Must have kitchen gadgets

Pink.

Hi Lindseykim

I'd go for the slow cooker, particularly if you work. One of the main benefits of a slow cooker is if you've been out all day for whatever reason, coming home to find a hot meal waiting for you. I would definitely recommend getting one.

The Complete Kitchen Equiptment and must have OS gadgets collection might give you some ideas.

These threads are particularly good:

Must have kitchen gadgets

Kitchen gadgets ...what is/is not essential

I'll add your thread to those later to keep all the suggestions together.

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Angelraesunshine

i three gadgets i use most are my bread maker, my wizz wizz otherwise known as as a 3 in 1 hand blender HERE like this one
i use it for chopping up bits all the time is great, also great for soups etc and my slow cooker.

redruby

I would go for a slow cooker too, its fine to leave things on the hob if you are home, but if you go out to work its safer to bung it all in the SC, low energy use, and you also come home to a lovely ready dinner

hth

lindseykim13

mm still not convinced that i need a slow cooker though, i don't work outside the home anyway and i home educate my children so most days have the time to cook a dinner, if we do ever do out for the whole day we tend to have a hm pizza or something quick in the freezer. What would i be able to use it for? If i'm making a casserole i tend to use the oven is there other usefull and cheap meals to be made using one?

any other suggestions anyone? thanks for answers so far, i've heard about yog makers (havn't checked the price though) a range of smaller gadgets perhaps?

flea72

my personal recommendation would be to get a 2nd hand Kenwood Mixer. i wouldnt live without mine, its just so useful.

personally ive never seen the need for a slow cooker. ive always made stews, etc in the oven, so havent felt the need to spend out on another appliance, that does something i can already do.

Flea

JoeyEmma

I don't use my slow cooker anywhere near as much as I use my little blended. They are ace! That Philips one looks ace, esp as the magic wand bit is metal. I've had cheaper plastic ones and if you put them in a pan of soup thats a bit too hot, they melt! The minichopper attatchment is great for making marinades and other stuff.

lolarentt

Definitely a steamer if you don't have one. We bought my partner' parents one for Christmas some 3 years ago (couldn't think of anything better!) but as they'd never used it we eventually said last year we'd have it if they didn't want it. I thought they were unnecessary things, microwave would be just as good, BUT how wrong I was - I use it nearly every day. Food tastes great, cooks veg much more evenly than microwave, easy to clean - it's a must!

lindseykim13

anymore anyone? hadn't thought of a steamer although not sure if it would get enough use, i would prob only steam fish.

Trow

I just got my slow cooker two days ago, so can't comment, but I reckon it will be a well-used piece of kit (I work funny shifts, so I'll be able to get healthy food into the family instead of OH's staples - pizza/chicken nuggets/sausages all served with oven chips....)
I use my hand blender a lot for soups/sauces. It's a Haden one and only cost £6.99 - and its never melted when I have put it in hot soup/sauces, unlike JoeyEmma's experience. It has been very well used and is still going strong.

Not exactly old style, but our toastie-maker gets a reasonable amount of use, for quick kids lunches.

I also love my electronic scales, so easy to use and versatile (can easily and accurately weight things for the posting as well - great if you ebay at all).

lolarentt

lindseykim13 wrote: »

anymore anyone? hadn't thought of a steamer although not sure if it would get enough use, i would prob only steam fish.

That's what we thought but fresh veg etc just tastes so good, and it's so convenient that it gets used most days (and that's after we've had it for about 6 months as well). It's replaced microwaving veg completely, unless there's only 1 item to cook.

Electronic scales (Trow above) a good idea if you don't have them already. I've had a Soehnle (Swiss) wall mounted one (John Lewis) for about 10 years now and it's used many times a day (we're usually trying to diet as well!) and only on it's 2nd button battery.