Here's a long post from me.
The author Marie Kondo has published book(s) about decluttering your life. I thought about it with respect to the extra electric kitchen appliances we have in our life (not major things like refrigerators, freezers, or stoves/ovens.)
This is how I would apply it to my (I mean, 'our') kitchen appliances if they broke. Warning: we've been married for ... a few years.
Crock pot:
I'd replace it. A simple replacement is OK, but if the price was right, I'd buy an instapot-thingie.
Stand mixer (simple):
I wouldn't replace it. But if I did, I'd want a model with a meat grinder attachment (see below).
Toaster
I'm not sure -- but they're ubiquitous, right? I typically eat breakfast eggs with corn tortillas, which I toss on the gas stovetop for a 30 seconds or so. If I start making bread, toasters may become more important to me.
Coffee bean grinder
I've been grinding coffer beans forever. If another kitchen appliance could do a similar job, I'd use it. Maybe I'd buy a burr grinder, which can be used for grinding coffee AND spices. Or maybe I should embrace grinding coffee beans at the store, and storing ground coffee in the freez ... no, no, freezers are for meat!
Coffee pot
I'd be willing to use a French press (those glass jars.) My doctor would be happier to know I'm drinking less coffee. But having an entire pot of caffeine ... I mean, coffee ... is so tempting.
Meat slicer
Inherited from my parents. It gets little use, until I have leftover tri-tip or sirloin to slice for sandwiches. When that happens, being able to slice meat consistently thin for sandwiches is heavenly. I'd replace it the first time I missed it.
Jar opener
My wife bought it. No replacing. That's what husbands are for, right?
Can opener
See above.
Food processor
My wife wanted it, but never used it. I may use it in future culinary dishes.
Mini-Chopper
A food processor with a small bowl (4" diameter x 3" tall). It does wonders mincing garlic cloves, chili peppers, or pureeing sauces like chimichurri. Easy to clean. Replace = Yes.
Popcorn maker
The kids are grown, I don't care about popcorn, and my wife rarely uses it. No replacement -- that's why they invented jiffy pop, right?
Breakfast Juicer/Cup Combo
Probably good for those who frequently drink shakes of some kind. Not us. Waiting for it to fail ...
Meat grinder
A gift. Never thought about having one, but grinding meat is interesting. Not interested in making sausage (yet.) If it died, I would toss the stand mixer, and get a mixer that allowed a simple meat grinder attachment. Two appliances -> one.
Shoutout for ground chicken thigh hamburgers! I'd drop beef hamburger for them.
Knife sharpener
Being able to sharpen any knife quickly, regardless of how dull the knife is (or I am) is a guilty pleasure. If it died, I would probably force myself to learn how to use sharpening stones.
Sous vide stick
A new cooking tool. I haven't determined how much I need it. Time will tell.
Vacuum sealer
Another new toy. Since the family has shrunk down to the two of us, saving on large quantities of food doesn't work for me. But supporting sous vide cooks, reducing food freezer burn, and being able to see inside the plastic wrap are good goals.
What electric appliances bring you joy? Which ones would you not replace?
Pat
Edit: Rice cooker
Its nice to know I can get a good pot of rice with no effort. But if it died, I would force myself to learn how to cook rice on the stove. Or learn how to cook more stuff in the replacement rice cooker. Any suggestions?
The author Marie Kondo has published book(s) about decluttering your life. I thought about it with respect to the extra electric kitchen appliances we have in our life (not major things like refrigerators, freezers, or stoves/ovens.)
This is how I would apply it to my (I mean, 'our') kitchen appliances if they broke. Warning: we've been married for ... a few years.
Crock pot:
I'd replace it. A simple replacement is OK, but if the price was right, I'd buy an instapot-thingie.
Stand mixer (simple):
I wouldn't replace it. But if I did, I'd want a model with a meat grinder attachment (see below).
Toaster
I'm not sure -- but they're ubiquitous, right? I typically eat breakfast eggs with corn tortillas, which I toss on the gas stovetop for a 30 seconds or so. If I start making bread, toasters may become more important to me.
Coffee bean grinder
I've been grinding coffer beans forever. If another kitchen appliance could do a similar job, I'd use it. Maybe I'd buy a burr grinder, which can be used for grinding coffee AND spices. Or maybe I should embrace grinding coffee beans at the store, and storing ground coffee in the freez ... no, no, freezers are for meat!
Coffee pot
I'd be willing to use a French press (those glass jars.) My doctor would be happier to know I'm drinking less coffee. But having an entire pot of caffeine ... I mean, coffee ... is so tempting.
Meat slicer
Inherited from my parents. It gets little use, until I have leftover tri-tip or sirloin to slice for sandwiches. When that happens, being able to slice meat consistently thin for sandwiches is heavenly. I'd replace it the first time I missed it.
Jar opener
My wife bought it. No replacing. That's what husbands are for, right?
Can opener
See above.
Food processor
My wife wanted it, but never used it. I may use it in future culinary dishes.
Mini-Chopper
A food processor with a small bowl (4" diameter x 3" tall). It does wonders mincing garlic cloves, chili peppers, or pureeing sauces like chimichurri. Easy to clean. Replace = Yes.
Popcorn maker
The kids are grown, I don't care about popcorn, and my wife rarely uses it. No replacement -- that's why they invented jiffy pop, right?
Breakfast Juicer/Cup Combo
Probably good for those who frequently drink shakes of some kind. Not us. Waiting for it to fail ...
Meat grinder
A gift. Never thought about having one, but grinding meat is interesting. Not interested in making sausage (yet.) If it died, I would toss the stand mixer, and get a mixer that allowed a simple meat grinder attachment. Two appliances -> one.
Shoutout for ground chicken thigh hamburgers! I'd drop beef hamburger for them.
Knife sharpener
Being able to sharpen any knife quickly, regardless of how dull the knife is (or I am) is a guilty pleasure. If it died, I would probably force myself to learn how to use sharpening stones.
Sous vide stick
A new cooking tool. I haven't determined how much I need it. Time will tell.
Vacuum sealer
Another new toy. Since the family has shrunk down to the two of us, saving on large quantities of food doesn't work for me. But supporting sous vide cooks, reducing food freezer burn, and being able to see inside the plastic wrap are good goals.
What electric appliances bring you joy? Which ones would you not replace?
Pat
Edit: Rice cooker
Its nice to know I can get a good pot of rice with no effort. But if it died, I would force myself to learn how to cook rice on the stove. Or learn how to cook more stuff in the replacement rice cooker. Any suggestions?
Comment