I do have one but barely use all the functions of it - my mum on the other hand bakes cakes in it and switches between modes like a boss.
What don't you use equipment-wise that's in the pantry?

 

While searching under the kitchen sink the other week I found a sandwich toaster I don't remember ever buying!!

 

Ooh I am so glad you started this thread BBC. Been meaning to do it for ages!

I thought it would be nice if people posted what they had for tea lol!!! With pics of course. Or any bakes and recipes they recommend.

I need help. We are having a BBQ soon for about 20ish people and I need ideas for an easy pud/desert that I can make in advance. Slice and freeze and just take out on the morning…

 

Ooh I am so glad you started this thread BBC. Been meaning to do it for ages!

I thought it would be nice if people posted what they had for tea lol!!! With pics of course. Or any bakes and recipes they recommend.

I need help. We are having a BBQ soon for about 20ish people and I need ideas for an easy pud/desert that I can make in advance. Slice and freeze and just take out on the morning…

What about a roulade, HB? Or cheesecake?

There's some good freezable make ahead recipes here:

Freezable dessert recipes

Make a fabulous pudding in advance with our freezable dessert recipes. Bake a simple sponge cake, a rich chocolate torte or a show-stopping roulade.

www.bbcgoodfood.com

I think the chocolate pear pudding looks good (and easy too, with tinned pears!).

 

I bought a sandwich toaster which I never use as I make mine in a pan lol!!!

 

I have a Tefal Fresh Express I barely use, we also have a RH Panini machine which is quite nice but takes a lot of space in the larder, at least it's on the floor and the slow cooker lives on top of it. I've also got a Dualit milk frother which only is used if we have people for coffee (rarely!). Our normal sandwich toaster gets used a bit. I rather like my KitchenAid mini chopper too. I always dreamt of having a proper KitchenAid mixer but can't justify it.

Our god daughter lent husband this cute gadget to try. She uses it at Uni, it's a thing that goes in the microwave and grills - so, for example, fish fingers can be grilled in the micro. He's pretty impressed with it.

Lékué Microwave Grill | Toasted Sandwich Maker

Make crispy grilled toasties or cook meat, fish and veg in the microwave in just 3 minutes with the new Lekue Microwave Grill. With 3 year guarantee.

www.lakeland.co.uk

The gadget I use most is the slow cooker. I love it.

 

Our god daughter lent husband this cute gadget to try. She uses it at Uni, it's a thing that goes in the microwave and grills - so, for example, fish fingers can be grilled in the micro. He's pretty impressed with it.

Lékué Microwave Grill | Toasted Sandwich Maker

Make crispy grilled toasties or cook meat, fish and veg in the microwave in just 3 minutes with the new Lekue Microwave Grill. With 3 year guarantee.

www.lakeland.co.uk

This actually looks good!!!

I’d quite like a milk frother.

 

I use my bread maker quite a bit. I bought one with a sourdough setting during lockdown.

I don’t actually use it for baking the bread as I prefer to cook it in the oven in an old hovis tin (or if sourdough a casserole dish).

But I always make the dough in it as it’s so much easier - I leave it to prove in there or in the coat cupboard which is very warm.

 

Just googled a fresh express as had no idea what one of those was lol!!! Ooh now I could really do with something like that that grates or slices. I’ve a mini chopper but that’s all it does - chops mini.

 

I have one of those Lukue toastie makers - brilliant gadget!

My larder has all sorts in it - pressure cooker, electric whisk, multi use chopper/whisk/blender/potato masher thing, said toastie maker, and just general tools and bits and bobs like this a Gracula garlic press (ha ha ha). I have this hand chopper that is used a lot - its really quick:

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Brieftons-QuickPull-Food-Chopper-Powerful/dp/B010VDS8K4/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=hand+mixer+pull+cord&qid=1658937215&sprefix=pull+hand+mixer%2Caps%2C68&sr=8-4

Tonight I'm making carbonara for tea - a classic but sooooo nice.

 

I love this thread! I love a good kitchen gadget and anything to make prep easier gets a thumbs up from me!

