The Conservative Cave

Interests => All Things Edible (and how to prepare them) => Topic started by: bijou on September 02, 2008, 02:09:11 PM

Title: Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.
Post by: bijou on September 02, 2008, 02:09:11 PM
What are your favorite pieces of equipment?  What are you planning to buy?

and on the other side

What have you bought that turned out to be a disappointment?

I like this:  (http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/koolatrononline_2018_4124213)
http://koolatrononline.stores.yahoo.net/total-chef-food-dehydrator.html

I've mainly used it for drying tomatoes and peppers for storage, but it is so good to be able to make dried fruit when it's on special offer.
Title: Re: Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.
Post by: Rebel on September 02, 2008, 02:13:03 PM
(http://www.chillz.com/Kitchen_Aid_Refrigerators-Kitchenaid_25_Cubic_Feet_Side_By_Side_Refrigerator__red.jpg)
Title: Re: Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.
Post by: Chris on September 02, 2008, 02:23:08 PM
My cast-iron pot.  I use it for everything.  You should get one.  (http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff68/kayaktn/smileys/emot-chef.gif)

(http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/7103/sany0251wg5.jpg)
Title: Re: Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.
Post by: bijou on September 02, 2008, 02:37:45 PM
Chris, is that a bucket style handle? Does it have a lid?
Title: Re: Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.
Post by: Chris on September 02, 2008, 02:40:22 PM
Yes and yes.
Title: Re: Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.
Post by: bijou on September 02, 2008, 02:43:52 PM
Yes and yes.
I was looking at something similar when I was buying a pan recently, and was wondering if I'd get much use out of it but seems like you find it pretty versatile, so I'll put it on my list.
Title: Re: Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.
Post by: Lord Undies on September 02, 2008, 02:52:46 PM
Mine's that hot & cold running water thingy.
Title: Re: Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.
Post by: Chris on September 02, 2008, 02:53:34 PM
Yes and yes.
I was looking at something similar when I was buying a pan recently, and was wondering if I'd get much use out of it but seems like you find it pretty versatile, so I'll put it on my list.

I picked it up at Wal Mart for $35, but you have to wander over to the camping section to find it.
Title: Re: Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.
Post by: Rebel on September 02, 2008, 02:59:44 PM
My cast-iron pot.  I use it for everything.  You should get one.  (http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff68/kayaktn/smileys/emot-chef.gif)

(http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/7103/sany0251wg5.jpg)

Dude, what the hell is that!!?
Title: Re: Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.
Post by: Chris on September 02, 2008, 03:01:35 PM
My cast-iron pot.  I use it for everything.  You should get one.  (http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff68/kayaktn/smileys/emot-chef.gif)

(http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/7103/sany0251wg5.jpg)

Dude, what the hell is that!!?

 :lmao: I don't know.  I just pulled the picture off the internets.

Looks like some sort of stew or a half-assed chili.
Title: Re: Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.
Post by: franksolich on September 02, 2008, 03:03:30 PM
What are your favorite pieces of equipment?

A knife, fork, and spoon.
Title: Re: Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.
Post by: Flame on September 02, 2008, 03:07:11 PM
I love my cast iron skillet, as long as I have someone around to get it out of the bottom cupboard for me!  That sucker is HEAVY!

A must have for me in the kitchen are GOOD knives.   I hate knives that don't stay sharp!



Title: Re: Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.
Post by: Chris on September 02, 2008, 03:10:30 PM
I love my cast iron skillet, as long as I have someone around to get it out of the bottom cupboard for me!  That sucker is HEAVY!

A must have for me in the kitchen are GOOD knives.   I hate knives that don't stay sharp!

My pot stays on the stovetop.  Too much trouble to take it out and put it away every time I need it.

I bought a set of cheap-ass knives ten years ago.  The only one that's still sharp is the filet knife.  The other three (even the bread knife) are dull and worn. 

Good knives are expensive.
Title: Re: Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.
Post by: Odin's Hand on September 02, 2008, 04:13:18 PM
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/216JAZX8J9L._SL500_.jpg)
Title: Re: Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.
Post by: thundley4 on September 02, 2008, 06:57:26 PM
Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.

My wife.  :rotf: 




Seriously though, we share the cooking and cleanup, but she cooks some things better, and I cook other things better.
Title: Re: Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.
Post by: debk on September 02, 2008, 08:10:45 PM
I love sharp knives. We have a "Chef Tony" set....wickedly sharp!

Favorites are my KitchenAide mixer, a mandolin, Calphalon skillet and a couple of soup pots (2 sizes - 1 is bright yellow, the other is bright red ...happy colors)

One of the worst things I have ever bought was one of those egg peeler thingies. I think it only works on small eggs...which I never buy. Another thing that someone gave me, is a handled thing to help open jars....doesn't work either. And a coffee maker that I can't make decent coffee in.
Title: Re: Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.
Post by: Chris on September 02, 2008, 08:23:30 PM
I love sharp knives. We have a "Chef Tony" set....wickedly sharp!

How long have you had them? 

I love watching cooking infomercials.  They're so cheezy.
Title: Re: Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.
Post by: debk on September 02, 2008, 08:31:50 PM
Ummmm....about 4-5 years I think.

We have a Dogwood Festival here every spring, during it there's a Home/Garden show. There was a guy there selling them, and that's when we got them.

They were a bit more expensive, but I had called one time to order them after seeing them on tv, and the shipping cost was like 3x's the cost of the knives. So though the knives were more expensive, not paying the shipping charge made them much less. I think they were around $30.

Got a set of steak knives with the set.

They also slice through fingers quite well too..... :thatsright:
Title: Re: Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.
Post by: Chris on September 02, 2008, 08:40:34 PM
 :lmao: yeah, that happens.
Title: Re: Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.
Post by: rich_t on September 02, 2008, 08:45:06 PM
I want to surprise my wife for Christmas this year with a good set of kitchen knives.

Any recommendations?

I want high quality, price is not an issue. (Well not much of one anyway, I want to keep it below a grand)
Title: Re: Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.
Post by: Chris_ on September 02, 2008, 08:46:06 PM
There is kitchen equipment besides a microwave?

Who knew?
Title: Re: Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.
Post by: Flame on September 02, 2008, 08:48:38 PM
Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.

My wife.  :rotf: 




Seriously though, we share the cooking and cleanup, but she cooks some things better, and I cook other things better.

Sounds like Mr Flame and I!
Title: Re: Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.
Post by: Chris on September 02, 2008, 08:48:56 PM
There is kitchen equipment besides a microwave?

Who knew?


Eww.  I despise microwaves.  I haven't owned one in over a decade. 
Title: Re: Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.
Post by: Chris_ on September 02, 2008, 08:52:47 PM
There is kitchen equipment besides a microwave?

Who knew?


Eww.  I despise microwaves.  I haven't owned one in over a decade. 

Well, in this * economy, I understand why you couldn't get one... ;)
Title: Re: Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.
Post by: debk on September 02, 2008, 09:53:17 PM
I use my microwave primarily for reheating leftovers (I love leftovers!) and melting butter.

Title: Re: Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.
Post by: Chris on September 02, 2008, 10:24:01 PM
I use my microwave primarily for reheating leftovers (I love leftovers!) and melting butter.

I still use my oven for leftovers.  Set it on 250* and wait half an hour (or have a few beers, in my case).  The only thing I've used a microwave for is soup and popcorn.

Microwaved pizza is nasty.
Title: Re: Kitchen equipment you wouldn't be without.
Post by: RobJohnson on September 03, 2008, 12:48:55 AM
Mine's that hot & cold running water thingy.

Are you from the future?