Kitchen gadgets ...what is/is not essential

LizD_2

Definitely a slow cooker, ours was a present and OH uses it loads. Me not so much, as I'm veggie so I don't do chicken or beef casserole!
Also have a jub blender which is useful for soups and smoothies.
Steamer used to be used a lot, but don't eat a lot of meat and two veg type dinners at the moment, sure we'll go back to it though.
Definitely avoid a juicer, difficult to clean, wasteful (you end up chucking 3/4 of the fruit away as pulp) and don't produce much juice!

strawberries1

I've got the smoothie to go and it'll lovely. I'm considering buying a sandwich maker, a panini maker or Healthy Grill.

babyboysmommy

I use my Kenwood Chef, slow cooker & Grill (George Forman) a lot, wouldn't want to be without them.

SallyForth_2

Someone once told me that the most useful kitchen gadgets are the ones you always keep out of the cupboards, rather than the ones which end up in the cupboards and stay there.

charlies-aunt

Not a kitchen gadget fan as I alwas seem to spend more time assembling, disassembling and cleaning than using the darned things.

That said - I have a slow cooker which I use regularly but its very easy to clean!

Hannah_10

In my kitchen I have...

A microwave (used several times a week).
A toaster (used daily).
And a kettle (used every couple of hours!)

And this is it! The lot! (Unless you count the popcorn maker I was given and haven't got round to cleaning yet).

It'd be easy to make out that this is because I am the ultimate in Old Style domestic goddesses, but that has nothing to do with it, I'm just on a tiny budget and there's always something needs buying more urgently than kitchen appliances. If I had my way I'd be stocking up starting with a processor! I used to have a lot more appliances, but my life changed a lot, so I haven't still got them.

I have yet to find a food I wasn't able to make because of my lack of kitchen electricals, however I do have to work harder than I used to when I had them. I would say to you start with a good quality processor because of the sheer range of stuff it can do for you and then see what you do most with it. Do you mostly mush babyfood? Maybe get a stick blender. Do you mostly make cakes? Then consider a mixer. Got a taste for ice cream? You get the idea!

If you can afford Kenwood I would have to say they are worth the money. If you haven't got it fair enough, I totally understand! The difference between a quality appliance and a cheap one is enormous. The posh one will go on forever, you will probably leave it to your kids, the cheap one will be kn*ckered in a couple of years and you'll buy another one. On the whole the top quality stuff pays for itself and parts and repairs are always available for the Kenwood brand too, even the ones that are now 30 years old.

Never be seduced by a celebrity chef's name on an appliance- some of the ones they sell with celeb chef names on are terrible, especially applainces bearing a certain double-barrelled, beardy celeb chef's name!

gravitytolls

mah_jong wrote: »

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

WE got rid of the bread maker and juicer. DS bought me a smoothie maker for Mum's Day, which I used three times to show willing, when enough time has passed, that will go too.

Ice cream maker was given to us, used twice, gave it away.

Have recently replaced the food processor/blender ~ can't live without it any more ~ grating cheese, carrots etc., mixing pastry, scones, cakes, pizza dough, whisking cream, eggs, grating spuds, thinly slicing veggies etc. You name it, I use it for it! And it's dead easy to wash too. So I say, go for it, I love mine na dmissed it desperately when I didn't have it.

Love the hand blender too, for soups and sauces. It's cheap and doesn't take up too much space.

Hand held mixer for whisking egg whites type of thing. nReally I'd love one of those giant bowled mixers the chefs use, but can't justify the expense to make better meringue!

Electric knife, when it broke I just got to grips with my good quality pro knife set, which are fabby. Do miss the leccy knife for fresh bread though.

spike7451

A three teir electric steamer!! It's used quite a few times a week by me & the gf.

Hannah_10

spike7451 wrote: »

A three teir electric steamer!! It's used quite a few times a week by me & the gf.

I couldn't live without my steamer, but it's not electrical, it's a stacking set that goes on the hob like the picture below.



I'd never have bought one, it came with my saucepan set but ahhhhh I could not now live without it (I've had it 10 years or so now)! It also saves me a fortune because I do the whole of my veg and spuds (and sometimes fish) on one hob not four and it only takes as long as the spuds do.

spike7451

Hannah_10 wrote: »

I couldn't live without my steamer, but it's not electrical, it's a stacking set that goes on the hob like the picture below.



I'd never have bought one, it came with my saucepan set but ahhhhh I could not now live without it (I've had it 10 years or so now)! It also saves me a fortune because I do the whole of my veg and spuds (and sometimes fish) on one hob not four and it only takes as long as the spuds do.

Same here!! I also have a Chinese Bamboo steamer which is good for home made DimSun & stuff.