Favourite kitchen gadgets ....

[Larkspeed]

In our kitchen we have:

Kenwood Food Processor
Kenwood Chef Mixer (loads of attachments so reduces the need for other machines)
Microwave/grill/fan oven (big 30L capacity works great for baking)
Standard full gas stove with double oven (very rare here as they are usually half gas half electric, we had to import this on from the UK)
Phillips Senseo (Best Coffee Ever)
Bread Maker
Rice Cooker
Slow Cooker
Pressure Cooker
Mayonnaise Maker (yes you read that right)

[SteveL]

Favourite gadget hands down is my apple peeler/corer/slicer.

Link

Just watching this as it works is a joy, plus my son has never eaten so many apples!

Steve

[shaithis]

Just got some stainless rings.....really enjoying them so far.

Some fancy cheesecakes and potato rostis have been well received from them so far

[Clingy]

From a most used perspective...

Breadmaker
Rice Cooker
Hand Blender
Spice grinder
Food Processor

weirdest one...

Mango Stoner

[andyjhill]

My fav has to be my microplane set they are usefull for grating anything including puree garlic with no problems at all

[Saracen]

It's not really gadgets as such, but it's my thread, so what the hell.

Add Induction hob to my list.

I've used most (if not all) hob types over the years, and I have to say, I adore induction. It's as fast and versatile as gas, and yes, responds incredibly fast, like gas. It is also far easier to clean. A good wipe usually does it, and every few weeks, a quick wipe with a ceramic cleaner.

Downside though .... new pans. A lot of mine were old-ish and even the 'good' ones were almost all aluminium.

Upside .... new pans. I've replaced all the relatively cheap pans, and done it properly this time. Proper 18/10 stainless steel, copper core for thermal transmission, they're luvverly.

Oh, and a Le Creuset stir-fry pan (and optional lid). Beautiful bit of kit and I use it loads. Not cheap, though. And a Le Creuset Grillet for searing chicken, steaks, veg, etc.

So another advantage of the hob was that it forced me to indulge in new pans, and by 'eck, indulge I did. I've spend more on the pans than I did on the hob, though I got a stunning deal on the hob.

And I enjoy cooking SO much more than on the crappy solid electric contraption that was there before. That piece of garbage was a nightmare. If you wanted something to go off the boil, you needed to anticipate it and turn it down about 5 minutes before you needed it to go off. I certainly turned rice off 2 or 3 minutes before it finished, and the plate stayed hot enough to keep it simmering.

So, not exactly a gadget, but new hob and a new collection of pots and pans. And I'm happy as Larry .... whoever he is.

[g8ina]

I got a new couple

Breadmaker with gluten free programme.... I mainly use it in dough only mode as this means I can use my other new toy, a long narrow terracotta window sill flower pot, which I then bake my bread in.
Like this one -

[Funkstar]

Now that is interesting. I'm intrigued with the windowsill pot for baking bread, got any more details on that?

[Butcher]

I use one of these for bread: http://bakerybits.co.uk/Traditional-...-P1499168.aspx
Works like a charm.

[g8ina]

Yeah, I have four of those too, but actually prefer my terracotta - for the big loaves only though, it will take a whole kilo of flour.

[g8ina]

Now that is interesting. I'm intrigued with the windowsill pot for baking bread, got any more details on that?

Wellll, what more info do you need ? Bought it from a garden centre for about 3 quid, it has two holes in the bottom so you need to line the base. I use a large piece of baking paper on the bottom and up the two long sides, this also prevents sticking.

I use the breadmaker to make the dough, then turn it into the pot. Leave it to prove for a lot longer, about 2 hours. Using one kilo of spelt flour it needs baking a bit longer too, I give it an hour at 220C.

Spelt recipe - ask and Ill post it.

[jim]

I guess the next logical question is, can you bake a muffin in a plantpot?

[Larkspeed]

I guess the next logical question is, can you bake a muffin in a plantpot?

of course

http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_7232927_ba...ower-pots.html

[jim]

Great article, spoiled by the use of the word "mini"

[Funkstar]

Spelt recipe - ask and Ill post it.

Yeah I think that just about covers it!

Do you think you get a more even bake with the thick heavy terracotta? I guess it would be a bonus for very large loafs, i can imagine it would help prevent the crusts from over cooking berofe the middle is done?

Oh, and what exactly is spelt floor? I've seen it in the heath food shops we go to but don't know anything about it.

Thanks

[g8ina]

Yes on the baking query, I do seem to get a much more even bake in terracotta.

Spelt is an "ancient" form of wheat, known to Paleolithic Man, and used by the Romans a lot. Its naturally low in gluten, not free, but very low. Not suitable for coeliacs then, but great for gluten intolerents like me. Tight crumb, very dense, VERY tasty in wholegrain flour, and makes exceedingly crunchy toast, even if it does take 5x longer to toast it.