As I spent the better part of the week washing dishes and equipment only to turn around and dirty them again it occured to me to post a list of all the things that I find indispensible. At some point I’ll come back and link them to Amazon images so you can see what they look like and read descriptions in case you are interested. Here is what I use all the time right now:
- Grain grinder
- Kitchen Aid Mixer
- Cuisinart Food Processer
- Hand stick blender
- Water bath canning pot
- Dehydrator
- Ice cream maker
- Tortilla press
- Roma food strainer
I have a dinky kitchen with zero cupboard or counter space yet I either find a way to cram these thing in or I run up and down the stairs constantly retrieving them. I would rather have every one of these things even then a dishwasher right now. I’m still fighting with my husband to get rid of the microwave so that I can use that space for cabinets, counters or any of these appliances. I’ve never trusted the microwave and I hardly ever use it. He’s very attached to it though.
If you are considering any of these feel free to ask me how I use them or what type I have. I’ve researched them all pretty thoroughly and tried to get the middle of the road unless I’ve already had the middle of the road and have upgraded.
The only things I don’t have now that I would like to are a meat grinder and sausage stuffer but for now I’m buying ground meat and forming patties with it. Someday though I’d love to get into making salami and other cured meats. Hopefully this winter! Right around when I start brewing beer again…
I don’t have a stick blender, a dehydrator (used to but currently do not), or an icecream maker. Everything else on your list has the same or a similar item (I have a Kitchenaid food processor instead of cuisinart). I find my oven actually works okay for what little dehydrating I still do. I do however, think that I need an icecream maker!
Something I would add to your list – the absolute best quality chef knife you can afford. My favorite knife is my Wustoff which is so well engineered and balanced that it is a pleasure to hold and use. It holds a fine edge well too. Incredibly sharp.
I have just found a local wheat source and would love to purchase some, but need to find a way to grind it. Any suggestions of what to look for in a grinder?
Hi KitsapFG – sharp knives are a must! I get mine sharpened regularly and they are entry level Henkels that I’ve had for 15 years. As long as I get them sharpened they work just fine. You can dehydrate many things in the oven but I find that I need to dehydrate during the summer when I don’t want to turn my oven on! When I do dehydrate during the winter (mostly applesauce fruit leather) it’s nice to have that added little “heater” in the house since mine puts off quite a bit of heat!
Sara, I have a family grain mill but I wish I had the whisper mill. Look for one that can grind finely (mine is not so fine), and is quiet. Other considerations are footprint, mine is the smallest I could find but the whispermill is very large. Given the fact that I use it daily I wish I had bucked up and just found more room.
ps if you google grain mill reviews you will find quite a bit of info on them. You can also check on baking forums like the King Arthur Flour one. Most baking afficionados have their own grain mills or considering it so there is lots of advice there.
I am considering a food processor purchase, what do you like and dislike about yours? Like you I tend to do research, buy middle-of-the-road, then upgrade if I find myself using it a lot so I know it will be worth the money. Even if something costs $300, if you use it everyday it’s going to be worth it. Once a year? Not even worth $50.
I completely agree. What I love about my Cuisinart is that it does a pretty good job of making both small and large batches of pesto (one of the hardest things to do with a small batch). I bought the smaller one on a whim for small batches but it doesn’t work worth a toot.
I use it for any and all grating since it takes seconds to grate cheese, zucchini, carrots, potatoes, etc. that add 10 minutes onto any recipe and take off knuckles to do by hand.
It does a great job with pie cruts and scones as far as not overmixing if you use the pulse setting. Mine is just the cheapest one you can get – after all it’s just a motor and the bowls are designed the same on all their models.
I find I’ll use mine, put it in the dishwasher then get it right back out to wash by hand because I need it again for something else right away. I cook a lot though!
Funny about your hubby and the microwave. . ours stopped working a couple of years ago and I thought “Great — I need the cabinet space” but my husband insisted we replace it — a $200.00 popcorn maker! My husband’s security blanket, I guess. .