# Which of these kitchen appliances do you own? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 3, 2011, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-kitchen-appliances-do-you-own/587764 "2011-07-03T23:50:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [July 4, 2011, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-kitchen-appliances-do-you-own/587764/41 "2011-07-04T19:05:36Z")
As you can see my parents are addicted to gifting small household appliances for christmas. My ‘other’ appliance is a vacuum sealer and sous vide bath. It gets used 3 or more times a week. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-kitchen-appliances-do-you-own/587764/42 "2011-07-04T19:12:21Z")
I find it funny (in the “interesting” sense) that you separate blenders into “traditional or stick”, but of course it’s also quite logical. For me it’s “minipimer or american”, stick blenders having acquired their Spanish-in-Spain name from an extremely successful Braun series 🙂 (their official name is “batidoras”, but it’s a 50:50 chance of hearing this vs minipimer). The coffee maker was an inheritance from a former flatmate; I use it as an electric kettle. ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-kitchen-appliances-do-you-own/587764/43 "2011-07-04T19:14:59Z")
> [@KarlGrenze](#): > > I have an “old” appliance, a mortar and pestle. I use it to make marinades and crush garlic. I actually miss having a mortar and pestle-- we used it quite a bit when we had one, but for some reason, we’re always losing one part or the other when moving. coffee maker (drip, espresso, cappucino, single-cup): We have a stovetop espresso/cappuccino maker; does that count? toaster: Got a fancy one as a gift, and we use it occasionally. microwave: Funny story-- We haven’t used our microwave for over a month. How do I know this? It’s been sitting in the garage, unplugged, since May 31st. blender (traditional or stick): Have a traditional, contemplating eventually getting a higher quality stick blender. stand mixer: One of my most oft-used appliances, as we make breads and other stuff with it. I have “salad shooter” and “meat grinder” attachments that get used less often, but are still used. hand mixer: I think I’ve used it about three times since I inherited it. Good for some stuff, but I like the stand mixer better for 90% of applications. crock pot: Great for making chili or slow cooking a turkey. Seriously. We have an obscenely large one that is great for turkeys or giant vats of chili, and a buffet-style 3-pots-in-1 appliance with normal sized bowls. They get pulled out occasionally, but we don’t use them often. Boy was Thanksgiving amazing last year, though; the turkey was tender, juicy and delicious. rice cooker: We use it at least twice a week, mostly for making rice, but I have cooked other things in it. Great investment for us. food processor: We have two 2-cup food processors, which are referred to as “the choppity machines.” They’re mostly used when a blender won’t do and it takes too much work to chop. I have a stovetop “panini press” setup-- it’s a cast iron grill pan with a separate cast iron grill weight. Most of my kitchen stuff is comprised of knives, pots, pans and the original manual version of the popular electric appliances: I find I have better control over the output, I’m less likely to hurt myself using them, and they’re easier to clean. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-kitchen-appliances-do-you-own/587764/44 "2011-07-04T19:32:20Z")
I have a coffee maker, toaster, microwave, deep fryer (a small one), a blender that has a food processor attachement, an electric knife I never use, and a crock pot. I forgot to check other, but I also have an electric skillet. I also have a little electric food chopper. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-kitchen-appliances-do-you-own/587764/45 "2011-07-04T19:46:15Z")
Oh, btw, I’m following’s **Avarie** ’s definition and assuming that my cocotte (an actual crockery pot that goes into the oven) does not count as a “crock pot”, only an electric one would. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-kitchen-appliances-do-you-own/587764/46 "2011-07-04T20:19:07Z")
Oh I forgot the vacuum sealer, I don’t know how I went through 2 rolls of bags and 3 hours on Saturday packaging and freezing meat and fruit. Also there should be a subcategory for the appliances that actually save me the most work but that live out on the deck - Big Green Egg smoker and the gas BBQ - the appliances that make it possible for me to delegate cooking tasks. ---
**Author:** ![Kyrie\_Eleison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kyrie_eleison/32/7682_2.png) [@Kyrie\_Eleison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyrie_Eleison)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-kitchen-appliances-do-you-own/587764/47 "2011-07-04T23:04:47Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I wasn’t surprised to see that “electric kettle” wasn’t an option - outside of Alton Brown, Americans just don’t own them. They’re ubiquitus in many places outside the U.S., though. Another American with an electric kettle here. Actually, I have two – one at home, one at the office. I got them after spending a few weeks in the U.K., where they were pretty much standard equipment in each hotel room. ---
**Author:** ![Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrogance_ex_machina/32/192_2.png) [@Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrogance_Ex_Machina)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-kitchen-appliances-do-you-own/587764/48 "2011-07-05T01:34:37Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I wasn’t surprised to see that “electric kettle” wasn’t an option - outside of Alton Brown, Americans just don’t own them. They’re ubiquitus in many places outside the U.S., though. I had trouble even finding what they are called in english. The entry for “electric kettle” in wikipedia is one sentence long mention on “kettle” page whereas something like “toaster” has 17k bytes long article of its own. Go figure. