# Unessential kitchen equipment that you are lusting over **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 14, 2011, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366 "2011-04-14T13:55:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/1 "2011-04-14T13:55:42Z")
So we’ve got [Essential Kitchen Equipment](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=604510) and [Most useless kitchen gadget/utensil/appliance you got suckered into buying?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=604438), so we obviously need another thread on kitchen equipment. I’ve got a pretty good collection of kitchen stuff, and it’s not often that I need more stuff. In fact, I never _need_ anything: I can happily cook many different types of things for years and years without ever buying another piece of gear. I’ve got pots & pans & knives. I’ve got a KitchenAid and a food processor, a pressure cooker and a sous-vider. I have an entire closet filled with “overflow” stuff - fancy dishes, sausage stuffers, meat slicers & grinders, the kind of stuff that I do use several times a year so I don’t want to get rid of it, but not enough that it deserves a spot in the too-full kitchen cupboards. But every once in a while, I get bit. And I get bit bad. I really shouldn’t have purchased [Modernist Cuisine](http://modernistcuisine.com/), because now my idiot brain is telling me I need a [chamber vacuum sealer](http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&hl=en&site=&source=hp&q=chamber+vacuum+sealer&aq=f&aqi=g5&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=7ddfcab4a94a31d1). My life will not be full if I cannot seal liquids in plastic bags for sous-viding, or create [compressed watermelon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYjZl2yPmaQ), or make light-as-air mango sorbet by vacuuming mango sorbet until it puffs up like a cloud. Unfortunately the damn things cost upwards of $600 for the cheap model, and into the many thousands of dollars. And they weigh a ton - 50-100 pounds or more - so they’d have to have a permanent spot on my countertop, which I don’t really want. But my dumb brain keeps telling me I neeeeeeeeeeed one… So what about you? What are you currently lusting over? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/2 "2011-04-14T14:03:49Z")
I feel pretty happy with what I have, but I’d like one of those scrapey blade beaters for my Kitchen-Aid. I’d like an ice cream churn, but I don’t dare get the one I saw at the thrift store for $5, because I’ll use it. A lot. 😃 Oh, and a candy thermometer. Lost 3 (I don’t know why I had 3, but I did) in the last move. I don’t need 3, but I’d like 1! ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/3 "2011-04-14T14:33:21Z")
Oh, if you get that mixer blade, go for the [Side Swipe](http://www.sideswipeblade.com/) rather than the other kind; Cook’s Illustrated preferred this version, and I love it. Love them but wouldn’t use them after a while: Sous-vide machine (plus holy-crap expensive and takes up valuable space) Vacuum sealer (for sous-vide cooking plus general food storage) Ice cream maker (wtf, I’m trying to keep my weight down and my husband is trying to lose significant weight - so not a good idea) More useful: Kegerator (I brew beer but hate bottling - so I haven’t brewed lately) Chest freezer (tiny over-the-fridge freezer compartment leaves no room for freezing stocks, sauces, or buying frozen stuff at Costco) ---
**Author:** ![Profound\_Gibberish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Profound\_Gibberish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profound_Gibberish)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/4 "2011-04-14T14:36:22Z")
Vacuum sealer & Sous-vide machine. You could really do some cool stuff with it, but where to put it? I guess that is what restaurants are for. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/5 "2011-04-14T14:45:00Z")
The [Crustastun](http://crustastun.com/how-crustastun-works.html)lobster zapper. I don’t eat lobster but these things are just cool. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/6 "2011-04-14T14:52:48Z")
A brick oven. ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/7 "2011-04-14T14:56:13Z")
Porsche knives. I have good knives and the Porsche ones may actually inferior, but, man, they are SCULPTURE. I love to look at them. > **[Garden & Lawn Tools - Lee Valley Tools](https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/garden)** > > Shop Garden Tools on Lee Valley. Browse our Spades, Forks, Hoses, and other Garden Supplies designed to meet your needs. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/8 "2011-04-14T15:24:01Z")