I have two kitchen gadgets that are simple but brilliant:

I had a traditional garlic press but found so much of the garlic would be left in the press. Then I found this dream of a gadget.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crusher-St...yZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

Then I wanted something that would chop things finely, but didn't want another electric gadget, so I came across this hand pull chopper. You pull the cord which spins the blades and chops things up nice a small. Perfect for onion and saves on the crying!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Processor-Vegetables-Stainless-Removable-Non-Slip/dp/B08Y8L5G5G/ref=sr_1_19?crid=1RNF7FEA1TN3L&keywords=manual+food+chopper&qid=1658937327&sprefix=manual+food+,aps,67&sr=8-19&th=1

It looks like I’m going to have to get a hand chopper and a garlic press lol!!!

 

I love this thread! I love a good kitchen gadget and anything to make prep easier gets a thumbs up from me!

I have two kitchen gadgets that are simple but brilliant:

I had a traditional garlic press but found so much of the garlic would be left in the press. Then I found this dream of a gadget.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crusher-St...yZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

Then I wanted something that would chop things finely, but didn't want another electric gadget, so I came across this hand pull chopper. You pull the cord which spins the blades and chops things up nice a small. Perfect for onion and saves on the crying!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Processor-...rds=manual+food+chopper&qid=1658937327&sprefix=manual+food+,aps,67&sr=8-19&th=1

 

Following with interest...

We use some of the kitchen gadgets we own. I find a lot of them are quite single purpose tho, and even though we use them it's rarely (like an apple press, used once a year when the apples come off the trees). We use things like our kenwood chef and our breadmaker a lot, but our waffle press gathers dust!

I have been looking at the ninja foodie, the ninja flip oven and the ninja creami tho - but so far I can't quite tell if I really need them We've been trying to shift away from our gas cooker as when we get solar panels later this year we want to stop using as much gas and electric as we can! We have already stopped using our gas hob and now use a single plug in induction hob... but only having one hob makes cooking complicated. So was thinking the foodie would help with that. The flip oven looks like it would replace our actual ovens... and the Creami is just because I love ice cream

 

I did not know there were so many Ninja things - off to spend a few hours perusing their website!

 

I think it's a slippery slope, all of a sudden you find yourself lusting after things you never knew you needed

 

This is fun but not recommended:

OTOTO Gracula Garlic Grinder- Garlic Twister & Peeler- Garlic Mincer Tool, Twist Top & Easy Squeeze Manual Garlic Press - BPA Free, Easy Clean & Dishwasher Safe Garlic Twist Crusher Kitchen Tool : Amazon.co.uk: Home & Kitchen

OTOTO Gracula Garlic Grinder- Garlic Twister & Peeler- Garlic Mincer Tool, Twist Top & Easy Squeeze Manual Garlic Press - BPA Free, Easy Clean & Dishwasher Safe Garlic Twist Crusher Kitchen Tool: OTOTO Gracula Garlic Grinder- Garlic Twister & Peeler- Garlic Mincer Tool, Twist Top & Easy Squeeze...

smile.amazon.co.uk

 

Fascinating thread. I'm not a kitchen gadget person - I don't count my Magimix or Artisan as gadgets, they're essential items 😁 My microwave is used for either defrosting or cooking Mr. L's porridge. I have an areopress for his coffee and that's it.
Funnily enough, at the county show today there were demonstrations of a slow cooker, rice steamer, egg boiler all in one type of machine. It really didn't appeal

 

I never considered my coffee machine as a gadget but I guess it is! We have a Magimix too - its a CitiZ and I love it. We actually find Aldi pods are our favourite for it so although the machine wasn't cheap the coffee is

 

I didn't consider coffee machines as gadgets either actually. That increases the number of gadgets significantly...

I have an aeropress, a sage bambino espresso machine, a drip cold brew jar, various cafetieres, and a grinder 😂 currently looking for a pod machine too to put in my office.

 

Husband likes his "drip" coffee machine and coffee grinder. All started because of our Hawaii trips...! Cheap coffee machine, more expensive grinder and even more expensive coffee.

