Gadgets and Gizmos: Stocking an Efficient Kitchen

I've never been much of a cook.  I tend to eat out a lot or buy prepared foods at the market - places like Whole Foods and Doll's make it soooo easy!  But now that I'm living on a "fixed budget", I can think of no better time than to get into cooking.  Besides, with improving my health being one of my primary goals, learning to cook delicious, healthy meals would certainly help my progress to good health!  Not to mention that it's Fall, which in my mind is the perfect time to start simmering soups and roasting fresh veggies!

What are the essential elements I'll need in order to create yummy meals with ease and efficiency?  I have many of the basics (cookbooks, slow-cooker, basic pots & pans, and such), but I'm sure there are some gadgets and gizmos that would make this part of my journey an easier trek.  Do you have favorite small appliances, utensils, or cookware that you can't imagine cooking without?  If so, please share!

Here are a few of the items I am considering.  I welcome your input and suggestions - I'm somewhat a fish out of water here, so I can use all the help I can get!

• Pressure Cooker

For cooking dry beans, meats, stews, and the such.  The electric pressure cookers are appealing, but I understand they have their own set of functionality issues.  Sometimes the old fashioned way (i.e. - non-electric) is the way to go.  What is the best size?  Do I want a 4 qt, 6 qt, or what?  I'm not cooking for an army.  I just need the size that will work with most average recipes....

• Dutch Oven

Again, sometimes cooking the old fashioned way can't be beat.  What size / brand of dutch ovens do you recommend?  Should I look for enamel or cast iron or some other material. 

• Panini Press

This one hasn't quite made the wish list yet, but I'm intrigued enough to ask...  Of course, panini sandwiches are not necessarily the healthiest fare, but I would think a panini press would be very handy for grilling vegetables and chicken, etc.  Thoughts?

• Oil Sprayer

Seems I saw a while back a gadget you could fill with your choice of oil to make your own "Pam" style spray but without all of the extra chemicals.  I think it was called a Misto?  Do any of you use this contraption and, if so, do you like it?

 

What else might I need to get my healthy kitchen up and running?  A chef?  Just kidding! 

Comments

[Carol Miller Boneta]

dutch oven--cast iron or aluminum--use these a lot with the Scouts--cobblers, stews, lasagna, list is limitless. Charcoal cooking sounds like it takes a long time, it does not and it is definitely worth it! can use them in regular ovens, but like the outdoor taste to the meal. Lots of online recipes--just google and oogle.

What about a food dehydrator? great for sealing in taste of vegetables fresh from garden and using later for soups, etc.

[Elisa M.]

Garlic press; panini press must have removable plates for cleaning; cuisinart; silicone spatulas; my olive oil sprayer quit working a long time ago; non-stick electric skillet; sharp knives

[jennifer brandenburg]

mel...my favorite thing in my kitchen is a dutch oven my grandma gave us for a wedding gift in 1983...i use it every day both in the oven and on the cooktop...roasts, stews, soups...all year long...it is the original magnalite (1934) a aluminum/magnesium alloy...not the new stuff made in china...also, love my cuisinart food processor and electric mixer...never thought i needed the mixer (the hand-held seemed to work fine) but it makes the whole process so much easier and faster...also have several pampered chef items i use daily...small and large metal spatulas and the measuring cup for sour cream, pnut butter & mayo...gotta have these...also love my pampered chef grill that just sits on the burner...great for grilled cheese and hot dogs & grilled buns...might substitute for the panini grill...i've tried the oil sprayer and that was a disaster...one more thing...love the "choppers"??? i got at williams sonoma...two sizes...one for onions, celery, etc. and one for garlic...much easier to use than my garlic press...never could get that thing put together correctly...remind me to show them to you...happy cooking! ...love,jen

[Melony]

I do have a Cuisinart food processor that NaNa gave me a while ago. I've always wanted one of those stand alone mixers so that's a given (I didn't even mention that in the post).

Sounds like I am on the right track with the Dutch oven idea. Yours sounds awesome! And if I'm going to do it I'm going to do it right - none of that flimsy made in China stuff for my kitchen! ;D

I'll look forward to show and tell in your kitchen sometime soon!

[leah]

Well, this week I tried out a dutch oven I got as a wedding gift (2 years ago! eek!) It's so purty. It's blue like the one you pictured above and it was from the Martha Stewart collection at Macy's. I cooked a Mexican Chicken tortilla soup in it (delicious) and it served me well! :-) Just in case you're curious, here's the recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/mexican-chicken-soup-recipe/index.html

[Melony]

Thanks Leah!

I just put today's post up. It's all about your website and the AEDM challenge. I'm most excited!