If you could only keep 5 kitchen appliances - Page 2

[ASusan]

toaster
blender
hand mixer
crock pot
waffle iron OR stick blender

[frogguruami]

I agree, that if you use them, then keep them. From that list the things I use are Bread Maker, Electric Kettle, Yogurt Maker and Mixer. I have a coffee pot but only use it a couple of times a year. The rest of the time I use a French Press.

[Leta]

Were talking about stuff that plugs in, right?

Kitchen Aid
Cuisinart
Stick Blender
Toaster Oven
Crock Pot

Okay, drumroll please...

That's all we have! Popcorn can be popped, yogurt made, and rice boiled in a pot. (Okay, to be fair, to make yogurt you also need a thermometer and heating pad, and the heating pad plugs in. But we don't keep it on the kitchen counter.) We have a mortar and pestle for spices, a hand grinder and a French press for coffee, a tea kettle, a cast iron waffleiron (used on stove burner) and some attachments for the Kitchen Aid (pasta maker, grain mill).

As my man Alton Brown says, "Death to the unitasker!"

[ladywolf]

toaster oven
toaster
ice cream maker
blender
coffee grinder

(I actually think that is all the appliances I have)

[Leta]

Gosh, I've never been so proud of myself as I am on this thread. We don't have a microwave, either. And our bread and yogurt is exclusively homemade.

Okay, I'm gonna stop gloating now.

I find bread kneading to be theraputic, so I would ditch the breadmaker. We went to Vinnie's, bought a dozen loaf pans for $5, and bake bread at least 8 loaves at a time and freeze them. So I guess we have six appliances, because we have a chest freezer (but it's in the basement).

Also, as I said, you totally do not need a yogurt maker to make yogurt. I can give instructions if anyone wants them.

You could get the pasta maker attachment for your Kitchen Aid.

I don't really get why you have a juicer and a Vitamix and a Cuisinart. I would ditch the juicer and the Vitamix, keep the Cuisinart, and, if you really miss it, get the juicer attachment for the KA. We have a little hand juicer that meets our needs.

You can get a Lodge cast iron pan to make waffles and grill paninis- inexpensive, too. And you can hang it to save space.

You could also go the mill and French press route for coffee. Honestly, since we ditched our piece of crap Mr. Coffee, I don't even like drip brewed coffee anymore.

The point of a rice cooker is lost on me.

So I've got you down to, what, seven?

HTH!

[Leta]

I have a recipe on how to make homemade ice cream without a special machine, too, if anyone's interested.

[cupofjojo]

Originally Posted by Leta

I don't really get why you have a juicer and a Vitamix and a Cuisinart. I would ditch the juicer and the Vitamix, keep the Cuisinart, and, if you really miss it, get the juicer attachment for the KA. We have a little hand juicer that meets our needs.
HTH!

My DS only likes clear juice so the juicer gets used 2 times a week to make juice. I love more smoothie like mixes and do a lot of things in the Vitamix as a blender. I used to have the KA juicer but it was limiting for me since I couldn't juice berries and such in the KA juicer. The Cuisanart is used to slice veggies, shred cheese, and the like, and pesto etc.

[Wabi Sabi]

My top 5:

Hand blender
Kitchen-Aid Mixer
Food processor
Crock pot
Toaster

[marybethorama]

Originally Posted by cupofjojo

Hi:
Kitchen Aid Mixer
Cuisinart Food Processor
Vitamix Blender
Rice Cooker
Toaster
Coffee Maker
Crock Pot
Electric Tea Kettle (our electric over takes 5 minutes longer to heat up)

Okay, I couldn't get down to five. Do you use your bread machine everyday? I know some people do.

I have all of the above minus the kettle and rice cooker. I wouldn't mind either TBH

[ani'smommy]

Originally Posted by Leta

I have a recipe on how to make homemade ice cream without a special machine, too, if anyone's interested.

I would LOVE this recipe! My ice cream maker just died.

[ani'smommy]

Okay, I would keep:

Mixer
Toaster
Waffle Iron
Blender
Coffee Maker

[cupofjojo]

Originally Posted by marybethorama

Okay, Do you use your bread machine everyday?

I don't use it everyday probably one to two times a week. There are only 3 of us in the house so we don't go through bread that fast.

In response to Leta, I used to always make rice in a pot until we moved to high altitude, anyone live in high altitude and have a rice to water ratio that works? When I do it on the stove the way I did at sea level my rice is always undercooked. When I add more water, it seems overcooked. I'd love it if someone could help me out on this one.

[Delight]

Originally Posted by cupofjojo

Hi:

I'm in serious decluttering, simplifying mode and wondering what others choices would be if you could only have 5 appliances in your kitchen. I use a lot of appliances regularly; they don't sit and only get used once a year so that's why I'd be curious what folks would pick.

