# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/41 "2011-04-15T19:07:18Z")
The most outrageous piece of kitchen equipment I have ever seen was at a house a friend was leasing in Half Moon Bay. It had an indoor barbeque room, with a restaurant hood and vent system. The grill looked to be big enough to grill a whole goat. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/42 "2011-04-15T20:07:08Z")
> [@Vihaga](#): > > Now that I know this exists, I’m adding it to the “essential” list. I know there used to be a dedicated appliance for this. Amateur cheesemakers could buy it to store and age their homemade cheeses. Now, however, I can’t find it with Googling. The other option is to buy a used fridge and install a widely-available device that makes it stay within the desired temperature range of 50-55 degrees. Then you have to contrive to humidify it; a cool-temp room humidifier is recommended. Bacteria won’t grow on curds if the environment is too dry. You really have to want to make cheese! ---
**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 16, 2011, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/43 "2011-04-16T00:41:45Z")
> [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#): > > I have it, and regret buying it. It’s the discontinued copper one, too. I think I’ve used it three times in the past two years. Make me an offer. Check your PMs. If you’re serious I’m sure we can work it out. ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/44 "2011-04-16T05:22:44Z")
> [@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. Less than two hundred for the [Lello](http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&biw=1600&bih=717&q=lello+4070+gelato+junior&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=13442724837493851519&sa=X&ei=syWpTcehF434gAf6moD0BQ&ved=0CDAQ8wIwAg#). I have one and love being able to whip up ice cream or sorbet any time the whim strikes. Sucker sure is heavy though. That Big Green Egg sure looks nice… ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/45 "2011-04-16T12:02:32Z")
> [@slightly\_askew](#): > > An infrared thermometer, so unnecessary, but soooooo cooool!!! Ooooh, YES! ---
**Author:** ![Gymnopithys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@Gymnopithys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gymnopithys)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/46 "2011-04-16T13:15:16Z")
> [@dbx820](#): > > 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. No need for a vacuum sealer, but a sous-vide machine ? Can’t wait. ---
**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 16, 2011, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/47 "2011-04-16T14:09:49Z")
> [@Gymnopithys](#): > > No need for a vacuum sealer, but a sous-vide machine ? Can’t wait. If you look around online you’ll see you can cobble a fairly good one together for under $100. Ive tried it - it works pretty well. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/48 "2011-04-16T14:14:22Z")
> [@Gymnopithys](#): > > No need for a vacuum sealer, but a sous-vide machine ? Can’t wait. Don’t you need to vacuum seal food to sous-vide it? ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/49 "2011-04-16T14:42:14Z")
Thee are lots of things I’d like, such as an American style fridge with a water dispenser, a chest freezer and an aga, but I wouldn’t be able to fit them in. So instead I’m lusting after a really nice kettle and toaster. It’s not like I wouldn’t use them, but I have a perfectly functional kettle and grill. [Delonghi](http://www.comet.co.uk/p/Colour-Collections/buy-DELONGHI-KBO3001.R-Colour-Collection/529435/?cm_mmc=Pricerunner-_-Feed-_-Kettles+andamp;+Water+Filters-_-529435&_%24ja=tsid:8359%7Ccc:%7Cprd:529435%7Ccat:kettles+%26+water+filters) ones, for example. If they made them in yellow or light blue I probably would have caved in by now. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/50 "2011-04-16T16:33:20Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Don’t you need to vacuum seal food to sous-vide it? Yup. Can’t have one without the other, at least not if you want to do it properly. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/51 "2011-04-16T16:46:16Z")
A few notes on sous vide: Want to try sous vide without spending a bunch of money? [Cook Your Meat in a Beer Cooler: The World’s Best (and Cheapest) Sous-Vide Hack](http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/04/cook-your-meat-in-a-beer-cooler-the-worlds-best-sous-vide-hack.html) The [Ziploc Vacuum](http://www.ziploc.com/Products/Pages/VacuumFreezerSystem.aspx) things work very well … cost less than $6 in the local grocery store. No room on the counter? Don’t want to spend $400? Got a rice cooker? [SousVideMagic 1500D](http://freshmealssolutions.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage-ask.tpl&product_id=30&category_id=15&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=31). My rice cooker is too small to do much so I use my SousVideMagic with a [bucket heater](http://www.amazon.com/Electra-11-1-2-Water-Heater/dp/B000R051DE/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1302971736&sr=8-4) in my big stock pot. Works great … and even better when I added a little $10 aquarium air pump to keep the water in motion. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/52 "2011-04-17T07:45:53Z")
