I love kitchen appliances, both large and small. I am very blessed to have a kitchen with great large appliances and space for plenty of small appliances. I use some much more than others, and some I could do without. In this Cooking Tip, I want to discuss some of these appliances to help you decide how to plan your kitchen purchases.
Large kitchen appliances
Cooktop – we all need some sort of cooktop and/or range. In a prior Cooking Tip, I discussed my decision to install an induction cooktop rather than gas. One negative I discussed in that Tip was that my favorite instant-read thermometer would not work correctly with the induction cooktop on. Since then, Thermoworks has come out with a new thermometer that does not face the same interference from the induction, called Thermopen One.
My opinion of induction cooking has not changed since that prior Cooking Tip. If you are thinking of getting a new cooktop, look at induction. If you are not looking for an all-new cooktop but feel you sometimes need an extra burner and want to try induction, you can purchase a portable one. I have been using ones from Duxtop in some of my cooking classes, which are excellent.
Ovens – I have double ovens in my kitchen, which is a luxury. I rarely use more than one at a time. When one of my ovens stopped working, and the necessary part was on backorder for months, it was nice to have a second oven. I purchased two separate wall ovens and mounted them side-by-side. As I get older, it is nice to have both ovens at a comfortable level rather than one higher than I want and one lower than I want.
When I was picking out my ovens, Bosch offered ovens where the doors opened left to right and vice versa rather than from top down. This was a nice feature as you do not have to lean over a hot oven door to remove your dish. I did not go with the Bosch brand, but I still think it is a brilliant idea.
In summary, do you need double ovens? In most cases, the answer is no. Yes, they are nice but not necessary. If you only have a single oven but sometimes wish you had a second oven, you may want to consider a countertop oven, often called a toaster oven. Nowadays, they come in many sizes and price points and can do many things other than toasting. They can not only act as a second oven but also keep you from heating up your kitchen with your regular oven during the warm months.
Warming drawer – this is one of those luxury items I use frequently. It is great if I want to keep my food warm while waiting for dinner to commence. If I am making something in which I am cooking multiple items, such as pancakes or tortillas, it is wonderful to put the cooked ones in the warming drawer while I am cooking more. That way, the first ones you cook do not get cold while cooking the rest. Again, it is a luxury but one I enjoy having.
Small Kitchen Appliances
Electric mixers – I have both a hand-held mixer and a stand mixer. Since the latter takes up more space, do you really need it? That depends on how you cook and bake. Since I am constantly trying new recipes for my business, I use mine frequently. It is excellent for helping to knead bread and pastry dough. It also makes quick work of creaming butter and sugar for your cookies and whipping up egg whites and cream. All those tasks except kneading dough can be done with a good hand mixer.
Food processor – If your budget or counter space is limited, I think a nice food processor would be a better investment than a stand mixer. Making some of those doughs in a food processor rather than a stand mixer is possible. I make my pizza dough in mine, and it all comes together in under five minutes. You can chop veggies and nuts, puree dips/sauces, and mince meat. If you get one with slicing and grating disks, you can process that cheese quickly and safely without grating your knuckles on that hand-held grater.
If you want a food processor, consider what tasks you want it for. Perhaps you need just a small capacity one. It may not work for large dough recipes, but it will be great for the chopping and pureeing tasks.
Blender – I have both a blender and a food processor, but you do not necessarily need both. Blenders are great for crushing ice and pureeing liquids. Even though you can puree liquids in a food processor, a good blender does a better job of getting a velvety result. However, a blender cannot do those other slicing, dicing and grating jobs that a food processor is made for. Once again, ask yourself what you do in your kitchen. If you are more likely to make drinks and smoothies, a blender may be a better fit for you. If not, consider a food processor.
There are hand-held blenders called immersion blenders. If you want a food processor but like some of the blender advantages, this might be just what you need. It has a much smaller footprint, too. I store mine in a drawer.
Rice cooker – You can absolutely cook rice on the stovetop. If you eat rice regularly, you may want to consider a rice cooker. If you measure your rice and water correctly, this is a hands-off way of cooking perfect rice. And, depending on the model, it can even keep it warm. I would give up other small appliances before I give up my rice cooker.
Slow Cooker or Crock Pot – Although this appliance is mostly hands-off, it takes up considerable space. Ask yourself how often you would use it. If you cook for potlucks a lot, it is very helpful as it will not only cook your dish, but you can take it to the potluck in the appliance and plug it in to keep it warm for serving.
Another reason people love these appliances is that they are made to allow you to put your ingredients in it, turn it on and leave the house while you go to work or run errands. I have never felt comfortable doing this, but that fear may be unfounded. Here is one opinion on the safety of a slow cooker.
Instant Pot – These seem to be the darling of many people. Take a look at this Tip for my take on this appliance. It is meant to be multi-functional and can do some of the things that a slow cooker and a rice cooker can do, although maybe not with the same result. Because of the way I cook, I do not feel a need for an Instant Pot. However, many cooks feel they couldn’t live without one.
Sous Vide – This is an appliance that most of us will do just fine without. A prior Cooking Tip talks in more detail about sous vide machines.
Electric juicer – This is an appliance that most do not need. I would never have bought one, but I won one in a contest. I love it and use it frequently. It does an incredible job of juicing all sorts and sizes of citrus in a way you could never do with a hand-held citrus squeezer. It does take up space, though. If you do not do a lot of citrus juicing, you can skip this one. Do not ask me to give up mine, though!
Electric Grill – You can do nothing on this appliance that you cannot do on your stovetop. I have a Cuisinart Griddler and love it for making paninis or pressed sandwiches. Other tasks can be accomplished on an electric grill, and they generally do a great job. Because of the expense and space requirements, I would ensure you will use it frequently before you buy one.
Vacuum Sealer – If you buy in bulk and have sufficient freezer space, this is an appliance you might want to consider. They are easy to use, although you need to purchase specific bags for your particular sealer model. They do keep frozen food in a fresher state for longer without the dreaded freezer burn. You can seal bags of other food items without using the vacuum function. It keeps those items in an air-tight bag or container, thus prolonging their shelf life.
There are plenty of other kitchen appliances, but I hope this list will help you decide what is right for you and your kitchen. You might also use it for a wish list for the upcoming Holiday season!
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