Good Food Blog

Go go gadget

Posted at 10:28AM, 26 January 2010 by Sarah Sysum - Assistant editor, Easy Cook magazine

As the gadget guru on Good Food, you'd expect my house to be crammed with all the latest kitchen wizardry. But when my partner told me it was him or the panini grill, I knew it was time for a serious cull.

Although a few of the gadgets were products of the day job, I must confess that most were impulse buys, the result of covetous thoughts on seeing other people's shiny new toys. On my work surface and crammed into cupboards were goodies including a breadmaker, an ice cream machine, a food processor, two stick blenders, a slow cooker, an electric jam maker, three electric steamers, said sandwich grill and the obligatory popcorn maker, shaped like a duck.

Open quotationI found myself justifying this plethora of items by saying that they make my life less stressfulClose quotation

Like many gadget fans, I found myself justifying this plethora of items by saying that they make my life less stressful and therefore my cooking more pleasurable. But do they really? What's wrong with going back to basics?

Let's take the breadmaker. When I bought this, I used it daily. I even remember making jam in it (once). Now it's lucky if it gets a look-in once a fortnight. I've taken to using the dough hook on the food processor instead, giving me the happy compromise of feeling I've made a much-loved loaf, without the kneading.

I can't remember life without a food processor. It might look like a steel tank, but do I really want to go back to the old-fashioned alternative of a sharp knife and lots of chopping? There are plenty of recipes I just wouldn't make, such as pesto. Ask me what I'd save from a fire and the food processor would be up there.

My pressure cooker also had to stay. I know it's not the right way to cook risotto, but it does a great job of it in less than 10 minutes, without stirring. But I waved goodbye to the pizza wheel (use scissors), garlic press (use the back of the knife) and the aforementioned panini grill (a griddle pan works just as well).

I must just tell you about my newest gadget. It's a clear toaster where you can actually see the bread browning - brilliant! Now, if I got rid of the avocado slicer and moved the jam maker, I could probably clear a bit of room for something else...

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1-20 of 21 comments

  • Binder photo Abi
    26 January 2010, 4:18PM

    Abi

    Open QuoteI know what you mean by gadgets, I work for Lakeland and seem to bring home a new gadget each week. When I was saving up for my Kenwood Prospero I had a picture of it on the fridge to inspire me. My husband doesn't understand. I also have a Remoska, a Bread machine, a slow cooker, a mini chopper, a hand blender amongst other things in our kitchen. I'm hoping to save up for a overstuffed sandwich maker!!

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  • Binder photo MaryW, Finland
    26 January 2010, 4:44PM

    MaryW, Finland

    Open QuoteOh yes, it sounds just like me. Now I did have a clear out of "unnecessary" gadgets when I emigrated 18 months ago. But have since added to what was left. Including a Kitcheaid for Christmas. I have a wonderful magimix, and yes it is the large one, but I love to bake so NEEDED something more suited to the task. At least that was my excuse, but luckily I have an indulgent husband who likes to sample what I make! But I don't think I'll be able to justify anything else for a while, as we're building a new house and he hasn't seen the appliances I want!! :)

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  • Binder photo toodle_pip
    26 January 2010, 9:46PM

    toodle_pip

    Open QuoteI know exactly what you mean! I've got to the stage where I need to find a house with a bigger kitchen. I've also resorted to seasonal rotation - like the steamer which is on the bench for spring and summer, and the slow cooker which takes its place for autumn and winter!

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  • Binder photo DNA
    26 January 2010, 10:10PM

    DNA

    Open QuoteOddly enough, despite other areas of my life having a big gadget influence, food hasn't been 1 of those areas which has had that much for me. I can recall only 2 really quirky gadgets, one of which is an ice cream ball which makes ice cream when you roll it around (sounds great but it gives your hands hot aches, the noise will drive you mad & it doesn't even achieve the right consistency), & the other was a chocolate cocktail drinks maker which broke after a few months use. Now, the only proper kitchen gadget I have is a very retro Magimix (from the 90's I think) with a white plastic body. As for the see through toaster, I do think it's rather cool but at £160 I wouldn't pay that much for a toaster which is sold more on style than anything else.

