Must have kitchen gadgets

ceridwen

Another one who just doesnt use her food processor - or her breadmaker.

I rate wooden chopping boards myself - wouldnt dream of using glass ones (thought they were worktop protectors - rather than being chopping boards ). I won't use plastic ones - as those teensy little slivers of material that wear off over time and use are going somewheres (don't want little slivers of plastic in my stomach thanks all the same!).

Having gone through various storage containers - have now worked out the ideal ones are square one-person size - as they stack neatly one on top of the other. Also I was wasting a fair bit of my limited freezer space with the empty air in a lot of my bigger containers I had in the freezer.

blueberrypie

juliapenguin wrote: »

I'm sure lots of people will disagree with me, but I always cook from scratch and NEVER can be bothered with my food processor (which was a present). It's such a faff to take it apart and clean it afterwards, and because it takes up too much room on the worktop I keep it in a cupboard and it never sees the light of day!

I used to be the same, so I know what you mean, but having got rid of my old food processor, about three years ago I decided to replace it and now things are completely different.

I specifically looked for one that would do the things I needed it to do, which included grating cheese, chopping veg, handling bread-dough and liquidising (for smoothies etc). And I paid a lot of attention to how easy it was to clean and to how much space it would take up.

The one I have now takes up not much more counter-space than a kettle, so it stays out. And because it stays out, I use it - a lot.

The one I chose is this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/redirect?link_code=ur2&tag=notsheep-21&camp=1634&creative=6738&path=ASIN%2FB000278B1Q%3F%255Fencoding%3DUTF8 - it looks like a lot of stuff in that photo, but all the bits I don't use regularly go in a box in the cupboard. On the counter I have the base, the bowl (with the chopping blade inside) and the lid. The grater/cutter discs, the liquidiser jug and the dough-blade sit in the cupboard above the food processor, along with the mini-chopper attachment. The bowl and all the other bits are very easy to wash out - nothing fiddly. All the various bits attach and detach very easily - the bowl, mini-bowl and jug all just attach to the base with a push-and-turn.

I'm a bit of a sucker for a good, well-thought-out design, and this machine has it. You get the feeling that whoever designed it had actually *used* a food processor to cook for a family for a few years. Two of my friends have bought the same one after seeing mine. If you do decide to buy a food processor, I definitely recommend this one :-)

Meadows

Ellonquine wrote: »

Hi

I am new to this board and still trying to find my way around it.

We are currently being careful with regards to electricity/gas usage and amount of money spent at the supermarkets. We have a breadmaker and slow cooker which have been used more recently, as I am trying to make more homecooked meals etc.

Is there anything else I could buy/borrow to make things easier in the kitchen to save time and money. We are thinking of buying a food processor but not sure if it will be worthwhile.

Cheers

Rather than a food processor, invest in a good hand blender with a mini chopper.
The blender will work straight into the pan to liquidize and the chopper will do anything from breadcrumbs etc.
It’s all very easy to clean and will get more use than a food processor!

larmy16

My JML Halogen oven has changed my life! Used in combination with my microwave, it has speeded up dinner time, food tastes great and it saves heaps on electricity.

I too prefer to use a knife than wash up all the bits a pieces of a processor though I am sure they are a boon if you have a batch cook. The only time I use a little chopper machine is when I am making curries. I blend up the onions with some chopped toms and ginger/garlic/chilli as my family hate bigger chunks of onions.

Primrose

Great spacesavers if you want to buy or cook in bulk and use your freezer profitably and have a tiny kitchen are Lakeland's zipped and self sealing polythene food storage bags. I have cupboards full of empty polythene storages boxes which in the past have been used for freezing stews, soups etc. and every time I open the doors they all topple out and drive me mad. Now I've switched to these polythene bags they can all be washed, dried and stored flat in a kitchen drawer and they store more flexibly in the freezer too.
Like others, I now rarely use my food processor which is blocking up another cupboard. Instead we've invested in an electric blender stick which blitzes liquids and soups to a purree in seconds and is just as quick to clean afterwards. I also wouldn't be without our pressure cooker which makes excellent stock from chicken & other carcasses and enables us to make cheap home made soup for pennies.

moanymoany

On a regular basis I use -

My hand held stick blender. It makes batter and blends soups, it is good for all liquid mixes. I would replace this.

Old hand held beater chefette mixer - cakes and mashed potatoes (which it does brilliantly) Easy to clean and store. I would replace this if it ever broke.

Kenwood chef - to make bread. Don't knead, but it mixes the dough very well. Just made 6 loaves in 20 minutes! I would replace this.

The coffee grinder bit of an old liquidiser. Breadcrumbs, spices, nuts, linseeds - anything like that. I would replace this.

I have a food processor but rarely use it. If I grate lots of veg or cheese I do, I wouldn't be without it now I have it. Would I buy one specially? No, I don't think so. I wouldn't replace this.

Splatter guards for frying - well worth buying.

Electric steamer - useful but takes space and is fiddley. I use it for steamed puddings.

Steamer pan - well worth getting, I use mine several times a week.

moanymoany

Primrose wrote: »

Great spacesavers if you want to buy or cook in bulk and use your freezer profitably and have a tiny kitchen are Lakeland's zipped and self sealing polythene food storage bags. I have cupboards full of empty polythene storages boxes which in the past have been used for freezing stews, soups etc. and every time I open the doors they all topple out and drive me mad. Now I've switched to these polythene bags they can all be washed, dried and stored flat in a kitchen drawer and they store more flexibly in the freezer too.

I use washed tetra packs with a plastic bag inside and the bases of plastic milk bottles to freeze food. This means they stack in the drawers.

I store them in the garage to keep them out of the way.

mags50_2

What a brilliant idea for the bases of plastic milk bottles! :j
I've made scoops out of them, but never thought to use them in the freezer like that.
Thanks moanymoany

daleigha

i eat a lot of tomato based pasta sauces, so my food processor gets an airing almost every day, to blend the sauce with whatever various things i have handy to put in. although, i have one similair to blueberrypie, and i use the 'smoothie' jug thing for this - the big round bit rarely gets used - really only for making breadcrumbs. i once tried to whisk egg whites in it - it was rubbish!! :mad: we also make smoothies in it.

you should try the stick blender first, as they are much cheaper, and if you use it regularily, then think about investing in a food processor.

xx

thriftlady_2

I must say I don't use my food processor much despite having recently bought an expensive one. I would never get it out to chop veg for one meal.

However, every couple of months I haul it out and chop a massive amount of onions, garlic, carrots, peppers, celery and leeks. I chop them very finely so that they are almost a mush. Then, I freeze it in large handful-sized portions.

I use this veg hash every time I make a stew, soup, curry, pizza or pasta sauce as the base flavouring. I defrost it first, or, if I've forgotton I stick it in the microwave for 1-2 mins.

There's more about it here particularly post 25

A freezer is probably the best tool you can have for money and time saving in the kitchen as it allows you to prepare and cook in bulk. For example when baking I always double (at least) the recipe and freeze extras. I bake 4 loaves at a time and freeze them. You can't do that with a bread maker.