Which SMALL kitchen appliances do you use the most?UPDATED*New Pic Pg4

[msgenie516]

Hi

I’m trying to make my kitchen as efficient as possible and I have purchased a few new small appliances that I use A LOT. But some are missing and I was wondering if you have them and do you use them a lot. I have limited space (and don’t want to waste money on something useless or not needed) so I don’t want to purchase anything that will not be put to good use. It bothers me to have invested in something that just “sits” there.

These are the appliances I have:

KitchenAid stand mixer with lift bowl (About 20 years old but still going strong--I hope. This I use a lot and have no regrets about the purchase. I think it is a “must have“ for any kitchen.)

KitchenAid hand mixer (A fairly new addition, but I love it. I‘m sure I could have lived without it but it is SO handy when I don‘t want to pull out the big one from the corner for smaller jobs. However, it can NEVER replace my stand mixer.)

KitchenAid blender (I have this quite a while but don’t use it all that much, but it is handy when I need it.)

Cuisinart 4-slice toaster (Purchased this to replace my Oster 2-slice toaster, which did a terrible job. It is much better, but far from perfect. I am reasonably satisfied with it and don’t plan on replacing it.)

Zojirushi bread machine--they call it a Home Bakery (This is a recent purchase and I’m extremely pleased with it and use it once or twice a week. This is my replacement for my old Oster machine that “decided” to quit working properly and I have no regrets or complaints about it AT ALL. Actually, I‘m thrilled with it and try new breads and methods all the time! I am really a novice at this but when I have the time to concentrate on it, I want to try it for making the dough only. I have seen so many great recipes on BYC that I’m dying to try!)

Cuisinart coffeemaker with 12-cup thermal pot (I have this one quite a while but I’m not overly happy with it. It makes coffee just fine and I definitely like the idea of the thermal pot but filling it and cleaning the pot present problems. However, I do not plan to replace it and will keep it as long as it lasts--just too expensive to replace.)

Breville one-cup coffeemaker (This is my latest “splurge”! I really “hemmed and hawed” about this purchase--due to the price and the fact that I think it is a true luxury, especially since I already have a coffeemaker--but my Mom had given me some money for Valentine’s Day, so I went a little “crazy” and got it! It turns out to be one of the BEST purchases I have ever made. I was so tired of DH coming home from work and picking up the coffee pot and asking “How’s the coffee?” My answer was always the same “Well, it’s been there since 6:00 AM and there‘s not much left and I don‘t know how hot it is.” Sure enough, he wasn’t too pleased with that answer and I always had to make up a new pot of coffee, much of which got thrown out at the end of the day. So now I set up the Cuisinart for the morning pot and use the Breville for later in the day when an occasional cup is needed. Even DH can use it if I’m not home and that’s saying a lot!

I would use it all the time but the K-cups that you use with it can get VERY expensive and the make-it-yourself filter is somewhat messy and “pesky” to use and makes the whole thing much more time-consuming than it should be.)

Whirlpool above-the-range built-in microwave oven (This, of course, is a life-saver. I have it about 12 years and I hope it lasts forever because it will be a project to replace.)

These are the appliances I DON’T have (and don‘t know how much use I would get out of them but I would really like to hear your opinions):

A toaster oven (I saw a Breville advertised that looks great but I am concerned that my countertop might get too hot. However, I would love it if I could bake potatoes, small cakes, etc. without heating up my big oven. The microwave just doesn‘t “cut it“ for some things.)

A food processor (Some of my recipes call for one.)

A slow cooker (I saw a KitchenAid in Bed, Bath & Beyond today that holds 7 quarts and has a buffet setting. I was so tempted! I would love to hear what you use yours for because I would really like to have it but I think it would be last small appliance I could fit in my kitchen.)

Anything else you can think of!

If you have any suggestions, please let me know the brand and how much and for what you use the appliance. Thank you for your help!

