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06.04.20, 22:44 PM General Topics
46 replies
I want to start getting into cooking. What appliances have you found to be the most helpful? Slow cooker, instapot, air fryer, toaster oven, etc.? [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
General Topics 06.04.20, 10:44 PM Flag
 

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Wow, I cook and only own toaster over. Use it for toast. How about kitchen aid mixer. Le cruset Dutch oven [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.20, 10:49 PM Flag
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Cuisinart, Le Creuset dutch oven, stand mixer if you bake. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.20, 10:59 PM Flag
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Those are my big 3 go-tos [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 02:13 AM Flag
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Ditto, except I prefer Staub over LC. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 03:59 AM Flag
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can substitute generic dutch oven if desired. I got mine from Costco and it's fine. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 05:51 PM Flag
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For me it's more about tools than appliances. Like a good set of saucepans; an enamel dutch oven like Le Creuset; a roasting pan; a cast iron skillet. These are all things I use to make dinner regularly. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.20, 11:01 PM Flag
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op: I am a newbie, so I don't even know what some of those things do! I will check them out. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.20, 11:04 PM Flag
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+ on cast iron. Love mine. You have to clean and season it properly. Get a cast iron brush and make sure anyone who does dishes in your household knows how to use/clean it or doesn’t touch it. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 09:18 PM Flag
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That being said if they do screw it up, it’s a pain but it can be restored. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 09:19 PM Flag
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+1 [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 11:05 PM Flag
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+1. I’ll use these tools almost every day. Also include a good pair of tongs, spatula, wooden spoon for mixing. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 12:41 AM Flag
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And good knives [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 12:43 AM Flag
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Absolutely this. You can get by with a lot of subpar equipment but you have to have good knives and somewhere to get them sharpened regularly (my hardware store does it). Also you need to learn how to use them. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 05:32 PM Flag
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I don't have any of that. The most useful have been my pots, pans, and my dutch oven. I have a stand mixer, but I bake and I don't think a novice cook needs that. Things like instapots and airfryers are the bread makers of the 2010s. If you do have a burning desire for one get it at a garage sale for $15. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.20, 11:04 PM Flag
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op: Lol. Since I don't know how to cook, I guess the things I mentioned stood out to me as being easier. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.20, 11:06 PM Flag
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^^forgot, good knives too [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.20, 11:08 PM Flag
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This. When I first read the question I started to think about all the useful gadgets, pots, pans etc rather than appliances. Having said that, I'd recommend a good set of mixing bowls, a good vegetable peeler (Kuhl-Rikon, $7-ish on Amazon), pyrex measuring set (great for heating up hot liquids in microwave), a microplane grater, and a kitchen scale if you like to bake. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.20, 11:46 PM Flag
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Thanks! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.20, 11:51 PM Flag
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Yes. Ita. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 12:44 AM Flag
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Get two heavy duty cookie sheets for baking, broiling, and roasting veggies (mine are just basic aluminium ones from costco), a roasting pan with a small rack to elevate your roast, silicone spatulas, whisk, tongs (preferably non-scratch), old school big wooden spoons [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 01:56 AM Flag
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I'm a baker but don't even have a standing mixer, no space. But second the basic set of good pots and pans. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 03:18 AM Flag
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Tell us what kinds of things you like to eat and to cook, and how much space you have. My minimum recommendation is immersion blender, small rice maker and Dutch oven. We recently got a medium size Cuisinart food processor and I have been using it a lot for chopping and baking. You can use it for cookies, bread etc so don't get a stand mixer unless you're a hard core baker. We have a slow cooker, stand mixer, and pressure cooker but use those less frequently. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.20, 11:37 PM Flag
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op: trying to cook mostly meat/poultry/fish with vegetables, rice, or other sides. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.20, 11:47 PM Flag
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If you like one-pot meals or almost one-pot meals, and like to make things you don't need to watch over as much,the instapot is a good choice. For separate meat/veggies/sides, I don't use it. I once read that to make cooking as easy as possible, look for things that have longer cooking times but low maintenance (i.e. roasts, crock-pot/instapot meals, soups) or are high-maintenance with short cooking times (stir fries, grilled or broiled meats, eggs, etc) For everyday cooking, avoid things that take a lot of active work and take a long time to cook. Don't feel obliged to make these meals routinely unless you really enjoy it. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 02:21 AM Flag
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A good meat thermometer is a lifesaver. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 09:21 PM Flag
