The faster I'm off my feet, the better the back. But my hands don't work quickly and efficiently, like the old days. Worse yet, thinly sliced whatever comes out great chunks. So does finely chopped.
I've tried some "solutions". My sister gave me a beautiful knife that must be hand washed, its tempered steel is that sensitive. I can't control it well enough for fast chopping, and even drove the tip of it across a pad of my palm. Fortunately I learned butterfly bandages way back in Y Camp.
I bought something with sharp plastic blades to push against the chopees. Exhausting and ineffectual. I used to have a little bladed machine that whipped through onions and stuff. I couldn't make it work, so I sent it home with Laura. My hands might be strong enough now, but, damn, they hurt.
Internet perusal led me to a little machine like that, only people powered, no cord involved. The reviews were rave or bah-humbug. The bah's were mostly that it had to be hand washed and it's too complicated to understand.
That's it, back there with the red handle. I like it well enough to give it a semi permanent place on the counter. The handle looks like a game controller.
Last night I decimated two scallions, white then green, four cloves of garlic and a half a cup of finely diced onions. When I cleaned up after supper, I rinsed all the parts of my chopper and left it draining on the counter.
I did cut myself! It came with blade guards on the three blades. I jammed the back edge of the first blade guard removal well into my thumb. I'm still wearing that butterfly bandage.
Hi Joanne: You are having a miserable time with these routine tasks. I am sure that arthritic fingers are no fun. Getting old is sometimes not easy, and that's an understatement.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you found such a good chopper, now try to keep it away from your hands. Also make sure to keep many butterfly bandages around. :)
ReplyDeleteOuch! I suggest buying only red onions so the blood doesn't show.
ReplyDeleteOh yiiiikes! That was pretty scary.
ReplyDeleteI hope your new chopper becomes easier (less dangerous) to use! Andy gave me a steel mesh glove to where when doing something that might cause me to cut myself...https://www.amazon.com/s?k=steel+mesh+gloves+for+cutting+with+knives&crid=2TH5O6MYCYINS&sprefix=steel+mesh+glove%2Caps%2C184&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_3_16
ReplyDeleteOuch! I meant to type "wear", not "where"!
ReplyDeleteOuch!! Hopefully each time you use it, you'll get more familiar with it and avoid cuts in the future??
ReplyDeletebetty
I was going to suggest a food processor - and that's essentially what you've landed on, except in a manual version :) If you ever find it too hard to use, or if you're looking for more functions, do consider a larger processor. Mine came with blades for different jobs - shredding cheese or veggies, slicing in different thicknesses, etc. - and will also chop veggies or meat, and even mix dough for pizza.
ReplyDeleteMandolins are a treasure. The space they take up, cleaning, changing cutters makes using one ok for big meals. I use hand chopper mostly.
ReplyDeleteYou are dangerous with chopping utensils. Be careful.
ReplyDeleteBe careful. I am increasingly not safe with sharp objects, and I feel for and with you.
ReplyDeleteIt looks a little like a salad spinner, but with blades. A very handy little gizmo. I'm still okay with chopping things so far. I did use a much larger cleaver than usual to slice into a rockmelon and had my finger too close to the tip. I didn't even notice the cut at first, the bleeding didn't start right away, just sort of oozed as I washed my hands.
ReplyDeleteI'm in much the same boat - arthritis in fingers and wrists. I'm starting to use a small food processor. It's tricky not pulverizing stuff, and I have to be careful washing the blade, but so far it hasn't been as dangerous or exhausting as chopping has become.
ReplyDeleteWell, it's good that it works but bad if it cuts you. Of course we can get cut on anything with a sharp blade as I know from much experience! I have arthritis and carpel tunnel and have trouble doing much chopping so I use an electric food processor. They come with different blades for different thicknesses and will do other things as Jenny mentioned. I love my food processor and will not be without it. The parts all go in the dishwasher too. Please be careful!
