Multi function kitchen appliance?

Miss_Purple_Hat

Long time lurker, infrequent poster here.

Before I start - please do not attempt to give me medical advice, I know you'd only be being nice but it's not what I'm after here and I want to keep on topic. However, suggestions (besides obviously gloves or buying pre-chopped veg, etc.) for making life easier with the kitchen tasks being discussed are fine.

I want to be more OS and love the idea of making more things from scratch but I have certain limits. I have severe eczema on my hands so when I'm on a bad day chopping vegetables can be problematic as the juices get into cracks in my skin and sting. I also have the beginnings of early onset arthritis in my hands and wrists (I blame my mum - it's in the genes, lol) so kneading dough to make bread (did it once - nightmare) and mixing ingredients for cakes can also be very difficult - LOVE baking but don't do it often. (And again, chopping veg can be made more difficult - don't get me started on swede... )

I'm looking to invest in some sort of electrical kitchen multi-function tool thingy wotsit to help me with stuff like this. As you can tell I know nothing of fancy machines and what functions can be combined...

If possible I'd also like a function like a blender as I would like to make home made soups and smoothies.

But I am a student who will be back in halls next year, so any machine needs to:
a) combine as many functions as physically possible (and that are regularly useful to many OSers!) into one machine,
b) not be ridiculously large (will be lack of storage space), and
c) achieve all this for the minimum price (though obviously not give up the ghost the moment the manufacturer's warranty dies, so will be consideration for paying extra for something that will last for a few years)

And washing up is literally bad for me :rotfl: so preferably not lots of parts that need lots of washing. (Halls = no dishwasher.)

I realise I'm asking a lot, but any suggestions of particular appliances that fulfil a few of these needs would be welcome!

Thank you all in advance.

MPH

P.S. Away on holiday for a couple of days so will check out your no doubt excellent suggestions when I get back.

Linda32

We arn't allowed to give out medical information, its against forum rules, so you won't get that anyway

I was thinking of an electric food mixer with a blender on the side. But they are bulky and need alot of washing. (I've got one, I know and for that reason I hardly ever use it)

I use a hand held electric mixer. Its got quite a big handle (Russell Hobbs) so I would imagine would be easy to hold.

It dosn't kneed bread though, and since I'm rubbish at bread I wouldn't know what does either.

After that, I can only think of Good Grips range which I'm sure you are aware off. I don't think they are electrical though.

hermum

A kenwood chef would be excellent for you, except for the storage as it's a bulky heavy machine & very expensive but would last you years.
You can get all sorts of attachments & most of it is pretty easy to clean.
Food processors will do most of the jobs you want doing however several people I know who have them don't use them because they're a pain to clean.

TheConways

I bought a Braun Multiquick 7 K3000 recently and it is amazing. Chops, shreds, blends, kneads dough, cuts, mixes cake batter etc etc.

They are not cheap - best price is Amazon for 186GBP:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Braun-Multiquick-kitchen-machine-3000/dp/B000LB1D4U/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1338988147&sr=8-6

A cheaper option might be this Kenwood food processor for 75GBP:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kenwood-FP736-Multi-Food-Processor/dp/B005DL7XQK/ref=pd_cp_kh_0

As for cleaning... I have a dishwasher, but I have cleaned by Braun by hand and found it a doddle in the washing up bowl.

kittycat204

Miss_Purple_Hat wrote: »

don't get me started on swede... )

If possible I'd also like a function like a blender as I would like to make home made soups and smoothies.

you want to get a stick blender for £5 for a start. to clean it i just put in the bowl, or a glass of water and turn it on. cleans most of it.

as for the swede chopping, shove it in a bowl whole and microwave it then chop it, then you can roast it or leave it in there to then mash it. i do the same with a butternut squash.