Olly Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 I know what you mean, I felt the same - but yes, they are safe. I usually either set mine up and leave it on overnight, or prepare everything, put it in the fridge and then set it going before I leave for work. It's lovely to come home to delicious cooking smells and a hot meal ready and waiting. Best: silicone spatulas (Lakeland do mini-ones ), Braun mini-blender, slow cooker and my Braun food processor which is 22 years old and still going strong! And I wouldn't be without an electric hand whisk. Worst: juicer (I Freecycled it) ... er, can't think of much else - I don't buy gadgets unless they have been recommended strongly, usually by you lot! I dispensed with waffle irons, sandwich toasters and the like many years ago when I broke up the happy home. Ex Mr-Olly inherited all those, although I doubt if they got much use. Haven't used my breadmaker for a while, but that's cos it isn't working properly. If I can afford to buy the Panasonic or the MR ones recommended on here, I will get one. What a great thread! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaireG Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 My favourites are: Sabitier knife, i use it every day was a wedding present from one of my Aunts. Silicone loaf tin from that supermarket that begins with T, it's so fantastically easy to get cakes etc out of and i want more! Jam Funnel, means i don't make quite such a mess of the outside of jars when filling! Food processor and Bread Machine. Worst: Senseo Coffee machine, DH uses it very occasionally but it only makes half a cup and is a pain to use! Smoother maker, its a pain to clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fizzle Knit Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 Best - vegetable peeler. I use the type that has a handle like a "U"and a double-edge swivel blade at the top, been using one of these for years. It's much easier than a paring knife (and peels thinner) or one of those peelers that traditionally has a black handle with orange string and the peeling blade sticking out like a knife. When we go on self-catering holidays I always take the peeler, one sharp knife, a can-opener with the thick plastic handles,m and a cork=screw with the arms/levers that pull up as you turn the screw. Least useful - we bought a microwave when the boys were tiny and all it got used as was a glorified milk and pureed food warmer. Gave it away eventually Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 We use the garlic press so much. I also like wooden spoons. Breadmaker is on our good list. I have been given a stainless steel soap bar! It is just a soap shaped blob of stainless steel that you use as if it were soap and apparently it takes the smelly residue off your hands. Seems OK with garlic, but I have yet to test it after I have had the Domestos out! Anyone else tried it? When we got engaged some 24 years ago, my brother bought me a Kitchen Devil peeler. It has never been sharpened - still sharp as if it were new - and is therefore my favourite tool. On the not so hot list is a pasta maker - OH wanted one desperately. So he got one for a Ch mas present 2 years ago along with the flour. He used it for the first time this year and it has gone back on top of the cupboards and gathering dust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 Garlic press, wooden spoons and breadmaker all get almost daily use. Rice cooker was the best 'gadget' I bought. I got a combination rice cooker/slow cooker but have to admit haven't used the slow cooker bit yet Use bamboo steamers a lot. Yogurt maker most useless, too much faff to use often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 Can I add that I use all my things from the 'Good Grips' range all the time as they are by far the most comfortable & easiest to use Veggie peeler,corkscrew etc - all brilliant And how could I forget Lock & Lock storage boxes. I don't think I could function in the kitchen without them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 Lock and Lock boxes are the best - My chookcam is in one of them! 100% waterproof! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chichi Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 never use our garlic press but LOVE the potato ricer. also have a candy floss maker hanging around that sprays sugar all over the kitchen, you get candy floss out of it, but you also have to clean up for an hour afterwards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 Ditto to the comments about Lock and Lock boxes. I believe Christian has one or two. I like my potato ricer too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miffy Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 My best kitchen gadgets are...Kenwood Chef ....not sure I could cook without one silicon spatula (present from YS) and a fab pan bought in the Aga shop which is a saute type pan with a clear lid and a handle that clips on and off that fits in the aga ovens. I use it to fry, grill, bolognases etc all sorts really very versitile....and its non stick worst, electric steamer, juicer attachment for magimix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 ooooh how did I forget lock & lock. Now Fred you need to tell me more about how your chook cam is in one - I was going to get an