14 Homestead Kitchen Items for Easier From Scratch Cooking You're Not Using (probably)

[@tamarasteck6746]

I'm in love with the idea of the wooden bench scraper!!! Brilliant!

[@tracywhite1694]

I crochet handle covers for cast iron skillet handles....love them

[@kermitandmisspiggyb]

I sure wish I had some like Melissa. I don't like the silicone kind. I don't know how to crochet, sew or anything. I bet they do come in handy.

[@alissarobinson6992]

Tracy, do you sell them? I’d love to order one!

[@Ruffstuff_Recovery]

The big glass measuring cups! Yes!

[@Julian-zy1em]

Always such a breath of fresh air watching your videos.

[@MelissaKNorris]

Awe thanks so much!

[@Julian-zy1em]

@@MelissaKNorris 🤪🤪😎😎😘😘

[@micheleyates3625]

Great video, Melissa! I was excited to see your antique biscuit cutter. I have my grandma's and she would have been using it anytime from 1905-ish through to early 1960s! I use it all the time. There is no donut hole cutter and I don't know if there ever was, but it is priceless to me, along with her cast iron pan, pie safe, one quilt and treadel sewing maching. Have a blessed day!

[@theorangetreehomestead6660]

Kitchen scale is helpful for so many things, especially if you are trying to portion out your food as part of a diet plan.

[@MelissaKNorris]

totally

[@travelswithmytribe]

I love seeing other people’s must haves :-) I recently got a cast iron skillet and wonder how I lived without it but I’ve just got rid of my Pyrex mixing bowel because I found it too heavy (Ironic I know considering how heavy cast iron is!)

[@agnesgarnett4414]

Yeah! I am a knitter. Thks for the idea for my cast iron pots and pans.

[@alancarter4270]

Thank you for the tour, I love seeing peoples organization and preferences I have to find the biscuit cutter from your mom, it rocks and i love antiques and vintage wears I also appreciate that your kitchen is a work center not a trophy display or museum.

[@rrbb36]

Vintage WARES are indeed awesome in the kitchen. And I still like to WEAR some vintage clothing items, too. 👍

[@laurennelsonbell2454]

What a wonderful list! I already have several of these items and they are all great! I even have the vintage biscuit cutter that was my Granny's so it is very special to me.

[@JoJo-wq7uz]

I agree 100% with your top 14! 👍

[@carolhamilton5164]

My dad always took cans and opened both ends then cut the rim off one end and sharpened it, use for cutting biscuits and chopping strawberries. free appliance!

[@ElizabethM824]

I love seeing other people's kitchen favorites. Great tips as always Melissa!

[@compiticny1445]

We make all of our broths in our instapot and love it. When we make soups, more like a stew so we can add broth to them later, we makeup to 8 quarts at a time and freeze them in pint-size containers. We also take the instapot outside in the warmer weather to reduce the amount of heat in the house. Thanks for the ideas, will be making the bench scrapers as gifts this year.

[@joytoyouandme4593]

You read my mind, I thought the bench s rapers would be an excellent gift. I also use my instant pot for bone broth, then I freeze it in a large silicone muffin pan. Each muffin is 1 cup, transfer to a plastic bag. My girlfriend says she made popcorn in her instant pot, so will give that a try soon. Of course I make lots of items in it, couldn’t live without it.

[@compiticny1445]

@@joytoyouandme4593 The idea of using silicon muffin pans for freezing the broths is great. I Will try it out, thanks.

[@lovenothate]

HI Melissa! I talked to you on Clubhouse today and when I went to find you on here, I realized I had watched some of your videos and subscribed already! Thank you so much for the great content!

[@dianekreuzer3854]

My dad bought me the danish dough thing & it’s crazy how much I use it! It really is a must have! I’m on the wait list for your husband’s wood scraper. Can’t wait to add it to my kitchen tools.

[@faintlyartistic7803]

You can felt an old wool sweater/blanket and use that for handle covers if you don't knit.

[@wjharrison6641]

Totaly 😊😃🎊love it ! Love slow cookers as well , fantastic tips 🌼💛

[@tamara-lnlhomestead1441]

Love seeing your videos💖

[@renamaemcdonald2075]

Love your antique biscuit cutter. My mom had one just like it. Wish I had got some of her kitchen gadgets!

[@BonnieJoan]

Great video. I love the Instant Pot too!!❤️ Instant Pot. Not Insta-pot.

[@MidwestGirl]

It drives me crazy when I hear people say "Insta-Pot" instead of Instant Pot. I mean, it says "Instant Pot" right on the appliance. lol.

