Sunday, October 14, 2007

Stainless Steel Soap


Our Sunday paper highlighted a kitchen product today called stainless steel soap. Dear gentle readers who are cooks will know how hard it is to get the smell of onions and garlic off of your hands after handling these culinary necessities. These readers will also probably know that an ordinary stainless steel knife or spoon will likewise do the trick of removing the odor. Save yourself $10 and kitchen counter space and avoid another useless kitchen gadget. For a discussion on why the stainless seems to work, check out about.com. I am a believer, but caution you to be careful with sharp knives.

Any readers care to nominate their own favorite useless kitchen gadget?

17 comments:

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

i think i'll use a spoon, thank you very much! that is, if i ever start cooking again! ha ha ha

smiles, bee

Sarge Charlie said...

yeah, i do the cooking

Sank said...

Serious? This works? I'm always complaining that my hands smell like onions or garlic. Nasty nasty stuff.

Lorelei said...

I nominate the butter curler. http://www.hormel.com/kitchen/glossary.asp?id=35852

Sheila said...

Miss Bee,
I want to know how you got Sarge to cook.

Sank,
It works for me--the knife that is. I haven't thought until now about trying it to remove fish smell.

lorelei,
That butter curler is a great nomination. I rarely even use butter any more, preferring olive oil instead.

Marshamlow said...

I did not know this about stainless steel, thanks for the tip. I am racking my brain for a useless kitchen item...oh, I know. I once bought potato, and cut off the tip of my finger. Now I use a knife.

Marion said...

I rub my hands around the stainless steel sink, after handling garlic.

I racked my brain overnight, Sheila, nothing came to mind. Maybe those cooking bags...I've often wondered what those were good for, except more stuff for the landfill. And I've never been able to find a can opener that works for me, electric or otherwise. But I haven't come up with a good solution, lol!

Anonymous said...

How about Onion Goggles -- yes they do exist. For those who don't want to cry while chopping, these goggles are made to protect you from the stinging odors they emit. I prefer using sweet onions (no problem with these) or turn on the gas burner on low nearby to help burn up the odor. I could go on and on about the useless devices I've seen ... How about the butter warmer/cooler? Put batteries in this $30+ device and it will warm or cool butter on the table in a little decorative box. Again, who uses butter on the table these days?

bulletholes said...

Shrimp. Shrimp will get rid of that Onion smell.
24 years I spent in the Kitchen and I can tell you that there is nothing that will get rid of the Onion smell if you are peeling and cutting a couple hundred pounds of 'em a week.
if I'd had any sense I'd have worn gloves.

Anonymous said...

Yup, I use butter or olive oil. Haven't bought oleo in many years.

Useless kitchen gadget nominations:
garlic press, cute little forks to hold corn on the cob, spoon rest, salad toss utensils that don't toss.

Sheila said...

Marsha, Marsha, Marsha,
Couldn't resist, but seriously, cutting off the tip of your finger! I don't like potato peelers either.

Marion,
I have the same trouble with can openers. There must be a really good one that someone can tell us about.

nn,
Onion goggles? I'd love to see a photo of someone wearing those. Butter warmer? Boy these are good 'ens.

Steve,
Is the reason the shrimp will get rid of the onion smell because they smell so strong themselves? I'm a little slow this morning. I would imagine if you had to chop that many onions your hands would definitely smelly oniony.

Jay,
Guilty on all counts of having or once having this tools, all of which I can live without. I have a box with all of these gizzmos that I don't use. You never know when you might need a cherry pitter.

Miss Trashahassee said...

I always use the spigot on the faucet to get rid of the onion smell (rubbing my hands on it). My mother-in-law taught me that neat little trick.

Sheila said...

Miss T,
That's a really good idea and you won't cut yourself either.

bulletholes said...

Yeah, shrimp smell trumps Onions!
Useless KITCHEN gADGET- Mushroom brush

Naomi said...

I enjoyed reading this post Sheila as I actually have some stainless steel soap at home. As somebody who often prepares onions and garlic, I have tried and tested it several times and it works really well. I didn't know a stainless steel knife or spoon did the same job. I could have saved myself some money!

Anonymous said...

Never knew about the onion trick.
As for the useless kitchen gadget...if you asked my wife, she would probably nominate me LOL

Sheila said...

Steve,
I don't have one of those. I'd agree with you.

Naomi,
Well, at least the stainless steel soap works

Joe,
You made me laugh. You are the winner. Now, I know you are just kidding.