Here are all my appliances:

Kitchen Aid Mixer
Cuisinart Food Processor
Hand Blender/aka Stick Blender
Yogurt maker
Vitamix Blender
Rice Cooker
Pasta Maker
Juicer
Toaster
Waffle Maker
Panini/Grill
Coffee Maker
Crock Pot
Electric Tea Kettle (our electric over takes 5 minutes longer to heat up)
Bread Maker

Thanks for the input.

It's fun to read other's responses...it just goes to show that you really can't have anyone else tell you what to keep! Some of the things that people said to get rid of, I was like "WHAAAT!?". I've downsized my kitchen stuff several times...and on many occasions, I've actually gone back out and gotten another one. So, I know the things that I really do use and love.

Personally, I would keep the Vitamix, the food processor, toaster, crock pot, and the electric tea kettle. But it totally depends on your lifestyle. Are you using the juicer at least weekly? I think if you're not using it weekly, get rid of it. Unless it really, really helps speed up a process. For example, if you LOVE homemade pasta and you use it every couple of weeks.

A good example from my life is my bread machine. I got rid of it. Then I decided I needed it back. I have used it maybe 2 times in the last 4 months. I tell myself "ooooh..but it makes great pizza dough!". I haven't used it one time for pizza dough. Just a couple times for bread that I don't even like. I can't ever get it to turn out right. So...I think it's outta here. You just have to go through the list and really be brutally honest. Technically, we could all just live with a big chef's knife.

[Mama Dragon]

My thoughts: (if you use it a lot means multiple times per week, minimum 1x/week)

Kitchen Aid Mixer KEEP
Cuisinart Food Processor KEEP
Hand Blender/aka Stick Blender KEEP
Yogurt maker eh, if you use it a lot, I wouldn't
Vitamix Blender what on earth is that? Use the food processor?
Rice Cooker a pan works just fine
Pasta Maker do you use it alot? Keep it if so!
Juicer if you use it a lot
Toaster KEEP
Waffle Maker KEEP
Panini/Grill if you use it a lot
Coffee Maker KEEP
Crock Pot KEEP
Electric Tea Kettle (our electric over takes 5 minutes longer to heat up) so? what's 5 minutes?
Bread Maker KEEP

Sorry, that's 8 to keep

[cupofjojo]

A little more information, here's how often I use my things.

Kitchen Aid Mixer KEEP Use every week about 2x's
Cuisinart Food Processor KEEP monthly
Hand Blender/aka Stick Blender KEEP weekly sometimes 2xs
Yogurt maker eh, if you use it a lot, I wouldn't 1 to 2xs a week
Vitamix Blender what on earth is that? Use the food processor? The Vitamix is a high power blender that can also crack grains for bread, will grind fruits & veggies into puree, etc. Daily
Rice Cooker a pan works just fine 2xs a week
Pasta Maker do you use it alot? Keep it if so! 2 to 3xs a month
Juicer if you use it a lot 1 to 2 xs a week
Toaster KEEP 2x a month at most
Waffle Maker KEEP 3x a month to weekly
Panini/Grill if you use it a lot weekly in winter 2xs a month in warm weatherCoffee Maker KEEP
Crock Pot KEEP 2x's a week
Electric Tea Kettle (our electric over takes 5 minutes longer to heat up) so? what's 5 minutes? More $ to the electric company, and in the AM every minute counts getting out the door . 4xs a day
Bread Maker KEEP 2x's a week

After the one suggestion, I think the toaster will go for sure. Crazy to think this but my food processor is looking like a close second.

I like hearing everyone's thoughts a kitchen is such a personal choice kind of thing.

[Leta]

It is really interesting to see what people use and how. At least to me, but then, I'm nosy.

Here is the link for how to make ice cream without a machine.
http://sci-toys.com/scitoys/scitoys/...ice_cream.html

[Leta]

Originally Posted by cupofjojo

In response to Leta, I used to always make rice in a pot until we moved to high altitude, anyone live in high altitude and have a rice to water ratio that works?

I am at a sort of high altitude, but not compared to Boulder. So I'm useless on this one. Sorry.

[Leta]

Originally Posted by cupofjojo

I used to have the KA juicer but it was limiting for me since I couldn't juice berries and such in the KA juicer.

This is really good to know. Thanks!

[StrawberryFields]

Boy, I don't even have 5 appliances so I'd just stick with the ones I do have:

Toaster
Coffee pot
Electric egg beater

...and since I have a fridge and a stove I guess that rounds it out to 5 total.

I just can't see myself using or storing juicers and mixers and rice cookers. I'm too lazy I hate getting them out, plugging them in, cleaning them, putting them away...

[Radish4ever]

Well I don't even have 5 on your list... so here are mine!

Originally Posted by cupofjojo

Kitchen Aid Mixer
Toaster
Crock Pot

Others I think are great would be:
Juicer
Waffle Maker
Bread Maker