Appliances Every Kitchen Must Have

Weekly Features Highlights: Virtual Cookbook Harvesting Vegetables Sassy Salsas Bushels of Beans Easy Snacks for Busy Kids Back to School Breakfasts - Quick and Easy Beating the Breakfast Rush Hour Lunch Smiles Ask The WebChef Freebies and Fun Stuff Appliances Every Kitchen Must Have by Susan Doyle We are constantly bombarded with ads for this appliance and that appliance. "You must have this". "No kitchen can be without it". But what do you really need? Here is a list compiled from many years of buying whatever I was told. I was the perfect customer. I had to have the convection oven, a Cuisinart disaster, the electric wok and many more contraptions that I have long since forgotten. I have divided them up into four categories: Must have Nice, but not necessary Dream machines Nonsense MUST HAVE The Large Food Processor This is essential for every kitchen. We use Cuisinart, If you prefer another brand there are numerous choices. I have found that Cuisinart stands behind their products and will go out of their way to help you if something goes wrong. They even replaced wrong attachments bought as a gift, at no cost. It is in constant use for slicing, grating, chopping, mixing and making dough or pastry. It is prominently placed on my kitchen counter for easy access. Automatic Coffee Maker For Coffee or Tea. Shop around, there are lots of excellent coffee makers at various prices. The most expensive is not always the best. I find that an automatic timer is a must. Blender We have the Waring Blender, but I have lots of friends that use other manufacturers and love them. You don't need the deluxe model unless you feel you are going to use all the options. I use it primarily for milk shakes, drinks and crushing ice for drinks. Hand Held Blender You will be amazed at how often you will use this blender. Taking lumps out of gravy, (accidents do happen) making drinks, beating one or two eggs and mixing or beating directly in the pan on the stove. You will find your own uses and will learn to love this innovative tool. Hand Mixer They come in two types, the battery operated and plug-in. I have convenient outlets and use the plug-in. You have to decide if the convenience out weighs the annoyance of having to change batteries. Coffee Grinder/Spice Grinder Used for grinding coffee or spices. I use one strictly for grinding spices and one for coffee. Small, easy to store, easily cleaned by grinding stale bread and cleaning with a small paintbrush. Crock Pot A life saver for working couples or mothers. Put soup fixings in before you go to work, set it and when you return home, you have dinner ready-made. Wonderful for stews, pot roasts and one-dish-meals. Ice Cream Maker The old fashioned crank by hand is my favorite. The electric crank version doesn't get the ice cream hard enough. There are dozens of other machines making all kinds of fancy claims but you can't beat the old fashioned hand crank that grandma used. I know what you are thinking, 'NICE BUT NOT NECESSARY", for you maybe, but for me it is a necessity. Toaster Everyone needs one, nothing fancy just a toaster. NICE BUT NOT NECESSARY Electric Warming Plate Not a necessity unless you entertain frequently. If you buy one, buy a good sized one to hold several dishes. Rice Cooker I consider this a luxury, but I use it frequently. It doesn't taste better than on the stove, but it shuts off automatically. My favorite use is making Tapioca Pudding Electric Fry Pan Electric Fry Pan Nice to have, but not a necessity. If you get one as a gift, you will find it convenient. Use to cook quick meals when you don't have time to watch closely and to make quick breads etc. Electric Wok My daughter loves hers. I consider it a waste of time. It really doesn't do the kind of job I want. However it does work better than the wok on an electric stove Pasta Machine I prefer dried pasta and unless you are a fresh pasta devotee and make your own, don't bother. Bread Machines My friends have convinced me that a bread machine is wonderful. Therefore, I list it. Personally, I prefer the handmade method. Of course I do not make bread three or four times a month. For those who do, it could be a necessity. DREAM MACHINES Mix Master My personal favorite is the KitchenAid. If you are a baker, it is a must. If you are not, a Portable Mixer will do the job. The Mix Master has multiple speeds and you can do EVERYTHING hands free. Juicer The Acme Juicer is my hands down choice. You can certainly live without it unless you are making juice constantly or are heavy into health drinks and soups. It is truly a luxury worth having. If you look around there are other juicers that can handle the basics and are less costly. NONSENSE Tea Maker Makes Tea Wok I personally find it a pain in the neck. I have friends who love them, they have gas stoves. I find that on my electric stove, the wok never gets hot enough except on the small flat bottom. I use an old fashioned Cast Iron Skillet for stir frys, etc. They come out crispier and I find it quicker to use. Electric Oven/Toaster We have had two, and after a few months I give it away. I think I have finally learned my lesson and don't intend to waste anymore money. They take forever to do anything and nothing comes out the way you want. Toast is very dry and anything else requires tedious cleanup. About the Author: Susan Doyle is author of Susan's Daily Tips, a daily household tip and recipe newsletter. You can visit Susan at The Kitchen Project. If you have a favorite tip or idea that you would like to share with our readers, please send it to susan@kitchenproject.com Be sure to check out the Online Cooking School at Fabulous Foods for more great tips, techiques and more! http://www.fabulousfoods.com/school/school.html Mail this article to a friend (or yourself) You will be returned to this page after your mail has been sent. Your email address Your Name To email address