Growing up in a Danish-American household, there were always peculiar tools and devices in our kitchen. We took a lot of these things for granted as children because we used them on a daily basis. And, as children do, we thought they were a part of every kitchen, not just ours. However, now that we are older, we have more of a fondness for them. They not only remind us of home, but we also think that they make baking and cooking an easier process. Some of these tools can be difficult to get ahold of in the US so we do sometimes bring them back from Denmark when we visit. However, we have tried our very best to link a version of each tool in today’s post!
1. Can Opener
Many people use can openers that are big and clunky, where you twist the knob on the side so that the wheels turn and the blade cuts the can open. Obviously, these work well when used properly. However, you cannot convince us that this Danish can opener is not a way better option! It’s so small, easy to clean and store, and works like a charm. All you do is place it on the can so that the blade pierces the can, then continue to twist your wrist as you move the can opener around the can and slice it open. These also last practically forever, as they are really sturdy pieces of metal that do not get rusty like regular can openers. We couldn’t find the exact version that we have online, but here’s a version that’s available on Amazon*!
2. Cheese Slicers
It’s no secret that cheese is an essential part of many Scandinavians’ diets. And when we eat so much cheese, it’s also no surprise that we have created tools that slice cheese quickly! Now, there are two types of cheese slicers we want to advertise in this post. The first is the Norwegian one, which consists of a wooden handle with a flat metal piece at the top. The metal part has a blade in the center, so you just run the slicer over a block of cheese and it gives you perfect slices! Here’s one* that we found on Amazon.
The second cheese slicer is the Danish one that we grew up using. It consists of a long metal rod with wire on each side (one side cuts thicker slices, the other cuts thinner ones). This is so incredibly easy to use – you just pull the wire across the cheese and it easily slices it into very even slices! We promise that either one of these options is a billion times easier than cutting cheese with a knife! Here’s a link* to one you can find on Amazon!
3. Vegetable Peeler
We have so many memories of peeling tons of potatoes with our morfar (grandfather) outside in the summertime before dinner, and that makes us particularly fond of our vegetable peelers. Now, Danish/Scandinavian vegetable peelers do not actually look any different from regular ones. We just think that they are a bit sturdier than the ones you can buy in the US and UK! That’s also no surprise, since Scandinavians consume so many potatoes, so of course the Danish design industry had to come up with a product for this.
Anyway, we think that the secret to the sturdiest vegetable peeler is a wooden handle, so look for this next time you are shopping for a new one. Personally, I cannot use peelers that have plastic or metal handles because I find them so flimsy and impossible to use to quickly peel vegetables. The wooden ones, on the other hand, are so sturdy and reliable, which just means that you can use them more quickly and effectively! Here’s a link to some results we found on Etsy as it’s quite difficult to find them in the United States!
4. Egg Slicer
These are actually German (sorry), not Scandinavian or Danish. But, they are still an essential part of a Scandinavian kitchen! If you like topping your smørrebrød (open-faced sandwiches) with egg slices, you need one of these. They make the process so easy. The wire cuts through the egg and leaves you with perfect slices for sandwiches or garnish! One of the best tools we own by far, and although it may not be Scandinavian, we had to make an exception just this once. We found ours at IKEA – check out the link here!
5. Æbleskiver Pan!
The final tool that we would say is essential for a Danish kitchen is a pan for æbleskiver*. If you have never heard of this delicious treat, you can check out our recipe here. They are basically puffs of pancake batter that are served with powdered sugar and jam around Christmastime. And the only way to properly make them is by using one of these pans! You pour the batter in and slowly turn them as they cook to turn them into little pancake balls. It may seem like a silly tool to spend money on, but once you try æbleskiver, you will never regret it! They may be a Christmastime treat in Denmark, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make them all year round and impress all your friends and family with these yummy little treats.
Thanks for reading today’s blog post – we hope you enjoyed it. These are all tools that we use on a regular basis, so we hope that if you buy them, they make your life in the kitchen a bit easier!
*Links marked with a * are affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