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  • Binder photo miniminx
    27 January 2010, 11:50AM

    miniminx

    Open Quotegenerally i love my gadgets - the breadmaker is my favourite and i still use it every couple of days, two years later. the most pointless was definitely the ice-cream maker (it was a kenwood). the paddle jammed every time i tried to use it and the bowl was so small it wouldn't even make a full pint of ice-cream. why on earth would anyone only want about two scoops of ice-cream after all that effort??? i freecycled it....and the next week, was gifted a smoothie maker (also on freecycle) to take up the empty workspace!

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  • Binder photo Elaine
    27 January 2010, 2:10PM

    Elaine

    Open QuoteAgree about ice-cream machines. I used mine three times tops about two years ago and it's been languishing in the box for ages. We also have a drawer full of gadgets we rarely use, but I must admit I do like my cherry stoner (this will also pit olives)

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  • Binder photo Gemma
    27 January 2010, 5:31PM

    Gemma

    Open QuoteI had a Kenwood Ice Cream maker and used t reguarly until it broke and I replaced it with a Magimix one which I've only used once in the last month and didn't get on with it. I will persevere though! I use my breakmaker every two days and my Kenwood Multipro food processor (plus attachments) very regularly. My mini chopper is always on the go and in the dishwasher, and I couldn't do without my garlic press. I was just about to say that's all I've got... but then I remembered my steamer and my "health grill" - used almost exclusively for toasted sandwiches...! I can't help it, I'm a self confessed gadget junkie. I'd buy more if I had the space! :)

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  • Binder photo SUE
    27 January 2010, 6:10PM

    SUE

    Open QuoteThe one gadget I wouldn't be without is my Bamix. I coveted it for years, and finally bought one at the Ideal Home Show. It does so many different things.

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  • Binder photo pinkie
    27 January 2010, 8:08PM

    pinkie

    Open QuoteI love my icecream maker-but its a Gaggia and makes perfect icecream in no time. My other must have is my magimix which does everything from pastry, soups, cakes and grating .....Steamer and pressure cooker also much used in the winter, but breadmaker had its hour in the sun and now languishes under the sink and looks sadly at me everytime i open the door.

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  • Binder photo Nicola
    28 January 2010, 8:20AM

    Nicola

    Open QuoteI'm not really sure if I'd call myself a kitchen gadget junkie...I've got and regularly use a food processer and blender, a handheld blender and an electric grilling machine which we use to make toasties. Also I have recently acquired an unloved slow cooker from my parents which I have used the past few weekends. What else...well, there is also a blow torch which I have only used twice, but it's nice to know it is there! I think that's all - I make all my cakes, pastries and bread by hand, so don't have a kitchen aid type thing or a breadmaker (my grandad was a baker and so therefore I think of a bread machine as cheating!). To steam I just stick a colander/seive on top of a pan of boiling water. I've made ice-cream by hand a couple of times...I would like an ice-cream maker but I know I'd hardly ever use it! I tend to collect other rarely used things (such as cake stands and teapots) instead!

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  • Binder photo drusilla
    29 January 2010, 12:32PM

    drusilla

    Open QuoteLakeland.... mmmm *imagine Homer Simpson here* I probably shouldn't keep looking at that catalogue, as every time I do, I seem to find something else that I just couldn't possibly do without! Let's see... garlic press *check*, breadmaker *check - although not used as often as it should be!*, stick blender/chopper *check - and never getting rid of, as it gets used nearly every day*, ice-cream maker *check - see breadmaker*... Oh dear... my TV listings mag has a catalogue... Oooh, duvet clips! ;-)

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  • Binder photo Rainbow
    29 January 2010, 7:04PM

    Rainbow

    Open QuoteI would love have all of the gadgets mentioned. Unfortunately (or not as my husband thinks !) I have an extremely small kitchen and all I own is a food processor and stick blender. I long for the day I can own a bread machine, ice-cream maker, jam machine.. and the list could go on!