[@mrskimmieg]

Thank you! That bugs me, too. 😬

[@BonnieJoan]

Comforting to know I’m not the only one. 😝🥰

[@Tambryl]

LOL ... I'm the same, I just say Yedi for mine as that's the brand & only 1 in our household.

[@chriscoody1776]

Awesome tools....sent an email to be put on scraper list....please say thank you to your hubby!!!!! 😊😊😊

[@PaleRider54]

When a "dishwasher" is made that actually gets dishes clean without me having to wash them beforehand, then I'll buy a dishwasher. For now, they're worthless.

[@angeloverturff3826]

They sterilize dishes and get canning jars ready for the contents.

[@rrbb36]

Sounds like you just haven’t found the right dishwasher. My dishwasher is such a huge time & labor saver for me, I don’t even want to contemplate life without it. Definitely NOT “worthless” to me!

[@Messymy]

Really? I barely ever rinse just remove any debris and don't even have a top of the line dishwasher. My hands break out from too much hand washing and it is a big help as I only need to run a couple times a week. I use Cascade Platinum and from time to time check the filters though not every cycle. You have to experiment to find the best detergent for your machine and water. My well water is actually fairly hard.

[@augustagootee6254]

Love it 😀I so on my to do list to try making tomato sauce this year instead of juice my first time ever growing paste tomaotes

[@StephanieJoRountree]

I have one of those old biscuit cutters from my grandmother!

[@MelissaKNorris]

How special!

[@joytoyouandme4593]

I wish I had my Moms, it would be a real treasure

[@karis3647]

I have noted down the weight for 1 cup or Tbs of each of my most common ingredients. Now I weigh most ingredients when cooking. It's cut down on the dishes quite a bit, and I've been able to to get rid of excess measuring cups. However, I completely agree on the Pyrex measuring bowls. They make great batter bowls.

[@kathywinkler9802]

great video!!. I always like finding shortcuts or handy kitchen tools........

[@robertastubblefield3119]

Melissa, that Kia wood❤️😍❤️. Your husband should create and sell a cutting board out of Kia! I would be first in line!❤️

[@robertastubblefield3119]

Koa not Kia silly autocorrect!

[@NaeNaeW]

🌷These are are great recommendations. I have a lot of them, just need the wooden bench scraper👍😍. 💟Yes I LOVE my INSTA POT! ❤ I use it more in the colder winter months, I do a lot of griddling out side when the weather is nice. 🌞💐 always love your vidoes

[@MatthewSherriff85]

Love the wooden bench knife, will have to make myself one

[@HomeWithCindy24]

Love your videos

[@jackiebradley9870]

I just bought a biscuit - doughnut cutter like that one from Amazon.

[@kermitandmisspiggyb]

I have the biscuit part like the one your talking about but I don't have the piece for the doughnut part. I wish I did. I would love it even more.

[@jackiebradley9870]

@@kermitandmisspiggyb Amazon$5.00

[@MidwestGirl]

I have to say, I have huge Purchase-Regret with my Instant Pot. I held off for a few years while I researched all the pros/cons and waited until they came out with one that seemed to have all the kinks/complaints worked out. However, whatever time you might save preparing dinner, you will make up for in the cleaning-up-afterwards process. There are so many parts/pieces and little nooks/crannies that have to be washed or wiped down, it's just not worth it for me. I made lemon curd with mine and I had 10 parts/pieces that needed to be cleaned afterwards (If I had done it on the stove-top, I would have had one little pot). Also, it's impossible to get the scent/odor/smell off the rubber gasket once it's been used, which is off-putting (at least they give you two: one for sweet, one for savory). The first thing I made in mine was a pork roast and the rubber gasket STILL smells like pork roast after multiple washings and soakings. And, my pork roast didn't turn out any better than if I had thrown it in the crockpot. Personally, I can't recommend this item. I wish I hadn't spend the $150 on it. (I purchased the 8 quart Duo Evo Plus).

[@1MSally1965]

Sell it to Melissa lol.

[@elizabethdavis3417]

It took me 6 months to open the box but now I use it many times a week for the last 3 years. The smell of the gasket isn't really harming anything, just the nature of silicon. Rice, beans, meats, stews, soups, potatoes, apples . . . Anything, so fast.

[@livesoutdoors1708]

Rain Country sells cast iron handle covers on Etsy.

[@MelissaKNorris]

Thank you for sharing!

[@baddrivercam]

I buy handmade leather ones from individuals.

[@krisleinen1224]

Where do I get on the wait list for the scrape?. I love wood things. We live the same way, but you are very enjoyable to watch.