ReplyDeleteBags of grated cheese and frozen chopped onions - two wonderful purchases when I need them. Cloves of garlic get hit over the head with the back of a knife and if I need it chopped/minced it comes out of a jar.
ReplyDeleteArthritis in the hands/fingers can be a real pain but having said that, since taking Green Lipped Mussel for the past few years they haven't been too bad.
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteSo far, my 'ol arther' hasn't prevented me doing the finer detail stuff in the kitchen... though the back is like yours and standing too long at the counter is murder. I do have an electric 'whipper snipper' for things like herbs and larger vege which have been chopped roughly... but mostly I just rely on my chef's knife. There has been the very occasional show of blood... YAM xx
I am very slow in the kitchen and, like you, I have arthritic hands. But probably not quite as bad as yours.
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ReplyDeleteFor many years before she went into care, my mom would cook at the counter. She couldn't stand up for more than a few seconds or walk far but she would sit on her walker (it was a sturdy walker with a bench) and she would do her meal preparation and cooking. It worked for her. I guess the seat was probably higher than a normal chair. Arthritis in fingers can make chopping difficult. Perhaps you could use one of those manual choppers. They seem quick. You know the kind that is like a food processor but it is manual and you just press on the level as many times as you like to get the pieces to the size you want.
ReplyDeleteNow that I think about what you've written I think you've already tried this. Next step then would be to use a food processor that you plug in. Al the best.
ReplyDeleteSo many adaptations required as we age. I’ve chopped a few fingers this week as I cut veg for lunch. No adaptation can fit carelessness however.
ReplyDeleteUhmmm - maybe you shouldn't use sharp objects. What about a food processor. I have a small-ish one. Works well.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, one injury after another. Your clever new machine looks like it does the business though. But why is there a small bird in the saucepan?
ReplyDeleteI love my mandolin for getting nice slices...and it's adjustable so I can get 5 different thicknesses. Usually I just rinse it off too.
ReplyDeleteI, too, am wondering about the bird in the skillet.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you've found a device that works even if it is dangerous. I am wearing a bandaid on a finger as we speak due to a knife incident. But this time I wasn't using the knife. It was laying in the dish drainer when I went to grab something out of it. It's the knife that will cut through chicken bones. I'm lucky to have a finger.
I wish you didn't have so many aches and pains. I know how much my little ones affect me and my life.
I usually lose a layer of skin or two with box graters and mandolins. A friend gave me a small Cuisinart and it has drastically cut down on my bandaid consumption.
ReplyDeleteOh the joys of getting old and arthritic Joanne - join the club.
ReplyDeleteOh, please, be careful when dealing with sharp objects!
ReplyDeleteI think I'll have the same problem, since my middle finger already hurts...
I'll only use blunt knives. Don't care if they only squash things in half rather than cut them.
ReplyDeleteI have a terribly old 40 years perhaps original cuisinart that still does a find job of slicing and chopping. I am missing some of the attachments as I've moved a bit but it's still a workhorse and I never had an injury. Ouch on yours!
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
I have a little electric chopper that I usually forget I have and suffer through sting and tearing eyes to chop onions. I need to use it more often. the blades are very sharp as are the blades of the blender, both of which I handle with extreme care. so far no cuts unlike with the knife when I sliced off a piece of my left index finger several years back.
ReplyDeleteOooooo, I always cringe when I hear of someone cutting themselves! I hope it heals soon.
ReplyDeleteIt sucks to get up there in years. I buy my onions already chopped sometimes
ReplyDeleteThe supermarket's selection of ready-chopped vegetables in plastic bags seems to include everything; kale, onions, red cabbage, carrots in batons or slices or grated, even sliced mushrooms for heaven's sake ……… but I refuse to believe there are any vitamins left in them.
ReplyDeleteThis is one skill I want to master: chopping stuff. I do such a horrible job. Maybe I will have to get a device like you have. Hope you heal up quickly. Take care.
ReplyDeleteOuch!
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