Which kitchen appliances are worthwhile?

[mrs07]

I'm trying to decide which kitchen appliances are worth both the space they take up and the time they take to clean and care for. Right now I'm thinking about buying the MM favorite KA stand mixer and a real food processor. I find I can get away with the blender for my nearly-non-existant food processing needs, but I'm wondering if I should grow up a bit - will I make more veggies if they are easier to slice up? Also, what about a mini food processor, is that just as useful if you are willing to batch?

I'm also hoping I can move toward cooking more/better food and maybe timesavers like once a month, high volume cooking. So I'm looking for advice on how useful these appliances are from those of you cook a lot. We already have a real good blender, I think a blendtec.

eta: I don't do much baking / sweets, so is there no point to getting a stand mixer?

[cransplash]

I think this will depend on how much you plan to cook or bake, but I use my KA mixer, food processor, and Cuisinart Smart Oven/Toaster/Broiler the most.

[Deleted]

I love my KA mixer but I bake quite often so it is handy for me to have. I have both a large and mini food processor. I very rarely use the mini one. The big one is nice but sort of a pain to clean.

[LoveTrains]

I use my KA mixer about once a month. I use my cuisinart food processor maybe once a month, too.

[nomad100]

I love my KA mixer, toaster oven, hot air popcorn popper, coffee maker and stick blender.

We have a bunch of other gadgets like the blender, food processor, pasta machine, etc. but these are the ones we use most.

I love my mandolin for slicing veggies.

[kaylie]

I have a KA stand mixer, Cuisinart food processor (one of the higher end ones), Breville Smart Oven and a higher-end crock pot. I think my food processor was definitely worth the splurge. It's a 1000Hz model which means it can easily knead dough. If I had known how good it would be at that, I might have passed on my stand mixer.

I also love my crockpot and use it at least once a week. I have this one: www.amazon.com/dp/B001KVZTFO/ref=gl_it_dp_o_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3OEU3KEA4GFLS&coliid=I2QT6UDJT8C3WG

That's the model that Cook's Illustrated ranked #1 and I upgraded because my cheapie $15 model kept overcooking everything.

I really like my smart oven too - we use it all the time.

[steph96]

I would skip the KA mixer. Go for a good hand mixer instead.

I love my food processer. I can't believe I ever lived without one.

Crockpot.

Things I thought I would use but I don't: rice cooker, electric can opener, toaster, KA stand mixer

[grk2012]

My most-used kitchen appliances are the hot water dispenser, rice cooker, yogurt maker, and immersion blender. The blender, food processor, and bread maker have their moments, but not as frequent as the others. My KA is excellent at collecting dust.

[grk2012]

Oh yeah, CrockPot! I have four. :z

[indianchica]

Magic bullet, hand mixer, immersion blender, crockpot and food dehydrator.

[bronxgirl]

I love my stand mixer and my food processor. Occasionally I use my blender, too. I never use that stupid ice cream maker.

[skib]

I love my All-Clad slow cooker, Breville panini maker, immersion blender, KA food processor, and KA mixer.

[stealthmom]

Toaster oven and crockpot

[agnes]

I use the KA stand mixer, toaster, microwave, and rice cooker the most. H uses the crock pot and small food processor the most. Only the microwave and toaster stay on the counter.

Eta: I'm the baker and H is the cooker. Most of my cooking consists of baking, microwaving, or steaming. Or just ordering take out

[orangeblossom]

The KA is good if you have the space. You can build upon it as you go if you want with the ice cream maker, pasta attachment, vegetable slicer, etc.

A good toaster oven is a good buy if you have the space. I have a Cuisinart and really like it and it was worth the money. The Breville Smart Toaster Ovens are supposed to be really good as well.

I have a food processor, but will not be taking it with me when we move. I used to use it all of the time, but the cleanup got on my nerves a bit. You can't put the blades in the dishwasher (understandable), but the I always had to be extra careful hand washing the non-dishwasher parts.

I use a cheap $5 mandoline for now. Less space and gets the job done. I do plan to upgrade to a nicer one at some point.

A good blender like a Vitamix is good, because that can be used for some food processing needs.

ETA: A good mid-range blender if you can afford it goes a long way. It doesn't have to be a Vitamkx. I ended up getting my Vitamix, because I'd broken so many prior to that, I felt like it was time to spend some money and get a good one, plus.i live kitchen gadgets.

[Deleted]

I have a food processor but it is a pain in the ass to clean so I more often reach for my knife. My stand mixer gathers dust unless I am making cookies for an army.

I use my blender all the time for smoothies. I have small second oven. My coffee maker.

[chia]

I am a good cook but don't have a lot of appliances.
KitchenAid & the blender are pretty much it, for me.
I'd rather get nice pans and nice knives, Versus a bunch of other Crap.

Sent from my SPH-L900 using proboards

[kaylie]

Nov 24, 2013 7:07:25 GMT -5 pennypenny said:

Nov 23, 2013 20:00:08 GMT -5 kaylie said:

I have a KA stand mixer, Cuisinart food processor (one of the higher end ones), Breville Smart Oven and a higher-end crock pot. I think my food processor was definitely worth the splurge. It's a 1000Hz model which means it can easily knead dough. If I had known how good it would be at that, I might have passed on my stand mixer.

I also love my crockpot and use it at least once a week. I have this one: www.amazon.com/dp/B001KVZTFO/ref=gl_it_dp_o_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3OEU3KEA4GFLS&coliid=I2QT6UDJT8C3WG

That's the model that Cook's Illustrated ranked #1 and I upgraded because my cheapie $15 model kept overcooking everything.

I really like my smart oven too - we use it all the time.

