Kitchen Aids

Kitchen Appliances I find useful

I have provided some links but I don’t make any money out of them :)

I have a small kitchen, and not a lot of bench space. However, it is enough because it’s mostly just Dave, my husband, and I. However, I do love to cook, and do most of the meal prep for the two of us. I love my appliances, and any that aren’t used regularly- several times a week- do not get to take up bench space. So what I do have, I use frequently.

Thermie
First, I do have a Thermomix. I bought it about 13 years ago. It’s still going strong. I use it for making soups, stews, smoothies, for sauces and dressings, fruit compote, frozen fruit ice cream and even things like coleslaw. It makes bread dough, cookie dough, cake batter. I usually cook rice or quinoa in it too….it does a lot! Mine cost a fortune back when I got it, but you can pick up a 2nd hand one for $500 or less nowadays. They are built to last, unlike many modern appliances, and there is a repair shop in Perth.

Instant Pot
Then, I have an Instant Pot. Which is a glorified stainless steel pressure cooker with a timer on it. I love it. It is fantastic for cooking beans and other legumes, really quickly. It also cooks meat to tender in a short time, so you can use cheaper cuts. And, I often steam potatoes or sweet potatoes in it, in a few minutes. You can do all this in a normal pressure cooker, but I am one of those people who tend to walk away and do something else, and forget what’s on the stove. A timer works well for me.

Ninja Air Fryer
Then there is the air fryer. I recently upgraded to a Ninja air fryer which has a ceramic rather than teflon-coated cooking basket. We use our air fryer a lot. I roast corn in it instead of steaming it- a few minutes and it’s done. I make air-fried chips a lot. Or I take my cold steamed potatoes from the fridge and cut them into quarters and pop them in the air fryer to crisp them. I cook fish in it. I reheat meals in it. You can dehydrate food in this one too, and bake small cakes- but I haven’t used all its features.

Oscar Neo Juicer
And I appreciate my Oscar juicer which all through spring and summer I have used to make us celery juice in the mornings. And sometimes another juice later in the day. It is quick to clean, which is a plus when it comes to juicing.

Dehydrator
I do have a dehydrator but that sits outside. We recently upgraded to a stainless steel one from the trusty plastic Excalibur. I don’t use it a lot, but when I do, it’s very useful for using up excess produce.

Induction Stove
Other than that, we now have an Ikea induction stove with a timer. Since we have solar panels, it is the most environmentally friendly option for us. It heats as instantly as gas, and boils water super fast, which makes for quicker pasta etc. Can you tell I am a bit impatient in the kitchen? But the best thing is I can put something on to simmer, and put the timer on and walk away, and it will turn off by itself. We decided this was a good safety feature for us as we age (as long as we remember to turn the timer on!)

Single Drawer Dishwasher
And, we have a single-drawer dishwasher. It was difficult to find the space for it in our small kitchen, but being able to stack dirty dishes in it, rather than have them sitting on the sink, actually helps give more space in the kitchen, and keep it tidier during the day. I am very grateful for it- it really does save time in cleanup. And for the two of us, a single drawer is plenty. Occasionally I put it on twice in a day.

Compost Bin
And the white bucket is the bucket for food scraps, which goes to the chooks every day. It is filled every day, that’s how much fresh produce we eat. Although the celery tops take up half of it. I don’t juice them as they are too bitter.

Having good tools- good sharp knives, plenty of bowls, plenty of glass storage containers- can make the world of difference when it comes to enjoying making nourishing, wholesome food. Especially if you are time-poor, as most people are nowadays. It is faster for me to whip up a quick meal, than to order take-away and go and get it.

Of course, none of this is needed- you can make perfectly good wholesome meals with a sharp knife and a chopping board- and I don’t mean to make anyone feel inadequate if you cannot afford or do not wish to have these tools. I didn’t get them all at once, some I have had for many years. These are just what works for me, and my choices are something I have honed over decades of making meals for my family. I already spend a fair bit of time in the kitchen making food from scratch, so these save me time, and all will last many years, so have seemed like sensible investments to me.

Do you have any appliances you love and use regularly?