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I cook a lot, and I don't think the rice maker is useful. For cooking (not baking), I'd say, immersion stick blender (cheap, takes up little space, useful); cuisinart mini prep (ditto); le creuset dutch oven and saucepan; a green pan or calphalon non-stick skillet. Whisk, wooden spoons, a small number of good knives (santoku, chef, small paring). I like my instapot but use it rarely- just related to the kind of cooking I do- it does work as both a slow cooker and a pressure cooker, and there are a lot of easy recipes, so it could be a good bet for a novice cook. I bake a lot and use both hand mixer and stand mixer a lot- but only for baking. I use my big cuisinart food processor on occasion (but usually for a big project, like grating zucchini). Same for the vitamix- it is useful for smoothies, margaritas, pureed soups, but I don't use it all that often. I don't have an air fryer or toaster oven, and don't see that I'd use them. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 12:10 AM Flag
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^^Oh- and I agree with the person above who listed bowls, peeler, pyrex measuring set etc- all her suggestions are right. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 12:11 AM Flag
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op: thanks! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 12:21 AM Flag
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I agree with the above posters regarding the cookware but I also love having an air fryer and make a wide range of things in it. Also, if you can swing it, and think you will make good use of it, a Vitamix blender [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 12:06 AM Flag
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oh yea forgot about the Vitamix! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 12:07 AM Flag
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I use my vegetable steamer a lot. Also recommend food processor, immersion blender. I also have a vitamix but I only use it to make smoothies. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 12:37 AM Flag
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+1 on immersion blender. I have Vitamix but the immersion is so easy and quick and you can blend soups and sauces right in the pot. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 03:09 AM Flag
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A great chefs knife End of story. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 12:44 AM Flag
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Good knives, measuring cups and spoons, one small frying pan for omelets, one bigger cast iron pan for things like searing steak, cookie sheets, a roasting pan for meats, 5.5 quart Dutch oven, blender, Instant pot. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 01:12 AM Flag
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and also wooden spoons, a couple spatulas for baking, as well as silicone turners for flipping things. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 01:13 AM Flag
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I am in to cooking and have none of those things! I love my stick blender and like having good cookware. Best $ thing is le crueset dutch oven [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 01:19 AM Flag
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I have a Dutch oven and don’t use it that often. I love my Breville toaster oven which also has air fryer option. I use vitamix daily. I do not recommend non stick pans as they will scratch and chip. Highly recommend one 10” lodge cast iron pan, 5.25 qt stainless skillet with a lid (total workhorse), 2.5 qt pot and 1.5 qt pot with lids with a spout on the side (calphalon) - use it daily for pasta and the spout eliminates the need for a strainer and really convenient. Immersion blender by Braun comes with a lot of gadgets so you won’t need a separate mini chopper. See if you end up baking breads a lot because then a mixer would be useful but otherwise no. 6qt instapot which can work as a slow cooker, pressure cooker and rice cooker. Silicone kitchen tools. Try to avoid non stick if you can. You’ll eventually have to replace them. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 02:00 AM Flag
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Ninja foodie combines air fryer and instant pot. We use the air fryer every day at least twice. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 04:24 AM Flag
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My kitchen essentials are three knives - chefs, bread and paring, a cutting board, a small and large pan, a small and large pot, mesh strainer, a baking sheet, dry & wet measuring cups & spoons, a blender or food processor, wooden & slotted spoons, whisk, tongs, spatula, vegetable peeler & can opener. That's about it for just starting out. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 11:44 AM Flag
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You need recipes first. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 12:59 PM Flag
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Appliances aren't helpful for learning to cook. I'm a chef and the only gadgets I own are an immersion blender and a food processor. You would be better served by working through a basic cookbook and investing in good knives and pots. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 01:13 PM Flag
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Kind of off topic, but the estimated times in the NYT recipes don't include prep work. Don't feel discouraged if you take a lot longer. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 05:54 PM Flag
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I cook a ton - The best investment I ever did was take a knife skills class - maybe you can stream one? Also - get an amazing chef, poultry/meat, and produce knife. and great pots - swear by all clad. If you bake Kitchen Aid Mixer - I also love my mini chop food processor for dicing things. I think a slow cooker is over rated as is a pressure cooker, or any fad thing - like panini press, cake pop maker, etc. A waffle iron is the only thing I can think of in terms of gadgets that I use. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 06:04 PM Flag
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np: What is the benefit of a produce knife exactly? I see that it is squared off rather than pointed. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 10:34 PM Flag
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Depends what kind of cooking you will do- Don't invest in a lot now. Just a pot, pan, knife, cutting board. I have given away many things I stopped using (pasta sheet roller, ice cream maker, a lot of bakeware) but still use the rice cooker at least three times per week. My kids love rice though. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 08:33 PM Flag
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I love my kitchen scale and use it now more than my measuring cups. You can get one for $20 on Amazon. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.20, 09:23 PM Flag
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