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I soooo appreciate this post! THANK YOU! You just saved me money because it reminded me that products today are not as sturdy, reliable and long-lasting as they used to be. I won't be buying an Instant Pot. I like things clean and aroma-free before every use.
For some weird reason, I have it in my head that it would be nice to have one appliance (that isn't a stove) to cook in/on/with. It's time to let that thought go. Apparently, I'm as scaled down as I can get for someone who loves to cook.
Gaskets on pressure cookers aren't meant to last forever. If you use the machine enough, the gasket stretches and has to be replaced. It's a $5 part. Having one for smelly food and one for regular should mean I can go longer without replacing them. I'm just glad that they're silicone and not rubber like the gasket on my mom's old pressure cooker. The gasket on hers had to be replaced pretty often and she had to call the manufacturer to order it.
The reason for my desire to pare down in the kitchen is because it's too easy to collect things. I enjoy being mobile and owning only what I use in a month's time. Nothing extreme or unhealthy about it. I just don't see the sense in owning multiple items that do the same thing. So, after a time, I do a simple inventory to see if my love of cooking is getting out of hand! And my style of cooking has really simplified in the last couple of years, too. I have a possible move coming up and I like getting rid of unneeded things now instead of at the last minute. I'm single and don't need a full set of different sizes of pots and pans sitting around taking up space. If I can pare it down to one or two things I use the most, why not give the rest to someone who could really use it? If I have a need for something, I have no qualms about getting it. My mindset on purchases is need-based, not desire or convenience-based.
I soooo appreciate this post! THANK YOU! You just saved me money because it reminded me that products today are not as sturdy, reliable and long-lasting as they used to be. I won't be buying an Instant Pot. I like things clean and aroma-free before every use.
For some weird reason, I have it in my head that it would be nice to have one appliance (that isn't a stove) to cook in/on/with. It's time to let that thought go. Apparently, I'm as scaled down as I can get for someone who loves to cook.
I do want to mention that the Instant Pot appears to be well made. A pressure cooker has to be a solid piece because of the way it cooks. Pressure cookers have become safer and better than they used to be. I do not want to quarrel with you about your decision, but I do want to point out that pressure cookers have to be made very well.
If I had not bought an Instant Pot, I woukd have bought the equivalent Fagor model. Fagor makes excellent pressure cookers.
I do agree that some things like toasters are no longer made well. But other things are, including my KA mixer. My mother never had as good a mixer as my Kitchen Aid.
Sorry if that was an overload of information before getting to my question. I just thought it would help to know what kind of a cook I am and how simply I live, in order to get a more relative reply!
I guess I could pare it down to this question: If you could only have ONE kitchen appliance, or piece of cookware, to cook in/on, what would it be? (Obviously, I don't mean a stove/oven/microwave.)
Appliance: Coffee percolator. Hands down. It sees me use, and is used more regularly and consistently, than any other appliance.
Cookware: cast iron skillet is probably the most versatile. Not deep enough for soups, though.
True. I got rid of too many CDs and cookbooks before a move some years ago, and ended up buying some of them again.
I'm in a group for non-consumerism and it's interesting to see the different takes people have. My goal is to work more towards minimalism and not keep things I don't need or love, but it can be hard to find the balance and not end up sometimes needing to replace things that I got rid of but end up needing after all.
But some people swing to the other extreme, where they want to keep everything, because someday it could become useful. Not in a hoarding way, because they work hard at using things and re-purposing when they can, but something like "I already have a can opener that works. But they always break or wear out eventually, so I'll also keep the two other can openers I have because someday, I'll need another one and that way I won't have to buy one."
I'm more on your side, and at this point, would rather replace if and when needed, as opposed to weighing myself down with stuff. But I'm also happy to keep the things I do know I use and love, and not try to get rid of things just for the sake of getting rid of them.
Frequently in use in my kitchen:
Cuisinart food processor with blades and attachments
Cuisinart mini processor
Small slow cooker and large oval slow cooker
Stovetop kettle for hot water
Handy and in the cupboard:
Black and Decker hand mixer
(KitchenAid stand mixer died after 30 years) Hand mixer fills the job so far.
Cuisinart ice cream maker
Electric knife sharpener
I need to avoid all grains so I gave away the rice cooker, toaster, etc.
Cuisenart grill (like the foreman)
Kitchen aid
Vita Mix
Immersion blender
regular blender
coffee grinder
Keurig
Food processor
mini food processor
toaster
juicer
Soda Stream
Insta pot
mandolin
I mean... they are not on my counter though. I use almost all of them, but I think the juicer needs to go.
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Microwave
Coffee maker
Paper Towels & Holder
Toaster
Nuwave cooktop
Nutribullet
Salt & Pepper shakers
(Christmas decorative cookie jar)
I have a lot of counter space
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