CatsCube Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 Im sadly lacking in much in the way of kitchen gadgets, and even generally usefull stuff tbh. I have a slow cooker which is my best friend. I have a bread maker, a hand processor, food processor, liquidiser and juicer (jucer rubbish takes about a decade to clean and more gunk left in the bin than drinkable juice) and geroge forman grill and panini maker. But thats it. I dont even have a mixer, so must get one of those. Now that I make my own chips all the time I was thinking about getting a deep fat frier, but Im scared about how dangerous they are. They were always rather known for starting fires, is this still the case or have they come on since then? Are they worth having? And I was thinking about getting a pasta machine What other kitchen gadgets do you all have. and which ones were a waste of money and which could you not live without. And dodnt go suggesting those kenwood chef things, I saw how much they cost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 I agree about the juicer we have had one for years but it rarely gets used because of the cleaning issue and the juice it produces is often all cloudy and unapertising. I have a deep fat fryer and IMO they are much safer than deep frying chips in a pan on the hob (the nearest I have ever come to having a fire was with an over full pan and too many chips) I have a Tefal Smartclean which can hold 1250g of chips which is ok for our family of 5. We have had it for about 5 years and most of the parts are dishwasher safe. It has a removable bowl and the lid comes of and it and its seals can go in the dishwasher which makes a great difference to cleaning it. In terms of gadgets I would not be without:- Breadmaker Gagia coffee machine, we make coffee with it daily,it is only the basic one and it has a leaky valve so I would like to upgrade it.I haven't drunk instant coffee for about 2 years now I have one cup of the hard stuff every day My Braun hand blender and mini-chopper which make chopping veg for spag.bol really easy and I would rather blend a soup with a hand blender than a liquidiser (a few splattered kitchens, and near scaldings too many) My 4 slot Tefal toaster Sandwich toaster Hand mixer Slow cooker, my most recent find and oh so useful with a big family The ones I no longer use:- Juicer waffle maker electric slicer (used to use it for bread but it was a hastle and is now a bit blunt, hubby used to use it for slicing beef and gammon joints but we now have good sharp knives) food processor (recently donated to ED school) Princess egg cooker, it's easier in a pan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 Wouldn't be without - Food processor with blender attatchement (almost daily...chopping onions etc) Microwave Hand blender - brilliant for the children to make healthy soups etc Fab cafe style toasted sandwich press Dualit toaster - it filts muffins & crumpets too Hardly use - Bread maker (Use it a couple of times a month,when I can be bothered) Fondue (comes out 4 times a year,but is brilliant) Mandolin (nerly took my finger off the first time I used it) Tempted by - Slow Cooker Coffee machine (although I am tempted) Can easily live without - Deep fat fryer - I prefer grilling & never eat chips Pasta maker - Don't have the space for it Kenwood Chef George Foreman Grill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted February 18, 2008 Author Share Posted February 18, 2008 Oh Im now looking at ice cream makers!! just thinking cause I have bought some vanilla pods, and could be a good way of using up left over fruit from my weekly box. like frozen fruit yogurt mmmm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 You have more than me already. The ones I use all the time are. the deep fat fryer, pasta maker, mandoline and a hand blender thingy. the only thing I really want is a kenwood chef. It would save me loads of time on things like bread and pasta dough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 Mandolin (nerly took my finger off the first time I used it) Ditto to that.....I thought I was going to need a blood transfusion....in fact, I fainted and cracked my head open on the corner of the table.....so I had blood dripping from my nearly severed finger and pouring down my face and it was 3.20....time to go and get the children from school. A friend brought them home. It is a few years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 Deep fat fryers can't catch on fire, the temp control keeps it at a constant level. Much safer than a pan on the hob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 have and use - slow cooker (mmm ) breadmaker hand mixer (very occasionally for cakes) hand blender for soups (used a lot) never use - big Blender steamer (hubby doesnt like the veg done in it ) Microwave (I dont own a microwave ) Would really like - Juicer Sandwich toaster (but im on a diet ) Chocolate fountain (but im on a diet !!) One of those table top grills/griddle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 Mandolin (nerly took my finger off the first time I used it) Ditto to that.....I thought I was going to need a blood transfusion....in fact, I fainted and