Best/most useful thing you've bought for the kitchen

Tefal

Tefal

Tefal

Caporegime
Joined
30 Jun 2007
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So what's the most useful (as opposed to the bought once and left forever more in the back of the cupboard) things you've bought for your kitchen?

and what would be your first purchases if you were starting fresh in a new kitchen?


(i may be getting excited about when i have my own kitchen :p)
 
^ I was gonna say a husband lol.

I absolutely love my food processor and kenwood chef. It's a very close call between them both.

For a new kitchen however I would totally recommend a slow cooker.
 
A harsh stone sharpener. Not only do I use it to sharpen general knives I use it to prop up a frying pan to get the fat into a corner.

Or a dishwasher. Godsend.
 
Silicone utensils, much kinder on the saucepans and oven trays than metal ones. No idea why I didn't buy them sooner.
 
Thermapen or Kenwood Chef here. Both get almost daily use, and both have massively improved the quality of stuff we make.

I couldn't live without a dishwasher though if we're being very practical.
 
Sous-vide has actually got a ridiculous amount of use and has been handy for tons of different things. So, as niche as it is, it's probably my most used purchase.
 
Things that we use a lot and really enjoy, in terms of the actual kitchen:

Our two Neff ovens (one's a microwave combo, one's a series 5 with the slide-away door). Our Neff induction hob (so easy to keep clean). Bosch dishwasher. Big stainless sink and ceramic tap (both Abode). Composite quartz worktop, splashback & upstands (indestructible, easy to clean). Turkish porcelain floor tiles (easily cleaned, looks brilliant).

Stuff that we use all the time and really like:

A number of good chef's knives. A good set of electronic scales. A flash slow cooker. Some good pans (Meyer). Bosch food processor (when serious cooking is happening). Various big spoons with and without holes for cooking/serving with. Wooden spoons and spatulas for stirring/cooking. Cooking tongs. A stainless kitchen bin with a soft close so it never bangs and clatters (Simple Human). A big toaster with two double slots, so you can do four slices at once, or any weirdly shaped bread you can make fit.

The wife has recently inherited an almost antique Kenwood chef from a friend of her mother's, it seems to have come with every accessory and add-on ever made, so that's had a bit of a workout this Christmas.

We also seem to have mutliples of things, so that when something like a grater or peeler is in the dishwasher, there's another one in the drawer to use.

It's nice to get something with more quality (even if it costs a bit more), because it tends to last longer and is much more enjoyable to use.
 
Microwave Steamer Dish
Decent chopping boards.
Decent knives
Decent pots & pans.
Electronic Scales.
Tupperware :p

Use all of those regularly so would spend a pretty penny on those without thinking twice.

Other things like silicone baking trays, utensils etc are all secondary. Bit of a Magimix fanboy, I don't use them often but the food processor & blender will last me a life time.

Firm believer though in buying cheap = buying twice.

Also some weighty cutlery and decent crockery. Can't stand pants knives & forks and plates that are too small or delicate!
 
My most expensive but most used has been the knives and they will last me most likely my whole life.

Also slow cooker was a good investment.

Need to get a decent cast iron pan and also a mixer (sick of whisking everything by hand).
 
An onion chopper that I bought from asdas. Cost me £4. Cut your onion into smaller segments, pop it in, put the lid on and twist. Perfect chopped onion every time. Gets used at least 4 times a week.
 
Baumix: Great as a blender etc but it also allows me to buy whole spices and use the spice grinder attachment to grind them, either as needed or in batches for the regularly used ones, I find it really makes a difference to use fresh spices in my cooking in terms of depth and punchiness of flavour.

Global knives: Just having good knives makes a world of difference, although I have to say I am disappointed by the bread knife and am looking to replace it with a Victorinox pastry knife for some uses. Make sure you have a decent chopping board (non-warped wood) and non slip mat for underneath though or you are missing out.

Silicon utensils: they are truly awesome and never again will you have your better half melting those plastic ones in hot oil (they also clean up really easily).

Sous Vide Supreme: I got this about 5 years ago and it is still going strong and is so versatile, as well as sous vide you can use it for making stock, yoghurt, ice cream bases, creme brûlée etc..

Kuhn Rikon pressure cooker: makes amazing stock and although it isn't cheap it is built to last a lifetime.

Decent thermometer: I have a Thermapen and just picked up a wireless Mavericks as well, useful for consistently in everything from meat to bread to cakes.

3cm thick Corderite pizza stone: Great for pizzas and baking bread, these are what they use to line the kilns they fire clay in and not the usual crappy pizza stones that are highly likely to crack on you. May be damaging to your waistline though :)

Decent peeler / mandolin: they don't have to be expensive ones but can make your life a whole lot easier.

Electric scales with tare function: just makes things easier and much more consistent.

I have been planning to get a Thermomix for the last few years and think I will probably grab one in the next couple of months now the new model has been out a little while, it should let me clear some counter space and give me much more options in cooking. I will let you know if they are as good as they are cracked up to be :D
 
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