need to be rolled out - but except maybe using them to bludgeon meat into tenderness, its pretty much rolling stuff out. I’ve both seen & used (once) as a poor man’s version of [The Stick](https://www.thestick.com/) muscle roller. Not quite as good, but significantly less expensive at 20-25% of the real one. [apple slicer/corer](http://www.amazon.com/OXO-Grips-Apple-Corer-Divider/dp/B00004OCKT) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2016, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/36 "2016-05-14T23:12:25Z")
I have a marble rolling pin. It’s not only a pretty good rolling pin and head kablonger but it also makes an excellent weight to hold things down. And I do need to do that in cooking on occasion. Recently I held a salmon loin down in brine using it. I never thought of using it for a muscle roller, but now if I ever do feel like doing that I could. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2016, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/37 "2016-05-14T23:43:05Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > Nutmeg graters zest citrus fruits really well. And can be used for other hard spices (cinnamon, ginger root). And baking chocolate. ---
**Author:** ![jsquire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@jsquire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsquire)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2016, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/38 "2016-05-15T00:43:51Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Olive pitter. While it only pits things, it pits more than just olives. Cherries and possibly apricots if the pitter is big enough (or the apricot is small enough). ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2016, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/39 "2016-05-15T01:16:36Z")
> [@jsquire](#): > > While it only pits things, it pits more than just olives. Cherries and possibly apricots if the pitter is big enough (or the apricot is small enough). You’d never get a cherry pit to pass through mine without squishing the cherry. An apricot would have to be the size of an olive. ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2016, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/40 "2016-05-15T01:48:36Z")
I used a can opener as a screwdriver once. I supposed you could also use it for whacking things, although a rolling pin works better for that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761.md?page=3)