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-kitchen-appliances-do-you-own/587764/49 "2011-07-05T03:11:08Z")
8: coffee maker (drip), toaster, microwave, griddle, blender (stick), crock pot, rice cooker, food processor. But only 6 that I’ll claim as mine, as the crock pot and the griddle are only ever used by my better half. Though now that I’ve successfully converted her to loving our new set of pre-seasoned cast iron pans, I don’t think the electric griddle (that her mom got us as a gift that she used to use to cook pancakes and turkey bacon on occasion) is ever going to see the light of day again. Is there something bad about using a rice cooker that I should know about? Once they’re dialed in for the particular rice/grain/veggie that you’re trying to cook, I find them quite handy. ETA: We bought a sealer at Costco but we’ve never gotten it to work and we keep forgetting to take it back. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-kitchen-appliances-do-you-own/587764/50 "2011-07-05T03:56:51Z")
A better question for me would be, “which ones haven’t I touched in at least 2 years?” ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-kitchen-appliances-do-you-own/587764/51 "2011-07-05T04:15:35Z")
The only tho things plugged in, in my kitchen, are a microwave and the refrigerator. I make toast in a pan, buttered first Coffee in a French press, with stovetop kettle and hand grinder Mortar and pestle and a whisk for mixing/blending/whipping sauces and things Hand juicer by Oxo, great design, and salad spinner by same A Whirley-Pop for popcorn on the stove. I now find pre-packaged microwave stuff revolting A good knife I think that covers it. ---
**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:** [July 5, 2011, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-kitchen-appliances-do-you-own/587764/52 "2011-07-05T05:21:05Z")
Damn. I forgot I have a vacuum sealer also. And actually I have two crockpots, one large and one small. I do actually use all of these things during the course of a year. Just want to add that I used to have an electric kettle but [this](http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-CD-LCC30-3-0-Liter-Electric-Dispensing/dp/B00009K3TE) is much better than in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Snake\_Plissken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@Snake\_Plissken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snake_Plissken)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-kitchen-appliances-do-you-own/587764/53 "2011-07-05T11:10:17Z")
I have what amounts to a commercial kitchen in my home. One thing I just got yesterday is a vacuum sealer. My Sister gave it to me for my Bday since I borrow hers all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-kitchen-appliances-do-you-own/587764/54 "2011-07-05T11:25:48Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I wasn’t surprised to see that “electric kettle” wasn’t an option - outside of Alton Brown, Americans just don’t own them. They’re ubiquitus in many places outside the U.S., though. :eek: How do you boil water if you don’t have a kettle? ---
**Author:** ![Kim\_o\_the\_Concrete\_Jungle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ee7513/32.png) [@Kim\_o\_the\_Concrete\_Jungle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kim_o_the_Concrete_Jungle)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-kitchen-appliances-do-you-own/587764/55 "2011-07-05T11:40:40Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > :eek: > > How do you boil water if you don’t have a kettle? With great difficulty, I should imagine. I’ve got an electric wok. And a three tiered steamer. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-kitchen-appliances-do-you-own/587764/56 "2011-07-05T11:50:45Z")
Ditched the coffee maker for a French press. Otherwise, I have a toaster, microwave, George Foreman grill, and, despite being American, an electric water kettle. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-kitchen-appliances-do-you-own/587764/57 "2011-07-05T11:59:11Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > :eek: > > How do you boil water if you don’t have a kettle? Iin a saucepan, or if you’re making a pot of tea or hot chocolate from mix, you use your electric coffee maker. A kettle is convenient, but not by any stretch necessary. Besides, nobody said American households don’t have kettles, though they’re far from ubiquitous. (After all, if you mainly drink coffee and have an electric coffee maker, a tea kettle is almost entirely a waste of space and money.) We just typically don’t have _electric_ ones. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-kitchen-appliances-do-you-own/587764/58 "2011-07-05T12:16:02Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > :eek: > > How do you boil water if you don’t have a kettle? Well, I have an electric kettle and I only use it occasionally for boiling water, depending on what the water is for. ---
**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:** [July 5, 2011, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-kitchen-appliances-do-you-own/587764/59 "2011-07-05T12:47:59Z")
“Other” for me is an electric pressure cooker and an electric kettle. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-kitchen-appliances-do-you-own/587764/60 "2011-07-05T13:19:16Z")
Heh. If I had to choose just three kitchen appliances to last me the rest of my life, “kettle” would be on that list, right after “microwave” and “toaster”. Can’t imagine doing without it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-kitchen-appliances-do-you-own/587764.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-kitchen-appliances-do-you-own/587764.md?page=4)