[@cv7357]

Just saw it... There is a link to get there under her video. Under "links mentioned".

[@krisleinen1224]

@@cv7357 Thank you I found it after I posted.

[@patrickadams7120]

I have 2 dishwashers....they're called left hand and right hand....full disclosure when i bought my house 6 years ago it came with a dishwasher installed.....never used it not once

[@deannalively4778]

Hey, what are your countertops made of? I love them and will be replacing mine soon

[@MelissaKNorris]

The island is a wood butcher block mu husband made the others are white with some gray veining quartz

[@deannalively4778]

@@MelissaKNorris it's gorgeous

[@Mrs.Patriot]

Be aware that although quartz (the manmade product, not actual slab quartz) is gorgeous, if your counters receive direct sun, they can yellow or warp. I really wanted quartz but have west windows so I went with granite. I also advise not settling, and getting what you want! You will love it every time you enter your kitchen!

[@This-and-that-m2b]

Its not worth getting those Pyrex glass measuring cups. The paint lines wash off in just a few months and then you either have to replace it again or use a different measuring cup to add your stuff to the cup which totally defeats the point.

[@MelissaKNorris]

Mine are over 12 + years old and the lines are all there still

[@veronicageorge7820]

@ Melissa Boel & @ Melissa K Norris- Modern Homesteading I believe it is a manufacturing issue. I have had many. My first ones I loved so much, I bought more and to my displeasure had the same issue as Melissa. I have since bought more in a pinch and they are as good as the first ones. I think some are, or at least were, not made up to the normal Pyrex standard. It is also possible they were not real Pyrex (though I bought all of mine from reputable brick and mortar stores.)

[@cherylbishop7657]

I use a sharpie permanent marker next to their mark , just make sure you use alcohol to wash the glass first. GOD BLESS FROM CHRISTMAS VALLEY OREGON

[@cinnamongurl8102]

I used my pyrex cup for paint mixing because the measurements slowing wore off.

[@veronicageorge7820]

@@cinnamongurl8102 That’s not good. I do not like wasting my money.

[@rchuso]

Soap-making? Am I going to have to go search through your videos for how to make Pine-Tar Soap? I'd like one of those bench knifes, but I'll have to make my own. The shipping would be prohibitive to NZ.

[@pinkcoffee1502]

For the donuts what do you fry in if you don’t use vegetables oil.

[@MelissaKNorris]

Lard, coconut or peanut oil

[@victorialg1270]

Please do a soap making tutorial

[@livesoutdoors1708]

Plastic scrapers really save my cast iron and cookie sheets.

[@MelissaKNorris]

Plastic ones warped on me after time so I switched to wood

[@cv7357]

Lots of trolls on here. Don't click any of the links with time-stamps!

[@MelissaKNorris]

Got them blocked!

[@veronicageorge7820]

@ c v Thank you for warning others

[@OurIntrovertedHomestead]

Everything you've shown is awesome! Even the "Insta pot"...I'm just curious...WHY do people call it that? It CLEARLY states the name INSTANT POT on the pot!!! Sorry, just had to vent...

[@annalynn9325]

This is a good video! I have many of the same tools. All the comments “It’s Instant Pot not Instapot!” Lol. Get a life, people 😂

[@CmonHomesteading]

Good Stuff C'mon!!!

[@andersonisabel1]

Add my name to the waiting list!

[@snsmystic]

I found my pyrex measuring cup with the sprout is inaccurate. It was quite disappointing and makes me reluctant to get larger sizes.

[@MelissaKNorris]

For liquid or dry items?

[@1MSally1965]

@@MelissaKNorris they’re only for liquid measure.

[@MelissaKNorris]

@@1MSally1965 correct but was asking if they were using it for dry which would account for inaccuracy

[@snsmystic]

@@MelissaKNorris It was for wet. I compared the volume to my other measuring cups of different brands after one of my regular recipes ended up too dry. The pyrex was the one that was off where as the other brands all held the same volume. Edit: got mine at TJ maxx so maybe there is something to be said about discounted stores? :)

[@DragonflyzPrepsteadNDesigns]

I love all your gadgets. And it's a Instant Pot, not Insta Pot. 🌻

[@1MSally1965]

I thought that too and the maysure got me. It’s meh sure. Measure lol.

[@DragonflyzPrepsteadNDesigns]

@@1MSally1965 same here.

[@dunawam]

Get two’f’em!

[@JacksonClan11]

I didn't like the instant pot. I only used it for rice and oatmeal. I thought the texture of meat and veggies was awful.

[@timehealthfit1891]

this is a good video, want to be youtube friends?