> [@Gymnopithys](#): > > No need for a vacuum sealer, but a sous-vide machine ? Can’t wait. I got my sous vide about 3 weeks ago and love it … we use it at least 4 dinners a week. [just did corned beef in it last night, it is a tie between corned beef and pan seared scallops for favorite dinner from it so far. It is amazing for chicken breasts.] ---
**Author:** ![tygre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@tygre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tygre)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/53 "2011-04-17T12:38:09Z")
I want this: [Breville | High End Kitchen & Cooking Appliances](http://www.brevilleusa.com/baking/the-personal-pie.html) although it’s been out of stock since LAST FALL at Williams-Sonoma. Silly, perhaps, but we do enjoy savory and sweet pies here. ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/54 "2011-04-20T17:04:58Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > A brick oven. I’ve been researching this quite a bit lately for a build project in the back yard. I expect to be building one over the next couple of years as I come across materials. I’d love to do one completely out of clay, but I don’t live near a good local natural clay source, so it’ll have to be partly brick. I will be using one at a RevWar reenactment in October at the Fort at #4 in Charlestown NH. It’s the subject of a full chapter in a book about 18th century life (Tidings from the 18th century), and I can’t wait to actually use it in person. > [@tygre](#): > > I want this: [http://www.brevilleusa.com/baking/the-personal-pie.html](http://www.brevilleusa.com/baking/the-personal-pie.html) although it’s been out of stock since LAST FALL at Williams-Sonoma. Silly, perhaps, but we do enjoy savory and sweet pies here. That looks like one of the things I had in college. Bread on bottom, fillings, then cover with more bread and close tightly. One could use pie dough, but I never did. But that one looks nicer, and I bet the cover closes better. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/55 "2011-04-20T21:49:53Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I would like a chicken rotisserie oven like I see on infomercials, but I have a feeling there’s a downside, because I’ve never seen one in anybody’s kitchen. Ever. They are freaking impossible to clean. It takes hours of soaking/scrubbign and then dishwashing..and you’re still not sure you’ve gotten all the goop off. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/56 "2011-04-20T22:18:04Z")
> [@tygre](#): > > I want this: [http://www.brevilleusa.com/baking/the-personal-pie.html](http://www.brevilleusa.com/baking/the-personal-pie.html) although it’s been out of stock since LAST FALL at Williams-Sonoma. Silly, perhaps, but we do enjoy savory and sweet pies here. Actually, that thing looks kind of interesting. Not that I make or eat that many pies, but it is only eighty bucks. I’ll have to remember for when I next need to buy a wedding gift. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/57 "2011-04-20T22:48:45Z")
A complete sset of Le Creuset pans: [http://www.lecreuset.com/](http://www.lecreuset.com/) I bought my brother a Big Green Egg. It’s good but not quite as cool as I thought it was going to be. Using natural gas would get purists up in arms but would be easier for a lot of things. I want to build a big outdoor oven. Maybe an earth oven if not the monster brick style outdoor fashion statement. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/58 "2011-04-21T00:15:34Z")
> [@Vihaga](#): > > I definitely lust after a Kitchenaid mixer. > Why non-essential? Because I don’t bake. I don’t even LIKE to bake. I have a hand-held that works just fine for my mixing needs, so I really have no use for a stand mixer. > They come in different colors, though, and they’re so pretty. Same. I’ve used my crappy mixer 3 times in the last 5 years. And it’s not because it’s a crappy mixer, it’s because I don’t bake. Or mix things. I have no use for a KitchenAid. My life would not change in any appreciable way except I would lose more of my already scant counterspace and have another thing that I fail to dust off at regular intervals. I just really want one. A lot. ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/59 "2011-04-21T16:26:24Z")
Costco has a Cuisinart ice cream maker I may just buy the next time I’m there. Then I’ll have to start collecting low-fat-but-tasty recipes for it, because I really don’t need to absorb much more heavy cream than I already do. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366/60 "2011-04-21T16:38:30Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > A complete sset of Le Creuset pans: [http://www.lecreuset.com/](http://www.lecreuset.com/) > > I bought my brother a Big Green Egg. It’s good but not quite as cool as I thought it was going to be. Using natural gas would get purists up in arms but would be easier for a lot of things. > > I want to build a big outdoor oven. Maybe an earth oven if not the monster brick style outdoor fashion statement. You know, I have a Le Creuset that I haven’t used in months, ever since I got a set of stainless steel skillets from a restaurant supply store for a third of the price of the LC stuff. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unessential-kitchen-equipment-that-you-are-lusting-over/578366.md?page=4)