outdoor camera for chook purposes but saw the price and eeeked - putting a camera in a lock & lock sounds good though. Got my new food processor today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 Can I first say, "My name's Jane and I am a gadget addict!" ooops - I thought I was at a meeting of Gadgets Anon for a moment! I am growing up and trying not to buy quite so many. Best: I find my garlic press really useful; Pampered Chef icecream scoop is loved by the children for its magic properties; espresso machine doubled with (and apologies for this one) milk frother for our morning Lattes (milk frother is much more efficient than the steam nozzle on the coffee machine); potato ricer manages to get rid of all the lumps very efficiently and blender for most jobs, including smoothies. Worst: I have never yet found a bread machine that doesn't give me solid bread. As most of you seem to be impressed with yours, I fully accept that I must be doing something wrong. The icecream maker that has frozen bowls is pretty useless and has been consigned to the Freecycle. I was going to fork out for a self freezing one but managed to talk myself out of it. Progress is being made! Great thread though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jill the potter Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 Oooo where to start!!!! Best: Coffee grinder - prefer to grind whole beans and grind as we need them - much fresher that way. Wooden lemon juicer - so simple and really efficient Braun hand held blender - great for soups, sauces etc asssortment of wooden chopping boards - not really a gadget I know, but could not function without them Large wok - use this for most of my cooking, have two sizes Worst: Garlic press (2of) - more trouble than they're worth! griddle that fits on the hob - splashes everywhere, pain to clean Forman Grill - for the same reason Sandwich Maker - again for the same reason Whisk attachment for Braun blender - can't seem to whisk anything without splattering the whole kitchen and self!!! Think that's it - you can tell I don't like clearing up by the 'worst' list!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milly Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 One of my favourites is my Braun stick blender. It makes pureeing soups etc so much easier when you can do it in the pan and not have to transfer them to a blender (I don't have one any more). Plus it has attachments which make it into a mini-chopper so I didn't bother replacing my 20 year old food processor when it wore out. And my stainless steel cafetiere (which doesn't break like the series of glass ones we had). It makes the best coffee and is quick to make and easy to clean. We got rid of the ice cream maker - it was never in the freezer when we needed it, and we only used it once or twice in many years. Our garlic press broke - I can't decide whether to replace it or not. Milly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Ditto to the comments about Lock and Lock boxes. I believe Christian has one or two.. Erm, yes. Make that three or four dozen I can't live without lock & lock. Have tried all the rest, but L&L is the best! I love my bean slicer and stick blender. The smoothie maker is somewhere at the back of the cupboard, along with the food processor. Not really a gadget fan, although OH does LOVE his Nespresso machine A huge bulky thing sat on the worktop, but it does make great coffee apparently Would really like a Kitchenaid mixer I make bread by hand, so a bread maker is out. Slow cooker? Maybe one day, but a casserole dish is fine for now. Great thread. You have saved me a fortune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhapsody Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Another vote for the Braun hand blender. I now couldn't live without my Actifry, and my Weight Watcher's scales. Biggest waste of time=pasta maker. Have recycled it here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aga n Chickens Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 I have limited space to keep all my "useful stuff" available and within reach on my worktops all the time (hence the wish for a larger kitchen in my signature). I have a seasonal corner which at the moment houses the slow cooker we use to cook sensational stews while we are out at work. During the summer the space is occupied by the salad spinner, another gadget I couldn't do without. Just inside a cupboard for easy reach I keep the 1970's Kenwood Chef I inherited from my Gran, makes beating up all the cake mixture a doddle. My best foreign buy was a large plastic Mouli food mill that I picked up in a French supermarket about 15 years ago and is great for smooth mashed potato. If we have a glut of tomatoes it removes all the skin and pips from the slow roasted tomatoes leaving a rich and smooth passata sauce Since having the chickens I just had to buy a set of digital scales for the one job that my cast iron libra scales couldn't cope with......weighing the eggs Regards, Christine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Well I tried the stainless steel soap on my Domestosy fingers. They still smell, but not as much - it took a lot of rubbing though! Think that's one for the not so hot list. Now I need some handcream! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