A deep fryer. Bought one on a whim a few months ago and it’s the best $60 I ever spent. Yes, I know you can do the same thing with just a pot, but the fryer just makes it so easy. _Too_ easy almost… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/9 "2011-04-14T15:47:47Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > A brick oven. Oh, hells yeah to this. My dream is to have a kitchen or backyard with a proper wood-fired oven. Can’t think of anything else I need in the kitchen–pretty much have everything I’m ever going to use regularly or even semi-regularly. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/10 "2011-04-14T16:22:30Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Oh, and a candy thermometer. Lost 3 (I don’t know why I had 3, but I did) in the last move. I don’t need 3, but I’d like 1! A Candy thermometer. Not because I’ve lost any but…because I would use it ALL THE TIME. I see recipes and think “oh shucks, can’t make it…don’t have a candy thermometer”. And my hips thank me. Ditto ice cream churn. No, really I don’t need a stand mixer. I have no counter space for it now and even (_swoon_) in August when the SO leaves town and I move and have enough counter space for a king, I won’t need it because I’ll be cooking just for me. So I tell myself that I can wait 3 years till the wedding registry to get one for free. But I still neeeeeeeeeeeeeed it now. I would _love_ a chest freezer because Costco has the best meat around here. But who the hell buys a chest freezer for one person? I want to smack myself just thinking of the silliness. I would certainly eat all the savings in the electricity for the thing. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/11 "2011-04-14T16:53:27Z")
6-quart KitchenAid stand mixer. The reason this is unessential is that we HAVE a KitchenAid stand mixer. The 4.5-quart one. I want the bigger one. Because it is bigger and awesomerer. How am I supposed to awesomize my baking if I don’t have the awesomest stand mixer? Come on, people. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/12 "2011-04-14T17:15:31Z")
Those ridiculously expensive Shun knives and the like. I’d probably never use it, but they’re shiny. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/13 "2011-04-14T17:29:01Z")
Pie-divider… I make pie pretty regularly. It would be NICE to have but not necessary. ---
**Author:** ![kath94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/67e7ee/32.png) [@kath94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kath94)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/14 "2011-04-14T17:32:53Z")
> [@Wallenstein](#): > > The [Crustastun](http://crustastun.com/how-crustastun-works.html)lobster zapper. > > I don’t eat lobster but these things are just cool. Holy cow! That thing is like a little electric chair for your crustacean! I only got as far as the electrode & sponge, but that was enough! ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/15 "2011-04-14T17:39:26Z")
> [@kath94](#): > > Holy cow! That thing is like a little electric chair for your crustacean! I only got as far as the electrode & sponge, but that was enough! > [@Paul Edgecomb](#): > > Lobster Roll On Two! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/16 "2011-04-14T17:59:05Z")
I want one of these guys’ utility pans: [http://www.olvidacookware.com/?page\_id=3](http://www.olvidacookware.com/?page_id=3) ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/17 "2011-04-14T18:13:08Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I want one of these guys’ utility pans: > > [http://www.olvidacookware.com/?page\_id=3](http://www.olvidacookware.com/?page_id=3) I’m following you from thread to thread now because now I want one too! Oh, and since we have the vacuum sealer, a sous-vide machine is on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/18 "2011-04-14T18:36:14Z")
I have a regular ice cream maker. But what I’d really like is a fancy one with its own freezing unit. But they cost hundreds of dollars. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/19 "2011-04-14T18:46:02Z")
A [Bizerba](http://www.bizerba-openworld.com/cms/en/food-processing/slicers.php) professional slicer (actually I have a good line on one and will probably end up getting one this year). ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/20 "2011-04-14T19:19:06Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I have a regular ice cream maker. > > But what I’d really like is a fancy one with its own freezing unit. But they cost hundreds of dollars. Heck, forget hundreds - how about thousands? My brain is also telling me I neeeeeed a [Pacojet](http://www.pacojetus.com/). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366.md?page=2)