My food mixer. It does everything I need, I've had it for years and it's red! https://indextronics.com/it/p/3517-kenwood-robot-compact-multione-rouge-1000w-43l-khh324rd-5011423189475.html

One of my most beloved tools is my mother's ladle. Her kitchen utensil set was from the hardware store, I think before she was married. Various pieces have been passed to me over the years, but that ladle is perfect. Perfect. I've never found another perfect one. I saw it one day looking sad. The people who helped in the house when my parents were very old didn't take care of things. I rescued the poor thing and substituted an indestructible stainless punch ladle. But my beloved ladle's handle will fall apart if I use it too much, so I save it for clear soups--i.e., when it matters most to be perfect.

I got one of the punch ladles for myself, too. It's not perfect by any means, but pretty good. I have an '80's Italian plastic ladle which has its own version of a different perfection, but I don't use it with hot anymore because of the plastic. And I have a dull, commercial looking, stainless oval ladle with the non-pouring side raised with holes for straining. This is a very useful thing! But it's not so great for plain old dishing up soup or stew. :)

But standstill? I love tools, and have plenty of backups or alternatives. My most used tool is my 8" chef's knife and textured white nylon cutting board. But i have other long knives and cutting boards, and food would go on without them. I think my next most used tool is scissors!

I like my Danish dough whisks much more than I thought I would. I bought one to use in Cathedral City because I do not have a Kitchenaid mixer here (and do not have room for one), and I wanted something to use for mixing bread and pizza dough prior to kneading.

Then I bought an additional whisk to use in L.A. and another one to use here in CC for mixing batters. I find them to be very efficient for what they do, and they are easy to clean.

agmss, I don't want to assume anything, but have you changed the batteries?

^^^That was my first thought. Almost too obvious but it sounds just like low battery symptoms.

I, too, use the kitchen scale way more than the average human. But I’m not attached to it, would just replace it if it died.

The only thing that comes to mind is my favorite spatula. i have a half dozen or so but there’s one I’ll always reach for. If it’s dirty I’ll often hand wash rather than choose another. I’m always on the lookout for something similar, but simply haven’t found another with the size, shape, stiffness, and overall feel that I like. I’d be really sad if something bad happened to it.

Did not realize how much we use our scale until it started acting up similar. I had to wait a few days for a variety pack of batteries. That fixed it.

When you think you have sturdy lifetime kitchen tools, something falls apart or handles snap off. We've been lucky recently with replacements proving better than the originals. The handle snapped off my favorite bean and stock skimmer. It is round, wide, and just slightly concave. Nothing on-line is remotely similar. Turns out it is easier to use without the long handle. Fits in my 'favorites' drawer. The long handle is in my stove side crock. Use both all the time as singletons. (so thankful I did not toss them)

During lockdown my pantry mounted 'swing-away' can opener fell apart in a dozen pieces. I don't stock many canned goods. The few I have like tuna now have pull tabs. Amazing that I managed to put I back together. Still only use it about once a year.

When the handle came off my OXO spatula, I purchased the 'fish' spatula that I see chefs use. Used for everything, not just fish. I'm always hand washing it so I could use another one.

Just wanted to say replacing the batteries was what my old Salter scale needed.

I also have favorite spatulas, and I hang them on magnetic hooks on the side of the refrigerators so that they will be very handy to grab. I also have two oven mitts on magnetic hooks, which are another favorite tool.

I broke my very favorite wooden spoon recently and the replacement doesn’t feel nearly as nice. I do enjoy whisks. I rarely use a machine to whip cream or eggwhites (unless it is meringue). The medium black handled one is very comfortable. The tiny one is ancient and used for small batches of vinaigrette or frothing milk. The bird whisk is fun.

I have some small whisks smaller than your tiny one, and I use them almost every day to beat a single egg, which I crack into a small glass cream pitcher, of which I also have several. The small whisks make much less noise than using a spoon or fork does for beating a single egg.

I've never seen a bird whisk before!

Pilllog, please snap some photos of your moyher’s ladle. I will keep an etye out at yard sales and thrift stores.

One tool I miss is a particular silicone spatular on a wooden handle. Thin, narrow, perfectly flexible but with body. I bought two alike at someplace like TJ Maxx 25 or 20 years ago. I think they were made in some Nordic country. I spotten one like it at the (now closed) kitchen store in Concord, MA, but I did not want fo hand over $14 for it. I have since looked high and low for a replacement. I have others, but nbone come close to my yellow silicone one — they are too stiff or too flimsy or the handle in clunky.

I have lots of cooking knives. My favorite one these days is a 6-inch Global chef’s knife.

I have a fish spatula that I use a lot and some vintage 12-inch cast iron skillets that are perfectly seasoned and baby butt smooth. I also have a favorite vintage dark dark brown stoneware bean pot. Also a large Roseville. Ohio stobeware bowl that is ivory with two blue stripes. I have my grandmother antique pine rolling pin, handles long broken, that I have in a drawer, but never use.

I used to be the queen of kitchen utensils but my house burned and I lost them all. Though I have long since replaced the essential ones there are things that I have never cooked since because I do not have the perfect utensil or pan any longer.

Patriciae, I am so sorry to here that.

@Patriciae I am so sorry. Our home burned when I was about 4. While I barely remember it - It was very traumatic for my parents - for my dad especially. He used to say he lost the nail he hung his coat on. It is the smaller losses that lingered.

FWIW I did change the batteries on my scale. I can still only turn it on sometimes. And can’t change between metric and imperial, turn on the light etc…