cracked my head open on the corner of the table.....so I had blood dripping from my nearly severed finger and pouring down my face and it was 3.20....time to go and get the children from school. A friend brought them home. It is a few years ago. Mine has a 'thing' that you put over the object you're slicing so your hand doesn tgo near it. Its great for homemade crisps. I forgot about the steamer but ours is one you put on the hob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 You all seem to have loads of appliances I don't have many, just a breadmaker, a electric hand mixer and a blender/chopper. I like the sound of the Kenwood Chef, but apart from cost I really don't like cluttered kitchen surfaces, and it looks as though it would be a bit of a lump to store. I don't have a microwave for that reason, and I can't think of a thing I would use it for. I don't know whether any of you are familiar with the chef Anthony Bourdain? He wrote a book called 'Kitchen Confidential' in which he said that all a cook needs is a really good knife, a chopping board, and a spoon to stir with, plus a really good heavy set of saucepans. Less is more I guess Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 I love my pressure cooker. I had a tiny win on the lottery once....don't get excited...it was less than £150....and I treated myself to the Rolls Royce of pressure cookers...the Kuhn Rikon. Can't sing its praises loudly enough. None of your rattling, no loud noise, no kitchen full of steam. Fantastic....and makes wonderful food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 I love my pressure cooker. I'm terrified of pressure cookers Once had one blow up on me, really scary, and the mess was unbelievable I also once had a chip pan catch fire the person I was with had the presence of mind to throw the whole thing out of the kitchen window, but it had still managed to melt pretty much everything plastic in the kitchen I would never have a chip pan again, anyway I don't like deep fried food. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 We have a fire blanket in our kitchen just in case of fire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 I must admit I wouldn't have a deep fat frier or a chip pan. The thought of the damage that can be done to flesh with that amount of boiling oil is too awful to contemplate. Tess...pressure cookers have come a long way singe the days of the dreaded Prestige with its hissing weights. My mother once redecorated her kitchen with rice pudding when using one of those! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 The thought of the damage that can be done to flesh with that amount of boiling oil is too awful to contemplate.: The same could happen with steam, the hob, knives, those Mandolin things, boiling water etc etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 The kitchen is the most dangerous room in the house Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 My mother once redecorated her kitchen with rice pudding when using one of those! Is that how they invented pebbledashing do you think? I have four kitchen gadgets and use them all the time. Kettle, toaster, microwave and breadmaker. Ooh no, forgot the 45 year old Kenwood Chefette, only comes out when my wrists are too bad to mix a cake though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 The thought of the damage that can be done to flesh with that amount of boiling oil is too awful to contemplate.: The same could happen with steam, the hob, knives, those Mandolin things, boiling water etc etc True enough Fred. We should do a risk assessment every time we set foot in the kitchen! It's an elfnsafety minefield! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted February 18, 2008 Author Share Posted February 18, 2008 I have decided not to bother wiht a deep fat fryer as its to unhealthy. They do fantasic ones with spray just 1 spoonfull of oil over the chips but they are £150!!! I have however decided to get a Panasonic Ice Cream maker and a hand mixer with bowl. and some other bit and pieces Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Catscube if I make my own chips/potato wedges I cut the spud into chip style shapes, part boil them for a few mins until slightly softened, then drain, put on a baking tray that has been sprayed with frylight, spray then on top & then bung them in a hot oven. Home-made low-fat chips. I do the same for roast potaotes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 I love the new avatar Jules. I find myself making home made potato wedges more often than chips nowadays. The chaps seem to prefer them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted February 19, 2008 Author Share Posted February 19, 2008 Jules thats exactly how I do mine, Inly I stick a glug of sunflouer oil over mine instead of spray and just turn them all half way through cooking. I always do wedges, makes them a bit healthier. Noah will only eat chips, no other form of potato, so like the other night I did us baked potatoes, and half way through cooking I cut his into wedges, poped on a little tray with some oil and hey presto he ate them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...