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  • Binder photo Lushious
    29 January 2010, 8:55PM

    Lushious

    Open QuoteThe gadget I could not imagine life without is most definately my Bamix - it does so much. Does a coffee machine count as a gadget. I love my Gaggia Baby G and use it daily. I used to use my breadmaker regularly and still do for naan bread or focaccia but this is perhaps fortnightly and finally my ancient food processor; a wedding present and used weekly!

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  • Binder photo gary
    30 January 2010, 3:52PM

    gary

    Open Quotevery impressed easy to clean its great www.goodfoodgb.com

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  • Binder photo kittendothroar
    31 January 2010, 10:09PM

    kittendothroar

    Open QuoteI seem to have collected too many gadgets that overlap - I have a mini chopper, food processor, stick blender with all the attachements and a slicer... Then there is the panini press, which lives in the garage as far too big. The fajita maker (I kid you not!) which lives in the erm, wardrobe. Then the milk foamer collecting dust, along with an old coffee press I havn't gotten around to disposing off. Slow cooker and steamer in another cupboard..plus 2 draws full of tongs, spoons, a dinosaur sandwich cutter, 'I love you' toast stamp, espresso spoons, foil cutter, pink ice cream scoop, egg slicer, metal 'cups', mini egg whisk...thats about half of it. I just can't bring myself to declutter though...

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  • Binder photo Ann
    3 February 2010, 7:59PM

    Ann

    Open Quoteimmigrating is a good way to have a clear out, it was amazing what I used to have and never seemed to use, now I have a Kenwood classic (will buy attatchements as I need them) a blender stick which I use all the time, a coffee machine and a coffee grinder which we use every day. I have found I don't need the breadmachine,and the icecream maker and I haven't had a food processor for years, but I do miss my pasta maker, it was a heavy piece of equipment which bolted on to the table, and had for years, the new one my hubby brought to replace it is no where near as good and has been used once and now sits in the cupboard holding up the cookbooks

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  • Binder photo Vixter
    4 February 2010, 1:26PM

    Vixter

    Open QuoteI got my Bamix for Christmas and I love it, it cleared my worktop of many other gadgets.

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  • Binder photo Shelby
    5 February 2010, 1:00PM

    Shelby

    Open QuoteHewa !!

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  • Binder photo The Farmers Wife
    7 February 2010, 1:55PM

    The Farmers Wife

    Open Quoteah yes kitchen gadgets! Much to my husbands constant frustration I am a kitchen-gadget-junkie! I have the requosite Bread maker (used daily to start but maybe twice weekly now). The magimix that darling hubby bought me for Christmas which I now would not be without. I asked him for a kitchenaid too but I think he may misinterpret that and hire me a pot-boy lol! I don't tend to use my veggie steamer anymore as I can't be faffed with cleaning the botom of the baskets anymore. My sandwhich maker and toaster are redundant as i can do both with my aga toaster. However I LOVE my apple-peeler-corer-slicer which I got from lakeland. I have another of the dreaded Pampered Chef parties coming up so no doubt will buy some other must-have and soon redundant gadget at that lol!

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  • Binder photo Claire
    9 February 2010, 6:41PM

    Claire

    Open QuoteAfter relocating back to the UK a year ago and finding myself with a far smaller kitchen, I've had to pretty much start over from scratch in the gadget dept. My partner was very eager to buy a blender (fruit smoothies every morning), crockpot (soups and stews all winter long...and then the Lakeland catalogue arrived and watching him drool over the Phillips icecream maker, I caved in and bought him one. We've been making delicious ice cream ever since, so it's hardly wasted space. I'll continue to read up on and dream about the ultimate bread maker....but all the other things will remain on hold...indefinately.

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