# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2016, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/41 "2016-05-15T02:22:16Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Collanders and sieves: They drain things and I can’t think of another use for them other than perhaps a hat. Sifting flour. ---
**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 15, 2016, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/42 "2016-05-15T02:49:20Z")
Colanders and slotted spoons can be used to make spaetzle. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2016, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/43 "2016-05-15T06:41:50Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Melon baller? > > Although the only place i’ve ever seen one is in a professional kitchen, when i worked as a waiter. I don’t think i know anyone who owns one. > > Cherry pitter? > > I actually have one of these, for when i make cherry pies. When I want to dice an apple or a pear, I cut it in half and use a melon baller to remove the core. My strawberry huller is single-use. My wife has a liquid level detector (called a “Say When”) that she hangs over the lip of her cup or glass before she pours her drink. When the liquid approaches the rim, it completes a circuit with two metal electrodes, and a buzzer sounds off. ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2016, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/44 "2016-05-15T07:00:05Z")
I have a gnocchi board - small (about 2x3") grooved, made out of wood, used for hand rolling gnocchi. Can’t think of a single other use for it. Also have a pasta measure (metal with 3 holes in it to measure 2, 3 and 4 serves of dry pasta). Then there’s the olive pitter, but we use that for cherries as well, so that’s dual use. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2016, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/45 "2016-05-15T13:53:01Z")
Alton Brown said on “Good Eats” the the only uni-tasker he had in his kitchen was the fire extinguisher. ---
**Author:** ![brainstall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@brainstall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brainstall)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2016, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/46 "2016-05-15T14:05:38Z")
That thing you use for cutting butter/lard/fat into flour for pastry. Pickle fork Sushi mat I had a small can punch that I had to send away to the canned milk company for that was for opening cans of evaporated milk, but it seems to have disappeared. Never used it for anything else. Just about everything else in my kitchen gets pressed into service for whatever is needed. I have way too much kitchen stuff, but there’s always room for something else useful. ---
**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, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/47 "2016-05-15T14:42:06Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Sifting flour. Good one. A cork screw seems fairly single use. I have one of those ‘rabbit’ types and can’t imagine using it for anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Mogle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mogle/32/12021_2.png) [@Mogle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mogle)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2016, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/48 "2016-05-15T15:16:26Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Cheese slicer like [this one](http://www.crateandbarrel.com/mahogany-handle-cheese-plane/s195814?b=1&a=1552&campaignid=206595536&adgroupid=13838805416&targetid=pla-75563052896&adpos=1o1&creative=44897458976&device=c&matchtype=&network=g). Can also be used for shredding cabbage. ---
**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 15, 2016, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/49 "2016-05-15T15:21:31Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > A cork screw seems fairly single use. I have one of those ‘rabbit’ types and can’t imagine using it for anything else. For cooking purpose corkscrews seem pretty limited, though I’m wondering if maybe one could be used to open clam and oyster shells. I might give that a try at the next opportunity. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2016, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/50 "2016-05-15T17:05:37Z")
Maybe a bagel holder for slicing it? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2016, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/51 "2016-05-15T17:40:05Z")
> [@12mgdaily](#): > > corn cob holders This is what I came in to post. Of course the one time I actually have corn on the cob I can’t find the blasted holders. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2016, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/52 "2016-05-15T18:54:37Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > My wife has a liquid level detector (called a “Say When”) that she hangs over the lip of her cup or glass before she pours her drink. When the liquid approaches the rim, it completes a circuit with two metal electrodes, and a buzzer sounds off. ?? It would be more useful if it worked the other way - alerting you when something has boiled down to a certain depth. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2016, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/53 "2016-05-15T23:07:10Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > My wife has a liquid level detector (called a “Say When”) that she hangs over the lip of her cup or glass before she pours her drink. When the liquid approaches the rim, it completes a circuit with two metal electrodes, and a buzzer sounds off. > [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > ?? > > It would be more useful if it worked the other way - alerting you when something has boiled down to a certain depth. Mrs. K has vision problems, IIRC. But your idea would be something I would buy. ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/54 "2016-05-16T01:21:16Z")
> [@](#): > > the the only uni-tasker he had in his kitchen was the fire extinguisher. You could use that as a rolling pin. Or a meat tenderizer. Or for chasing away unwanted guests. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/55 "2016-05-16T07:16:44Z")
Egg separators are the first thing that came to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/56 "2016-05-16T12:54:20Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > Egg separators are the first thing that came to mind. But fingers have lots of other uses?!?! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/57 "2016-05-16T13:50:35Z")
> [@Girl\_From\_Mars](#): > > I have a gnocchi board - small (about 2x3") grooved, made out of wood, used for hand rolling gnocchi. My mom had a ravioli rolling pin like this [![](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71akgimv2jL._SL1500_.jpg) ](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71akgimv2jL._SL1500_.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/58 "2016-05-16T15:22:16Z")
Pie crust shields. I’m not sure there’s much else you’d use them for. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/59 "2016-05-16T16:44:55Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > [Pasta serving spoon.](http://www.bohero.eu/Repository/Cached/ProductPictures_WMF/WMF_Bohero_PROFIPLUS_pasta_serving_spoon_1871086030-canvas-640.jpg) > Never actually used one just the first thing that came to mind. Pulling hard boiled eggs out of the water. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761/60 "2016-05-16T16:59:25Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Pulling hard boiled eggs out of the water. That’s what egg tongs are for. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kitchen-utensils-have-one-use-and-one-use-only/754761.md?page=4)