Must-have kitchen gadgets

[Songwriter]

Frying bacon, it made me wonder if there is a better way than throwing it in the skillet. The grease pops all over the stove top. I wonder if something like a George Forman grill or something would be better.

Which made me think that there are bound to be items that some consider essential in the kitchen. Like, my brother wants a wok and we were wondering what makes a good wok and if a good one really makes a difference.

[cmcole]

Woks depend. Some have two handles; others have one. Some are "traditional" and made out of carbon steel; others are more "modern" and have non-stick coatings. I've even seen electric ones. The bottoms are another thing - some are somewhat flat so can sit on a burner; others need a ring type apparatus, because the bottoms are very rounded (more traditional). These would probably be better on a gas stove with the ring.

Regarding "must have" kitchen essentials:

A zester - a microplane is great, and can be used for not only zesting citris, but also for grating chocolate, nutmeg and the like.

A small coffee mill for grinding seeds (flax seeds, especially) and whole spices. Keep it separate from the one used for grinding coffee.

A blender is quite useful if you make shakes

Silicone implements and bakeware is very versatile and virtually non-stick. Silpat sheets for baking (or a non-brand silicone sheet) is great. Parchment paper works well, too, for many things, and does not have the same problem as waxed paper, where the wax often melts into the food and/or sticks to the cookware. Certainly helps in clean-up if you line your bakeware with the parchment paper first.

I've heard some people put their bacon on a George Forman Grill. Even an electric griddle that had a cover might be useful. Any contact grill (one where the cover comes down) would probably do. I don't know if they are all slanted like the GF Grill, which I found sometimes difficult, as I couldn't get the cover closed before the things started to slide down. No good for eggs or anything runny.

Another kitchen essential (my opinion) - good measuring implements - spoons, cups (both liquid and dry) and a good digital scale.

Good storage containers are also quite helpful.

You could check this (http://www.proteinpower.com/forum/showthread.php?t=848) link and the thread in this section titled "the five pans you meet in Heaven" (http://www.proteinpower.com/forum/showthread.php?t=603)

Can't think of anything else, just now.

[bluejay111]

They make a round dish type thing with ridges for cooking bacon in the microwave. I can't remember what it's called. I'm sure someone on here knows. I picked mine up at Walmart.

[scott123]

I used to fry bacon- no longer. These days I bake it in sheet pans. I do up about 3 lb. at a time.

If you cook it until it's nice and crispy/dried out, you can store it in your fridge for weeks (not that it ever lasts that long).

Woks are a waste of time. At least, they are if your goal is reproducing restaurant style Chinese cuisine at home. Restaurant kitchens have very high BTU gas burners. Without super intense gas heat, a wok is ineffective.

A big, thick, thoroughly pre-heated iron frying pan will do the trick just as well as a wok will. All that's left is finding a good recipe (good luck on that one ;) ).

If you do feel absolutely compelled to purchase a wok, you definitely don't want a non stick one. Wok cooking should occur at temps well beyond the capabilities of non stick cookware.

As far as gadgets go, I use my digital scale and my dash, pinch and smidgeon measuring spoons every day. I have 4 silicon scrapers and 4 stainless steel wire whisks and am constantly having to pull one from the washer because they're all dirty and I need one (and I run the washer about every two days).

[Bogie]

If you buy a coffee grinder, get a burr type. The little spinning blades are cheap, but they don't work as nice. I picked up a cuisinart (gasp!) at an outlet mall for $50, and it is nice and consistent.

For a coffee maker, more wattage = better. You want that water hot.

For espresso, pay a few more bucks, and buy a machine with a pump instead of using a steam powered frother.

If I'm doing more than 2-3 slices of bacon, it's in the oven. That heavy aluminum foil is your friend - line a pan with shallow slides, and cleanup is nothing but "peel and toss."

I've got like three different kinds of nuker bacon dealies, and I don't like any of 'em. I like the ridged pan for sausages tho...

Wally-world has a house-brand pre-cooked sausage patty that ROCKS.

[Gaelen]

My vote for the best everyday kitchen 'gadget' is the immersion blender. It works on ice, on hot things that need to be pureed, on shake mixes, and to grind up anything from a small batch of spices for a curry to a large batch of nuts for muffins. And it cleans up faster than a typical standing blender, but is so portable that I can easily toss it into the bag when I'm going on the road for more than a couple of days.

The coffee maker and grinders are not 'gadgets' -- they are necessities. If I had to, I could live without the immersion blender...but not without something to either grind or brew coffee. ;-)

[Bogie]

Hmpfff...

The powered stuff are gadgets.

The Chemex is survival. I can make The Elixir of Wakefulness even when the power is off... and I'm too lazy to start one of the two generators...

You know it's bad when you buy a generator for camping just so you can make coffee easier...

[Gaelen]

Hmpfff...The powered stuff are gadgets.
The Chemex is survival. I can make The Elixir of Wakefulness even when the power is off... and I'm too lazy to start one of the two generators...
You know it's bad when you buy a generator for camping just so you can make coffee easier...

LOL--true enough, Bogie...I have a french press and melitta cones for coffee when I don't feel like plugging something in. I broke my Chemex about fifteen years ago, and didn't replace it because I had the melitta cones. And the teardrop camper will have electricity, but I probably won't pack a coffeemaker...just a melitta (for me) and a french press (for groups) and kettle to heat water and the gas stove.

[Bogie]

At the Knob Creek machinegun shoot, the guys camped across the road from us had an ubercool generator... It was a little bitty two stroke, but it was REALLY quiet... Not a Honda or Yamaha either - said he's bought it at Pep Boys for about $150 or so... Maybe 1,000 watts, but sheesh...

[Ogden]

Digital Probe Thermometer, both an instant-read and a remote one.