…click on any equipment’s name to see more about it…
Aroma Rice Cooker and Food Steamer
I have repeatedly tried to replace multiple appliances with any type of multicooker, but one thing that none of them do as well at is rice. Mine is the much older model of this one that you can get now. As a matter of fact, about 20 years older! A true testament to how great this brand is.
Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker
Yes, yes, I had to get an Instant Pot along with the other 328 million people in the US.
I labored under the illusion that I would be able to get rid of my rice cooker, slow cooker, and pressure cooker and just have this one amazing appliance saving me yards and yards of cabinet space to buy much more useful things like pizzelle makers, chocolate tempering machines, and veggie spiralizers.
Alas, I haven’t been able to get rid of anything because I haven’t found the IP to be that great at other tasks. So now I have four appliances that have supposed overlapping abilities.
Do I use this as a pressure cooker?
Yes.
Do I love it?
Not particularly.
As with most things, my big regret is not getting the larger one; I bought the 6 qt. On the other hand it’s useful for when I need to do something smaller.
Zavor DUO 8.4 Quart Stovetop Pressure Cooker
This is another appliance that is the newer version because mine has lasted so long. Outlasted the company as a matter of fact. I have the Fagor Duo 8 qt, which closed in 2018 but a few US employees started Zavor which is almost exactly the same models of pressure cookers. This one comes in a variety of sizes. I have the 8 quart and although I almost wish I had the 10 qt, I haven’t done any canning so don’t really need the extra space. Although can you ever make enough chicken stock???
OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Stainless-Steel Locking Tongs, Multicolor
Here’s an option that doesn’t have the nylon tips for those that make crème brûlée that often. When should I be over???
OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Tongs With Nylon Heads
12 inch stainless steel tongs with lock
The ubiquitous restaurant tong. You either love ’em or hate ’em and it usually depends on how much you worked in a restaurant. Being able to lock and unlock with just a shake and click can shave valuable seconds off your time, but that’s not usually an issue outside of a restaurant. Plus pinch yourself a couple times, and you could come to loathe these tongs.
Silicone Spatula
A great spatula at a reasonable price. Wide handle, scrapes and stirs with ease. An all purpose work horse, I feel like I never have enough. Hard to wax eloquent about them though…
Flexible Bowl/Bench Scraper
This one might seem silly ? but I use it ALL THE TIME and it’s super cheap. As a matter of fact, mine is so cheap I couldn’t even find it on Amazon! It’s a bench scraper. This one is the closest I could find. Any time I’m cutting up veggies I use this to move them from the cutting board to the pan. I also use it to scrape dough from the counter and to cut dough quickly, easily, and safely when it’s already on a silicone sheet so I can’t use a knife.
Lavatools Javelin Digital Instant Read Thermometer
I just had to replace my instant read thermometer and I have to say buh-bye to Thermoworks the most over-rated, over-priced thermometers on the planet. I’m now using this thermometer from Javelin for a fraction of the price. Perfect for checking that Thanksgiving turkey for juicy doneness and getting it out of the oven before it’s a dried out husk.
Over the Sink Colander
Sure colanders are the most sexy chefware to talk about. But man can it be annoying when you’re not using the right equipment. When you have a lot to drain or prep, this huge 6 quart adjustable over the sink model can be super convenient to use. But it can also be a lot to clean. So or regular use I have:
Perforated Colander
If you haven’t used a colander like this then you’re in for a treat. It’s all-over holes make draining things like pasta fast and efficient and the raised bowl keeps it out of the pool of water in the sink.
Sieves
Okay, last one I swear! These sieves are perfect when you need to get all solids strained for an extremely fine soup or sauce etc.
Can Opener
While not the most used tool in my kitchen, it’s obviously a requirement. Since I mainly use it for canned tomatoes or coconut milk and not much else I don’t have an electric opener, but I used to and it was awesome when I made my own family a fast chili and had to open a hundred cans of beans. I’ve had fancy German openers and they tend to be a little finicky and give out over time so it’s best to stick to the old 70s style faithful can opener.
Peeler
Another tool where it’s best to K.I.S.S.
Dry Measuring Cups
Stainless are expensive but they last and you’ll appreciate quality tools over time. These have flush handles, flat bottoms for stability, and curved edges so you don’t have to work to scrape them out. This set comes with 2/3 and 3/4 cups too which are a nice bonus. You’ll use them more than you think.
Measuring Spoons
Again expensive but worth it and includes less common sizes.
Everything I recommend is a product I love, and I have not been paid to choose these particular tools. This page includes affiliate links that don’t affect your price. Qs? Shoot me an email at chef @ chefintheburbs dot com