£100 to kit out my kitchen...

misskool

we've not done the kitchen yet so at the moment, I've been using a single induction plate (from lidl, £29.99, we bought around this time last year I think), a remoska (£25 second hand), toaster (Oh's treat, so not included), kettle (£5 argos), microwave (£30 argos, from vouchers so technically free) and toastie maker (£5 argos). We've eaten really well (and I've managed to make jams and things!) so it's really possible.

I do miss having a proper oven to bake things but we're getting ours done soon.

anguk

onedayiwill wrote: »

Firefox - that 4 in 1 sounds excellent ... I eat porridge most mornings, eat loads of rice and want to try stews, and that would really help out if I can get one for the right price. Does the pot lift out (e.g. for serving stews at the table)? How easy is it to clean? Haven't had experience of the george forman type grill but like the idea of it ... don't think I could afford that luxury right now. Maybe I can ask for one for Christmas

You don't have to get a George Forman grill, Tesco & Asda do thier own version. The small one is just under £10 and if you want one a bit bigger Tesco have one for just under £15.
http://direct.tesco.com/q/N.1999585/Nr.99.aspx?Ns=P_HIDDEN_Stock_Available%7C1%7C%7CP_SORT_Price&btnResultSort.x=35&btnResultSort.y=7

I'm not sure how I would cope with only one hob plate either ... but the more I think about it, the less I fancy the solid plates on a mini kitchen. I have cooked on them for 8 years already and encountered all the same problems as you. I think I might have had enough and might prefer to cope with a single induction plate - there are some quite cheap ones on ebay. I can always get a second one in future if necessary once I've saved up for it (read that as "sold enough of my junk"!)

I got a single induction hob about 6 months ago and I've never used my electric cooker hob since. I just use the induction hob and an electric steamer and it's plenty enough for us, a family of 3 (or 4 when son is home).

Even a Sunday lunch is easy, potatoes on the hob (if we're having mash), meat in the oven and veg in the steamer.

I love my induction hob and if it broke would immediately replace it.

esmf73

anguk wrote: »

I love my induction hob but would rather have a traditional oven than a halogen so I would go for a mini kitchen. As you've got £100 I would go for this:
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4228235/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CKitchen+and+laundry%7C14418476/c_2/2%7Ccat_14418476%7CSmall+kitchen+appliances%7C14418587/c_3/3%7Ccat_14418587%7CSlow+cookers+and+ovens%7C14418592.htm
On offer with £20 off so only costs £58.29.

With the £40 you have left I'd get this 3.5 litre slow cooker, on offer for £11.09 (£5 off)
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4228709/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CKitchen+and+laundry%7C14418476/c_2/2%7Ccat_14418476%7CSmall+kitchen+appliances%7C14418587/c_3/3%7Ccat_14418587%7CSlow+cookers+and+ovens%7C14418592.htm

And this steamer, half price at £23.99
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4201197/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CKitchen+and+laundry%7C14418476/c_2/2%7Ccat_14418476%7CSmall+kitchen+appliances%7C14418587/c_3/3%7Ccat_14418587%7CSteamers%7C14418590.htm

Edit: If you buy the cheaper 2 tier steamer for £9.79
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4228936/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CKitchen+and+laundry%7C14418476/c_2/2%7Ccat_14418476%7CSmall+kitchen+appliances%7C14418587/c_3/3%7Ccat_14418587%7CSteamers%7C14418590.htm
you would have enough money left to buy an extra double hob for £19.58 (£9 off)
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4231930/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CKitchen+and+laundry%7C14418476/c_2/2%7Ccat_14418476%7CSmall+kitchen+appliances%7C14418587/c_3/3%7Ccat_14418587%7CSlow+cookers+and+ovens%7C14418592.htm

Edit again: if you're not bothered about 2nd hand you could have a look for a normal electric cooker locally on Ebay?

HAVE to say that I think this is probably the best option - and one I would certainly choose with our family of 5!

Fire_Fox

onedayiwill wrote: »

Firefox - that 4 in 1 sounds excellent ... I eat porridge most mornings, eat loads of rice and want to try stews, and that would really help out if I can get one for the right price. Does the pot lift out (e.g. for serving stews at the table)? How easy is it to clean? Haven't had experience of the george forman type grill but like the idea of it ... don't think I could afford that luxury right now. Maybe I can ask for one for Christmas

I'm not sure how I would cope with only one hob plate either ... but the more I think about it, the less I fancy the solid plates on a mini kitchen. I have cooked on them for 8 years already and encountered all the same problems as you. I think I might have had enough and might prefer to cope with a single induction plate - there are some quite cheap ones on ebay. I can always get a second one in future if necessary once I've saved up for it (read that as "sold enough of my junk"!)

OK - so now I'm seriously considering:
- microwave combination oven
- tefal 4 in 1
- single induction plate

The Tefal four-in-one has a non stick metal bowl that lifts out for washing. It's not smart for serving, but certainly serviceable when you are just immediate family. Definitely try a Tefal outlet or eBay.

If you want an electric health grill don't bother with a proper George Foreman as they seem a bit flimsy for the price. My last one was a £10 no-name and worked like a dream. The only reason it got replaced was the non-stick wore off (after two years)! I used to have a combi microwave and hated it, but to be fair I only had a cheap one and it was years ago so they may have improved.

Chris25

ASDA have an own brand slowcooker on half price offer at the moment - £7.50 - think it was 3.5 litres.

Gingham_Ribbon

This cooker is 100 pounds.

Skintmama

If you have a branch of Refurnish near you then a reconditioned cooker could be your cheapest option. They are also very good for furniture and have two scales of prices depending on whether you are on certain benefits or not. I am not on benefits but still found them very cheap for my "new to me" sofa last year.

Believe it or not you can create a very pretty temporary kitchen ( I have had four lol) depending on how you arrange your shelves, paint things and use nice fabrics. My kitchens on a shoestring have been some of my favourites!

onedayiwill

Hi all - thanks everyone for your continued posts & suggesions.

Managed to pick up a second hand Tefal 4 in 1 for £25 and am very happy with the rice it produces Going to try it for my porridge tomorrow. Unfortunately there is no book with it - have downloaded the basic manual from the Tefal website but when I went to look at one in John Lewis I noticed it also had a book with recipes in it ... does anyone have one they could scan for me? I'd be really interested.

Also got an single induction plate for £20 + postage from ebay; should arrive in the next couple of days.

Looking for a half decent combi at a reasonable price - I notice Tesco have a Tricity one which looks like it might be close to fitting the bill price wise with Quidco.

We'll see.....

Chris25

anything on here? http://www.tefal.co.uk/Tefal+magazine/Recipes/Home+recipes.htm

there's a review on here might give you more ideas http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/small-kitchen-electrical/tefal-rk701115-4-in-1-slow-cooker-rice-cooker-steamer/1223702/

rosieben

I've been managing really well with a micro/combi and a slow cooker and just use the hob. I havent turned on my fan oven since I bought the combi; in fact I've been thinking of getting rid of the big cooker altogether and getting a portable induction hob but my kids have just bought me a lovely tefal steamer so I'm not sure I need a hob at all. I have a remoska but to be honest I could do without that quite easily. I love my slow cooker though!

I think I'd manage with just a combi, slow cooker and steamer.