Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Most kitchen appliances are a waste of space and resources - why do we keep on buying them?

Over the years, I saw my parents' kitchen cycle through a number of items: bread machine, rolling hand powered mincer, air fryers, food processors, rice cooker. My culinary imagination has not exactly been free from that influence as I had purchased a few myself including a pasta maker, soy milk machine, pirogie press and others.

I am in no way a minimalist : I love to imagine large scale industrial production, at home. New hobby - new tool. Tool on clearance - maybe, I want to try just know what it's like. etc. Parts? Nothing should be thrown out because so much effort and natural non renewable resources went into making something.

While a restaurant's kitchen which frequently makes certain food items that could benefit from reduced labour time in preparation, specialized kitchen appliances are somewhat analogous to automobiles : parked for 95% of their useful life. 

My list of essential kitchen items :

  • Knife (2) - not serrated
  • Sharpening stone
  • Sharpening steel ( a second knife can work, but it still isn't quite as good ) 
  • Cutting board - wood preferably
  • Mixing bowl - a smaller center bottom works best
  • Spatulas
  • Cookie sheet
  • Wooden spoons
  • Colander
  • Skillet, Wok, sauce pan, Boiling pot for pasta/noodles

Machines : 

  • Blender - replaces a mortar and pestle for some applications
  • Water distiller - if you have hard water and do not want to ruin your kettle
  • Pressure Canner ( stovetop ) - freezing food is best avoided.

For beverages, this one may be a little more controversial, but keeping it simple works as well :

  • Kettle, electric - safer than a stove top as it stops when boiling is complete.
  • Coffee preparation  - French Press with pour over filter funnel and carafe. While a French Press makes a rich coffee, the fine and clean taste of a paper or cloth filter makes a great difference.
  • Tea pot - sharing makes tea more enjoyable. 





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