Kitchen Gadgets

[Chookiehen]

hi

Just wondered what everyones best or most usefull kitchen gadget was, mine is my food processor would not be without it now. (Used to be my breadmaker but dont eat so much bread now so havent used it in a while.)

Have been considering an Actifry or Phillips airfryer, Seems to be conflicting reviews on the web when you look them up. Thought it may be usefull if we had a post for our favourite time saving gadgets


thanks
Chookiehen

 

[Stackhead]

The closest thing I have to a gadget in my kitchen is my garlic smoosher.

Other than that no fancy gadgets or gizmos.

xx

 

[Kitty78]

Definitely my food processor but also my slow cooker I love being able to put a stew on in the morning and by the evening there is a lovely cooked meal ready which gives me more time to go to the gym!!

 

[ermintrude]

My mini whizzer. LOVE it. Use it for allsorts. I used to LOVELOVELOVE the breadmaker but not touched that since SW...


The rest is pretty basic stuff, I dont go for gadgets - garlic press, measuring spoons, grater, steamer (manual), pestle & mortar.

Oh! I got a coffee grinder to whizz my spices quicker which is great! But I could do with the P&M if I didnt have it.

 

[Happy Holidays]

I thought microwave until I saw kitty78 said slow cooker, so now I have to ask if I can select two items pretty please & include slow cooker as well.

I would also have liked to add my waring juicer, but seeing as juice is synned I won't mention it

 

[CAPRICORN]

ooh ooh.... my remoska... it is the most used item in my kitchen, at the moment Im packing up ready to move and only leaving out "essentials" and HE is one of them...
if I could be sneaky and choose a 2nd item it will have to be my electric mincer/sausage maker

 

[Chookiehen]

Thanks for replying - I work and commute long hours so any time saving in the Kitchen helps, Its also useful to have people recommend gadgets so your not wasting your money on stuff which doesnt work properly.

Thanks again - Chookiehen

 

[fat&40]

definately my slow cooker, do love bread maker but that has been moved to the cupboard - just don't trust myself not to eat a whole loaf atm

 

[Annya]

My Actifry, which I use almost every day as you can do so much more than dry fry in it and my slow cooker which is great as I am out at work all day 5 days a week and can come home to meal that's already cooked and ready to eat.


By-the-by, I understand there were problems with the older Actifry models overheating and some even spontaenously combusting , but the newer models don't suffer with this problem. Touch wood, I have had mine for ages now and have never had any trouble at all - I LOVE it

 

[lsf666]

Actifry!!!!!!

It has replaced our gorgeous pink Dualit 6 slice toaster on the kitchen worktop.

Sent from my iPhone using MiniMins

 

[Maximus]

Mine is a toss-up between the excellent Tefal Actifry and the Tassimo coffee machine. Since Tassimo dropped the Starbucks blend though it is not as great as it was.

The breadmaker is now redundant and replaced by bread tins. There's nothing more therapeutic than making, mixing and especially kneading your own bread. Well, apart from eating it! As others have said though, it is tempting to eat the lot and calls for great discipline! I love making my own wholemeal bread and homemade soup.

Not succumbed to a slow-cooker yet as don't really need one..... will probably pick one up at Asda tomorrow (can never have too many pans)

 

[Bunnylush]

I used to love my Panasonic bread maker,but now I can't eat it on SW I love my food proessor!
Does anyone have the time totell me exactly what you can do with these Actifry or dry air cooking things?

 

[fat&40]

I used to love my Panasonic bread maker,but now I can't eat it on SW I love my food proessor!
Does anyone have the time totell me exactly what you can do with these Actifry or dry air cooking things?

I'd be interested to know too.

 

[Annya]

There's not a lot you can't do with an Actifry. I use mine to make:

SW chips and saute spuds
Chilli
Curry
Dry roast chicken (SW KFC style is lovely), pork and lamb chops, fish, prawns etc
Meatballs in sauce
Casseroles (in fact I have one in there for tea right now!)
"Fried" sausages (which you can bung in along with your chips to save energy!),
Roasties - spuds, BNS, mixed root veggies, peppers, mushrooms, whole baby onoins (nom nom) etc

Basically anything you can fry, roast or casserole/pot roast you can do in an Actifry - and a lot quicker too.

You can use it with no oil, Fry Light (I use the buttery one) or even extra virgin olive oil for a HExB. I mostly use no oil or Fry Light and only use olive oil for a treat from time to time - rather not waste a HExB on oil TBH!

Hope that helps - here's a LINK to the Actifry site where you read all about the "virtues" of this appliance

 

[Annya]

Oh, and I picked mine up on eBay for £90 brand new - unwanted present....... bargain!

 

[bunnylovesalan]

Me knife, tin opener and peeler

 

[Bunnylush]

There's not a lot you can't do with an Actifry. I use mine to make:

SW chips and saute spuds
Chilli
Curry
Dry roast chicken (SW KFC style is lovely), pork and lamb chops, fish, prawns etc
Meatballs in sauce
Casseroles (in fact I have one in there for tea right now!)
"Fried" sausages (which you can bung in along with your chips to save energy!),
Roasties - spuds, BNS, mixed root veggies, peppers, mushrooms, whole baby onoins (nom nom) etc

Basically anything you can fry, roast or casserole/pot roast you can do in an Actifry - and a lot quicker too.

You can use it with no oil, Fry Light (I use the buttery one) or even extra virgin olive oil for a HExB. I mostly use no oil or Fry Light and only use olive oil for a treat from time to time - rather not waste a HExB on oil TBH!

Hope that helps - here's a LINK to the Actifry site where you read all about the "virtues" of this appliance

Thanks, keep looking and pondering,I don't have any room for one really,well I could put my bread maker away. But I have a new oven,that I'm happy using,one would be nice though. I didn't know you could do stews. But I use a slowcooker too. Xxx

 

[Maximus]

I used to love my Panasonic bread maker,but now I can't eat it on SW I love my food proessor!
Does anyone have the time totell me exactly what you can do with these Actifry or dry air cooking things?

I'd be interested to know too.

As well as the stuff listed already, you can actually cook the frozen chips, fish fingers, chicken nuggets, bites, prawn balls etc. WITHOUT any oil/fat/frylight as they have enough in the coating anyway.

Whether you would want to is another matter, but it is a way to have other members of the family eating without a deep fat fryer.

Extra virgin olive oil (1tbsl HEX B) and maris piper quartered potatoes for 40 minutes and add a few half parsnips for the last 10!

You can do the chilli or curry and it will actually stir it for you with the included paddle!

I've had mine a year and don't use it as much as my habits have changed. It has paid for itself though as I lost over 6st - almost 7. making the high price (it isn't cheap - but what price your health? worthwhile to me.

I've seen and read all the horror stories on Amazon about fires, exploding, buts falling off, snapping hinges, doors etc. I'd love to know what on earth some people were doing to them! - I bought the extended warranty (about £30) just in case.

When mine dies - I will buy another!

 

[Bunnylush]

Thank You,I'm always wary until I understand something ,it's very helpful x