What food processor so you have? Maybe we can skip the KA.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using proboards

We have this one: www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-FP-12DC-Collection-12-Cup-Processor/dp/B002I5DMTQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1385296242&sr=1-2&keywords=cuisinart+elite

It's 1000 watts (not Hz like I thought), which is more powerful than the typical ~750. Beware that a lot of food processors will say that they can handle dough, but you really want to stronger motor for that. We killed our first FP making pizza. Williams Sonoma sells a 16 cup capacity for $300.

[audette]

We had to analyze this when we moved here, because the electric supply is different than back in the US.

So far, the most used appliance is the hot water dispenser (it's also our water filter, and is run in-line with the sink, so we never have to refill it... it came with the apartment, though). After that would be the rice cooker. I have a stick blender and a toaster that sees moderate use, as well as a hand mixer. We got a coffeepot, but at this point I am wondering why we bothered... All of that is 220V.

I have a 110V crock pot, mostly because it's a pain in the ass to find a 220V one. It sees a fair amount of use. And, I have a 22 quart electric roaster (110V) so I can cook a real-sized turkey. The ovens here (when you can find an apartment that has one!) are teensy! I like having turkey. It was worth it to me to buy the roaster so I can have it, even if it only gets used rarely.

That's it. Occasionally I miss my KA mixer, or a proper food processor, but there are few things those do that I can't manage with the above items, combined with some good knives and a crapton of cutting boards. (yay, knife skills!)

[CloudBee]

KA mixer - doesn't get used often, but when it does I'm thankful to have it.

Crockpots - we have2 different sizes and have gotten soooo much use out of them.

Food processor - have never used it. So many parts to clean, and it's stored up high. I really should pull it down, but like spenjamins I usually just grab a good knife.

Blender - my husband uses it constantly for smoothies.

Nice toaster oven - we use the broiler all the time.

[CloudBee]

KA mixer - doesn't get used often, but when it does I'm thankful to have it.

Crockpots - we have2 different sizes and have gotten soooo much use out of them.

Food processor - have never used it. So many parts to clean, and it's stored up high. I really should pull it down, but like spenjamins I usually just grab a good knife.

Blender - my husband uses it constantly for smoothies.

Nice toaster oven - we use the broiler all the time.

[explorer2001]

I use my blender and toaster oven all the time. My crockpot frequently. The KA mixer and mandolin a few times a year and I wouldn't want to be without them.

I never use my food processor, hand mixer, mini food processor, etc. I don't even own a coffee maker.

[dragonfly08]

Love my KA mixer. Don't use it a huge amount, but when I do it's a real lifesaver. Could not live without my toaster oven and Keurig. Have a full size food processor but rarely use it...most stuff works just fine in the blender, which I prefer anyway.

[pamela]

Hand mixer - I don't have a stand mixer, and even after I do, I'll probably still use it sometimes for ease of cleaning. I never use any of the attachments other than the beater heads though.
Blender and food processor - I need both because my food processor has a *really* low liquid level. All the parts of my food processor can go in the dishwasher, but they take up a lot of space. I usually only use it for slicing when I'm doing a whole week of food prep (which I've been slacking on)
Pasta roller - I have a manual one that I really enjoy using it, even if it is only every couple of months.
Toaster - We used to use it quite a bit, but have really backed off and can probably do without it now. We don't have a toaster oven either.
Crock pot - I really want a second size if I had room for it. Mine is massive and I'd like something to cook smaller portions without having them dry out since I have to cook a long time with my workday. Programmable would be nice too.
Deep fryer - I'm on the fence about keeping it. I like keeping the mess contained and not having to pour oil in and out of a pan when we want to fry something. It takes up SO much space though.
Mini-food processor - we have it, but pretty much never use it. There are a few tasks that it does well, but it's a pain to clean because it's so little.

[mir322]

Nov 23, 2013 20:37:25 GMT -5 steph96 said:

I would skip the KA mixer. Go for a good hand mixer instead.

I love my food processer. I can't believe I ever lived without one.

Crockpot.

Things I thought I would use but I don't: rice cooker, electric can opener, toaster, KA stand mixer

this. But I would keep my toaster (not toaster oven).  There are also hand mixers (and blenders) with a dough attachment. My hand mixer has served me well for everything and I bake often enough.

[persa]

We use our Breville smart oven more than anything else in our kitchen.

Other than that we use the mini rice cooker, the food processor, the mini prep processor, the blender and the slow cooker (Hamilton Beach digital) frequently.

[tcu2003]

I love my KA stand mixer. I use it probably at least once a week, more if I'm baking a ton. I have a bread machine I use maybe once per month, though I'm going to try using it more often if I can ever perfect a decent bread recipe in it. I used to use my Viking immersion blender a ton when I was making baby food. I use my hand mixer maybe once a month as well. The food processor and blender rarely get used. The crockpot I probably use about twice per month.

[heliocentric]

We use our KA stand mixer often, but to be honest there are several things about it that I think are poorly designed for the price.

We also have a large, heavy duty Cuisinart food processor that we use on a regular basis.

Our blender is worthless. We've used it maybe twice in 10 years. The food processor is more versatile and the stick blender works for simple things.

At one time we considered getting a rice cooker, but since we started making rice in a glass bowl in the microwave I don't see the need.

[redheadk]

I cook but don't bake. My food processor gets the most use by far. I rarely use my KA.

[Marmee]

Depends on what you make/cook! I bake a lot & have 4 kids. I also do Fresh 20 most weeks.

I use my toaster, coffee maker, crockpot, electric fry pan & kitchen Aid mixer the most.

I occasionally use the food processor, mini food processor, popcorn maker, blender.

I almost never use my juicer, hand mixer, immersion blender, espresso machine.

I could survive without pretty much all of them but I have a ton of cabinet & shelf space.