Genie

 

[cw]

the toaster oven is a must if you have kids and being from the south a cool touch deep fryer is nice (fried chicken)

 

[Buckhorn Farm]

I vote for the food processor, I do a lot of canning and it comes in very handy

 

[bigmike&nan]

Well I am glad you consider the KitchenAid stand mixer a small appliance, it is one of the best long range investments one can make.

I love coffee, I mean I REALLY LOVE COFFEE... A good friend of mine owns a small coffee roasting business in Perth Amboy. Part of his trade is selling GREEN unroasted beans to folks so they can roast their own. He sent me samples of really freshly roasted coffee to get me "hooked" and I bought a very decent home roaster called a Behmor 1600

http://www.behmor.com/

Drinking freshly roasted coffee is really something you get very quickly spoiled by. When you get good beans and roast them properly you realize what junk is sold in stores and specialty coffee establishments. Most coffee beans are terribly overroasted (and old chef boss of mine was very indignant about how the Starbuck's of the world sold junk beans all gussied up as gourment coffee by overroasting them to hide their deficiencies).

You can get a good deal on a Behmor and 8-10 lbs of green beans for around $300.00 delivered... Once you try it you'll never go back. If you ever switched from pre ground canned store coffee to grinding your own beans then imagine the interplanetary leap you make grinding beans YOU roasted fresh... The varieties of beans one can get is amazing !! My friend specializes in very small lot orgranically grown beans and the coffee you end up drinking is divine !!! Give this one careful consideration please. This good friend of mine, Norman, would be very glad to help you, simply mention that BigMike told you about him. Here is a selection of green beans he currently sells:

http://www.unclebeanz.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=UB01&Category_Code=GRSO

 

[ams3651]

I use my toaster oven so often I havent had to buy gas for my stove for 3 years. Coffee pot, microwave and crock pot .... in that order. I most love my toaster oven though, Ive had it for probably 5 years and Im getting a new one soon. I bake in it, roasted chicken, and of course french frys and fish sticks. Love it. Mine only gets hot on top not underneath.

 

[peeplessinNC]

Most important in this order:

~ toaster oven - could not do without it; have a Cuisinart now, love it

~ coffee bean grinder - still going after 30 years or more, a Salton

~ Kitchen Aid stand mixer - for bread, 25 yrs. old, love my KA

~ mini chopper - I use it more than the food processor, a Krups

~ immersion blender - new, a Cusinart, love it, a must have for soups and sauces, smoothies, cappucino frothed milk.

I have other appliances in the pantry that I don't use as often, but these are the ones that I use the most and must replace if they konk out on me.

 

[Picky Chicky]

I have very limited counter space in my kitchen and so I have to store most of my small appliances. The only one that sits on my counter top is my glorious Keurig (coffee maker).

 

[The Chicken Lady]

We have a toaster oven and we use it all the time... We make frozen pizzas in it, toast garlic bread, sandwiches, bagels, etc.

If you have kids (we don't), I can see how it would be a lifesaver. You can prepare small quantities of baked meals in it more quickly than in a conventional oven (chicken patties, chicken nuggets, fries, etc.).

 

[Shared Acres]

Quote:
We use our toaster oven all the time. Especially for like french fries, toast, etc.

We use our slow cooker about once a week.

Food processer--you mean like a slicer thing? I just got one from Target that was Kitchen aid and half off. It fits on the Kitchenaid mixer and slices and dices for you.

 

[what was i thinking]

i gave my toaster oven away after a very short time. just wasn't for me...

kitchen aid mixer, best thing ever, with the attachments. i grind my own burger from my husbands deer i process for him.

bread maker, i use about three times a yr.

slow cooker(crockpot) use about 5 days a week. you can even make brownies in them. i feel the 7 quart might be a little much for a small family or depending on what you are making. i have a small (old, hand me down) on that fits, stew, cornish hen, chili, and soup.... the big 6 quart is for the pot roast, whole chickens, bigger meals for company... the thing with a crockpot, you need to have it half full or more to work correctly.