 

This is the recipe I followed tonight for my carbonara - was really lovely:

Italian carbonara | Jamie Oliver pasta recipes

A spaghetti carbonara recipe is a failsafe classic. This Italian carbonara uses the traditional guanciale and pecorino cheese for a real taste of Italy.

www.jamieoliver.com

Im not much of a pudding person but I made these Chocolate Brownies once HB and they went down really well with my whole family:

Rich Chocolate Brownies

Serves 12

Ingredients

• 140g/5oz Cadburys Bourneville dark chocolate
• 225g/8oz butter
• 5 free-range eggs
• 450g/1lb caster sugar (or a mix of dark sugars
• 110g/4oz plain flour
• 55g/2oz Cadburys Bourneville cocoa powder
• Optional - chopped up Glacia Cherries

Method

1. Heat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5. Line a 20x30cm/8x12in baking tin with baking parchment.
2. Gently melt the butter and the sugar together in a large pan.
3. Take off the heat and beat in the rest of the ingredients.
4. Turn into the baking tin and bake for 30-40 minutes until the top of the brownie is firm but the inside still feels soft.
5. Take out of the oven and cool in the tin. Cut into 5cm/2in squares when cool. Perfect with a cup of tea.

 

Thanks @Mrs Funkin and @BarneyBobCat

I reckon a cheesecake and chocolate brownies would work - then would serve with fresh strawberries and cream so everyone could help themselves!

I might have to have a practice run of those brownies @BarneyBobCat do you think they would freeze ok?

Bearing in mind it would be chocolate brownies and strawberries what “flavour” cheesecake would you go for or would you just stick to NY???

 

Thanks @Mrs Funkin and @BarneyBobCat

I reckon a cheesecake and chocolate brownies would work - then would serve with fresh strawberries and cream so everyone could help themselves!

I might have to have a practice run of those brownies @BarneyBobCat do you think they would freeze ok?

Bearing in mind it would be chocolate brownies and strawberries what “flavour” cheesecake would you go for or would you just stick to NY???

I probably just do a vanilla cheesecake, if you anticipated that folk might have a bit of everything HB.

 

I’m a huge fan of proper carbonara (we have lots of eggs in our house lol) and it’s ridiculously easy to make. I do Jamie’s as well as he got it from Genaro originally.

 

I'm not really a gadget girl. I mean, what's the point when you can do the same with a knife that is easier and quicker to clean? I do have a julienne speed peeler for carrots in coleslaw and a hand held spiraliser (sp?) For courgette noodles though.

As for slow cookers, having just eaten a previously made Bolognese where I lovingly sweated down the onions, carrots and celery then cooked out the tomato puree, reduced the red wine for depth of flavour... would it really be as nice if I just bunged it all in a pot?

One thing I could not do without is my mini chopper/processor. I use it at least once a week for making curry paste/herby pesto type sauce/piri-piri sauce and at other times fresh breadcrumbs etc

 

I'd very much doubt it, GN. I don't do Thai or Bolognese in a slow cooker. Anything casserole-y/Indian based curry goes in though. I also generally only use chicken thigh fillets in the slow cooker, not chicken breast, as they are much less dry.

All of this kitchen talk makes me realise I need to tidy up the cupboards! You never know what you might find...!

 

I'm not a sweet person but love a baked cheesecake 😍

Having made it a couple of times, I realise why is a treat food though!

 

Definitely just NY cheesecake @huckybuck

 

Thank you @Mrs Funkin @BarneyBobCat I'm half inclined to get that grill.
The only thing stopping me is wondering whether I'll use it regularly or if it'll be a one use wonder then left to gather dust, like my Sandwich toast maker.

Gadgets I use all the time - microwave and slow cooker.
Frequently - rice cooker, jar opener
Sometimes - bigger slow cooker

 

great thread….. anyone remember my new coffee machine…. Well its now in the cupboard and will be finding a free home soon, what a waste of money

 

So hubby was right and it's crap? 😹

 

Im going to attempt a tomato based chicken and chorizo risotto today. Ate it at a local restaurant lately and it was absolutely amazing

 

Now I love food, most food but risotto is something I just can’t get my head round. Wet rice should only be used for rice pudding 😂

 

I think my coffee machine is my favourite kitchen gadget, I don't think I could live without it now! I have a Sage Barista Express which my OH bought me for my birthday in the 2020 lockdown. It was expensive, but I've used it pretty much every day since then. There's something quite wonderful about being able to make coffee shop type coffees at home plus it saves me so much money as I don't feel the need to stop at a coffee shop on the way to work now.