Re: ARE THESE KITCHEN APPLIANCES NECESSARY?

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
Lol ... I must be the ONLY person in the western hemisphere that never owned or used a George Foreman grill.

I've always wondered how much $$$ George has made from that appliance with his name on it. He must be set for this life ... and the next one, too.

I had one of those many years ago. What I didn't like about it was that the grease tray just sat on the counter, in front of the machine. Plus, to accomodate that, the surface of the grill sloped down.

Well, one might imagine how that would go for somebody who is about as klutzy as Steve Urkel (me).

Later on I got a Hamilton Beach contact grill that I have always liked very much and use from time to time. But the improvement was two-fold - 1) The grease tray slides in to one end of the machine; and 2) The grilling surface isn't slanted at all. The slant toward the grease tray is in the bottom parts, not the raised surfaces that make the grill marks. Consequently, you didn't have to try and hold the food in while you tried to close the top before the food slid off. (I hope that made sense)

AuntG · ‎03-09-2010

@RedTop wrote:
I have a coffee maker, toaster, air fryer, microwave, waffle iron and instant pot. I would replace all of them, but will not buy anything new.

I'm almost identical to @RedTop except have a crock pot but no instant pot. Two Nesco roasters are stored in my garage cabinets for holiday use.

LilLadyNJ · ‎06-27-2017

I do own an Instant Pot, and I use it quite often. I find that it's a lot more convenient and predictable than the stovetop pressure cooker I had been using for many, many years.

I would say that my lifestyle and cooking dictates the appliances I own. I use my Instant Pot for soups, stews and for pots roast.

tiny 2 · ‎03-10-2010

"I had one of those many years ago. What I didn't like about it was that the grease tray just sat on the counter, in front of the machine. Plus, to accomodate that, the surface of the grill sloped down.

Well, one might imagine how that would go for somebody who is about as klutzy as Steve Urkel (me).

Later on I got a Hamilton Beach contact grill that I have always liked very much and use from time to time. But the improvement was two-fold - 1) The grease tray slides in to one end of the machine; and 2) The grilling surface isn't slanted at all. The slant toward the grease tray is in the bottom parts, not the raised surfaces that make the grill marks. Consequently, you didn't have to try and hold the food in while you tried to close the top before the food slid off. (I hope that made sense)"

@chickenbutt, I use this contact grill often. They have stopped making it now. Some of the newer ones get hotter so would be great for searing but most seem to have this arm thing that sticks way out and I don't want that.

mimomof4 · ‎03-08-2018

I also have a very small kitchen so no counter space to keep large appliances on all the time.

Crock Pot - In the past I used it all the time to cook meat all day. Now I have found that I enjoy the taste of those same meats in a dutch oven on the stove instead of a crock pot. I still use it but just not as much.

Instant Pot - I rarely use it, Its sooooooo heavy wished I never bought the thing as I hate lugging it around. Also found that I hate the texture of pressure cooked food.

Air Fryer - I am in the market for a small one as that is the only funciton I enjoy using on my Ninja Foodi but rarely use it (see comment for Instant Pot). My kids would also use it all the time.

I am not a baker so I question why I have a KitchenAid stand mixer as it is rarely used.

beckyb1012 · ‎03-09-2010

When I divorced and left his home I left behind my kitchen and practically all in it. Fine by me. After 22 years I have only replaced the coffee maker and microwave. Crock pot, toaster oven, even the blender left it all behind. I have stirred my last batch of gravy so to speak. I did take china and silver though.

"Live frugally, but love extravagantly."

house_cat · ‎03-09-2010

My crockpot was a godsend when I was working. It did drive my dog and cat a bit batty, but it was so nice to come home to a yummy smelling house and a cooked meal. My son borrowed it a few months ago and accidentally cracked it. He said he'd replace it, but I told him not to bother. Now that I'm (mostly) retired, I prefer to use my LC Dutch oven for anything I would've made in my crockpot.

The only extra cooker I own is a portable induction cooktop. I cook a lot, and for lots of people. Having the extra cooktop has really been convenient.

~ house cat ~

DeeJoyce · ‎09-05-2012

The Crock Pot! I like it best for soup or chili. And if I only cooked ham and beans, cornbread on the side, for my husband, it would be worth the space in my small kitchen. So easy and makes him happy.

Marsha2003 · ‎03-12-2010

The only countertop appliance I use regularly is my toaster oven which I use in place of my larger wall oven. When I used to cook for big groups at the holidays, my favorite extra gadget was my portable warming drawer. It was made for camping, I think, but it worked well to keep food warm because I only have one oven and because it's small for a wall-mounted oven, I needed to sequence its use to get the turkey, sides and rolls all ready at the same time.

I keep a drip coffee maker and instant hot water pot in the storage cupboard and pull them out when my parents visit as they use both daily. I also have a stand mixer that only gets pulled out occasionally for batch baking.

I've been tempted to buy an air fryer, but I just don't think we would use it that much as our toaster oven seems to be able to cook anything that an air fryer would cook.