Kitchen gadgets ...what is/is not essential

mah_jong

Unlike anyone I know ...my cupboards are empty of gadgets! Well last year you might have counted my slow cooker as I had not used it for over a year! Scince her its been used twice a week on average!

However I have recently bought a new breadmaker (old one...worn out!!) got some digital scales. Need to be more accurate with my recipes!!! Now I am thinking of a food processor...just thinking (not an impulsive buyer, me!!!).

So is it worth the money...do they just clutter up the back of the cupboard after a few weeks or do they just get worn out with over use!!

So whilst on the theme is there anything you would recomend or say DONT get the ice cream maker / expresso/juicer or what ever!

Ma

Queenie

Much depends on an individual's needs.

I wouldn't be w/out my food processor, slow cooker or bread maker.

I still use my electric hand whisk, even though I have the processor LOL

I had a juicer - ditched it. Never yearned for an ice cream maker, I'm happy to do that by hand; but elona has just bought one and she is having great fun with it
For years had, loved and used often my coffee machine .. these days, I use a cafetierre as a rare treat.

You are going to get soooo many varied answers here Decide *your* priorities, assess your needs based on your household/circumstances.

Lillibet_2

Don't get a smoothie maker, they are just a blender with a tap! You can do the same with a stick blender/food processor.
I cook from scratch & like my food processor but I could get by with just my stick blender if necessary. These aren't too expensive, maybe you could compromise on one of these & see how much you use it? The more you use a stick blender then more I would think you would use a processor.
I love my waffle maker for weekend breakfasts but I lived without one until 5 months ago:rolleyes: & I would think this is not what you were thinking of anyway.

catznine

If I had to choose just one gadget in my kitchen it would be the food processor as I hate chopping onions and grating cheese and carrots. I use it most days and also use it to mix cakes, to puree soups and many other things.

Str4berr3

As i am new with the baking and more cooking wise; can anyone tell me wot exactly are these gadgets meant for?


Is a Hand Whisk and Hand Blender the same?
Mixer?
What is a Food Processor exactly?
Does the food Processor do all the things listed above?
I went to have a look in the Argos Catalogue, but they dont seem to have meaning for all catergory like they use to.

apprentice_tycoon

Str4berr3 wrote:

As i am new with the baking and more cooking wise; can anyone tell me wot exactly are these gadgets meant for?


Is a Hand Whisk and Hand Blender the same?


A whisk is for whipping batters, cream or egg whites - a hand blender is for pureeing soup etc (it's sometimes called a stick blender) useful for blending the soup in the pan so you don't dirty your processor

Mixer?

a hand held or on a stand machine for mixing cakes etc, cuts down on elbow grease


What is a Food Processor exactly?

it chops and slices, this means it will puree soup, mix the fat and flour for pastry and scones, with the grater and slicer blades you can make coleslaw or grate cheese etc. very labour and time saving


Does the food Processor do all the things listed above?

yes and no - they will tell you that it can make cakes and whip egg whites with it but you don't get the air mixed in that you can with a hand mixer


I went to have a look in the Argos Catalogue, but they dont seem to have meaning for all catergory like they use to.

If you can't afford them all I would get a processor second hand, they are always up for sale in the paper, don't bother with a small cheaper one, you will find it too small to be off use.

foreverskint

I bought a new hand held mixer recently with dought hooks. Save loads of time when kneading bread and has stopped me from buying a breadmaker. Takes about 5 mins to mix and knead enough dough for a 2lb loaf tin.
Also makes lovely mash with the normal beaters. I use it for making cakes too so it probably gets used the most and cost the least. I think it was around £15.00.

I would also recommend a stick blender, as they take so little space and are useful for soups, milksahkes/smoothies, yourkshire pud mixing, making baby food and so on.

I love my coffee machine but not the space it takes up!!
My processor probably doesn't get used as much as it should but I still couldn't be without it, for making pates, breadcrumbs,pastry etc

Never buy a sandwich toaster imho, they always seem to end up in the back of the cupboard.

The cheapest and best thing to buy is a good potato peeler!:D

calleyw

my most loved and used gadget has to be my 3 tier electric steamer. It is used 3/4 times a week.

With out I would be lost and spend time hovering in the kitchen watching pans to make sure they don't boil over.

Have to get a new one as the last one was only 7 months old and was not working properly. So my task this weekend is to get one before sunday lunch time :rotfl:

Yours

Calley

squeaky

My two most used items are my bread maker and my slow cooker. Both pay for themselves within a year.

After that is a food processor since it often combines the actions of stick blenders ( I have one anyway(£9.99) liquidisers (got one of those too) graters (got two of those) amd smoothie maker thingies (ain't got one of those).

I bought mine form asda but the same one can now be found at amazon for £29.somethingpence

I didn't realisre that FP's could be so cheap. Otherwise I would never have bought so many single price single item wotsits; I'd have bought a processor right from the start.

ka7e

Pressure cooker and another pressure cooker!

apple_mint

Bread maker is top of my list. Ours is definately earning its keep - it's on just about every night.

The slow cooker is a must for chicken, casseroles etc.

I have a stick blender - used mainly for pureeing the home made soups.

The food dryer is on every weekend - for apple rings, dried mushrooms, tomatoes, peppers etc. We couldn't give this up now.

My steamer isn't used as much as it shoud be, but when it is the steamed fish is to die for.

Only problem is, I haven't got much room on my worktops!