Gadgets That Sit In Cupboards

[naomi24]

I used to buy the latest kitchen gadgets but invariably they were very quickly abandoned and relegated to cupboards and eventually to charity shops, so I don't do it any more.  I didn't buy an air fryer when they were first 'all the rage' but I'm just wondering if anyone who did has abandoned them in favour of a return to cooking by traditional methods? 

[Barmaid]

I've got nearly every gadget going.  I have a walk-in pantry that has lots of lovely gadgets in it.  I do not use all of them all of the time, but I do use them all from time to time.  I'm helping with an event in March for about 100 people and I know that I'll use the slow cooker, the instant pot, the food processor, the air fryer, the food mixer (both mixing and mincing), the ice cream maker, the sous vide thingy, the vacuum sealer.

I use the instant pot and the air fryer at least weekly, if not more.  The IP for 7 hour lamb is a godsend if you don't want to get up at 5am to prepare Sunday lunch (done in 90 mins!).

[Hazlinny]

Have bought various over the years but now just use oven/hob, slow cooker and m/wave. Sold air-fryer after two or three uses!

[Vagus]

An electric yogurt maker..couldn't be bothered

An electric soupmaker..didn't make enough soup and  was extremely noisy, prefer a large pan and a hand held whizzer

A George Foreman grill..no way is this a grill, meat steamed on it rather than grilled, dreadful.

Gave all three of the above away.

[barry1010]

I sent the air fryer I bought back after testing it for a week.  I realised it wasn't suitable for my needs, although I'm sure they are useful for a lot of people.

I tested it by cooking a whole chicken, baking a cake, chips made from scratch, a small meat pie, sausages, a joint of lamb, pork chops.

I have one of those plugs that measures how much electricity a gadget uses and my combi microwave was faster and cheaper with much the same results.   (The combi microwave is a flatbed so has no turntable, it was two shelves that can be used at the same time).

I wasn't impressed with the image on the advert that showed a basket full of chips but the instructions said to cook one layer.

The cake burnt on the outside but was still very doughy in the middle; the lamb much the same - crispy on the edges, very red in the middle and one piece was hardly cooked at all, despite turning it.  Sausages and pork chops were okay.

I honestly don't think they are very much cheaper to use than a modern oven.

 

 

[MargoTester]

Barry did you have it on sale or return then?

[barry1010]

Vagus, I thought the same about the George Foreman grill I bought.  It had removable plates for easy cleaning and I think that was the problem, the heat wasn't direct enough

[barry1010]

No, Margot.  I bought it from Amazon and sent it back as unsuitable, it didn't heat evenly and it didn't cook the food properly despite following the instructions.  They didn't quibble, I got the refund within 10 minutes of the postman collecting it.

It was this one https://cosori.co.uk/products/cosori-turbo-blaze-6l-air-fryer

[barry1010]

I use my pressure cooker and slow cooker a lot. 

[MargoTester]

Blimey that's good (no T on Margo by the way🙂)

[davebro3]

I used to use a small hob top pressure cooker but managed to destroy it by overheating. Some friends insisted on giving me an electric pressure cooker they didn't use.

I've never used it & never will.

[Vagus]

My George Foreman didn't have removable plates, but it never got hot enough, and with the lid closed so cooking meat/steak on both sides, it created lots of steam which steamed the meat and never browned it. I like meat very brown on the outside and soft, juicy and  tender in the middle.

I forgot about my slow cooker, gave that away too, never liked any food cooked in it.

[mallyh]

my George Foreman big grill is in a cupboard didn't cook anything to my liking ,egg cooker gave away ,soup maker never used so car booted it x

[barry1010]

Soup is quick and easy to make in a saucepan, never saw the point of a soup maker.

[Barmaid]

Mr BM came with a George Foreman grill.  I use it for paninis and nothing else.  I wouldn't have bought one, but seeing as one arrived with him I use it.  

Oh, my breadmaker is something I use quite a lot.  I tend to use it more for dough than anything else.  It is regularly said by guests and people I know that I bake a nice range of bread - and my olive and tapenade tear and share bread is loved locally.  I have not fessed up to the fact that my breadmaker plays a part.

[jackthehat]

We have:

A slow-cooker - especially used in cold weather;

A halogen oven - used 4/5 times a week;

A soupmaker - used 3/4 times a month (currently dead and not going to be replaced);

A breadmaker - either dead, or dying, its' next out will confirm;

A Ninja-Speedi Air-fryer - used 2/3 times a week - the jury is still out about just how 'extra-useful' it is over and above the halogen-oven;

In the past we have had (and got rid of) 2x George Foreman Grills (1 big and 1 small) as we found similar problems with the quality of the cooked meat as have been mentioned, and a Toasted Sandwich-maker because it was impossible to clean properly.

[Canary42]

No, having been through the "abandon" process with other gadgets, I must say my air fryer is very unlikely to fall into that category, I use it every day almost.

[pastafreak]

Another 'adios' to a Foreman grill...useless. Also yhe spiraliser that didn't live up to expectations. 

The halogen was an initial disappointment and slept in the cupboard for about 5 years. Then my oven died and I reacquainted myself with it. One day something plastic got caught on it and it was then unusable. Not terribly missed. With it in the cupboard is the microwave. Hardly ever used so stored away when the air fryer arrived. That piece of kit is moderately useful...I've made various low carb breads and brownies in it, baked or roasted stuffed veggies, tortillas etc.

The most used gadget is the slow cooker. Followed by various blenders/choppers. I recently bought ninja's cheapest and most basic chopper...it makes great seed butters. Well worth it. 

[Buenchico]

I've got an Asda 'value' slow cooker, which I bought at least 15 years ago, still unused in its box.

Conversely though, I use my air fryer almost daily.  (Indeed, I sometimes use it two or three times in the same day).

[rowanwitch]

Air fryer, only a small one  at the moment but seriously considering an upgrade because bending to get things out of my normal oven is becoming increasingly difficult. Slow cookers I have two, use them a lot.  Blender, and separate hand held mixer, and a steamer.... And a one cup water boiler.  Had other gadgets in the past but with a small kitchen I can't collect too many although a self freezing ice cream maker is on my wish list.   Things that have been and gone... Espresso machine that was  just too much faff to clean, deep fat fryer ( Redman liked real chips It went down the rubbish chute the week he died). Bread maker,  not enough space, juicer,  see espresso machine above, electric carving knife,  too many accidents, electric can opener,  and electric mincer/sausage maker which may still be in the back of a cupboard.

One I wish I could find would be a mini steamer that just does enough for one or two portions but with three tiers. In fact mini appliances would be something I would buy more of it anyone brought out a decent range

 

 

 

[webbo3]

slow cooker (rarely used)

fondue set (very very rarely used)

Air fryer (never used)