How good is your kitchen equipment?

[beginnercook]

I cannot see cooking without having the best equipment possible. All those little things that really make this work a easier one for us. Is this a priority for you too? Do you buy all the items needed? Do you settle with what you can and try to compensate with more work?

[Mama]

Cooking is a whole lot more fun when you have good equipment to work with. I use All-clad pots and pans, wustoff knives, a kitchen aide 6-quart mixer, a cuisinart 14 cup food processor, a kitchen aide blender and drawers FULL of gadgets! I absolutely LOVE IT! When I get in the kitchen, I'm like a kid in a room full of toys!

[Rashid]

I have to agree. We have always tried to get all the best we could. Not necessarily the most expensive items, but the ones we really thought would serve us well. And the cooking is easier when the oven and all the equipment won't fail on you in the midst of the best dinner plans

[Ralphy]

Hours is.. medium. We are not very wealthy, but we can afford a good gadget from time to time.
We are planning next to buy a good stove. The one we have is rather old and we do need a new one.
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[Big Daddy's House]

I like convenience in the kitchen, mainly because it helps you get through the prepping and cooking much easier.

I'm a total gadget freak and I guess that is why I like to cook a lot!

[Big Daddy's House]

Here's the most-used piece of equipment in my kitchen. My pride and joy!!

Great for making huge amounts of fillings for pies.

[cookingwithliz]

I couldn't live without my mixer, food processor or immersion blender. I love my enameled cast iron cookware and am a total gadget junkie.

[Big Daddy's House]

Likewise. You & I both!!

[Big Daddy's House]

Here's yet another well-built, clever and well-designed product. I use it to tackle big food prep jobs.

It's built to last, and has lots of pure raw power! It's no slouch in the muscle department! Gets the Job Done with truly professional results!!

It can also be used by those who run a small catering business, as this machine is built to stand up to the most demanding food prep jobs.

[Big Daddy's House]

Here's another workhorse of mine that gets normal size Jobs Done. :)

[lyzjunum]

Interesting thought, i completely agree with your perspective

[Big Daddy's House]

Thanks.

I take cooking & baking very seriously, so I buy equipment that I know is going to last, and last, and last.

I like big powerful heavy duty monster food prep appliances to do the job, knowing that they won't wimp out!!

[Big Daddy's House]

Here is my old standby, my long-standing 23-year-old old standby powerful little buddy - the K'Aid K-45SS Stand Mixer.

Ain't she purty?! Looks just as shiny and new as the day that I first got it! And it STILL TO THIS VERY DAY works like new!

And as you can see, it was made by Hobart back then, hence the Hobart logo on the left, especially in the bottom pic.

Note that the bottom pic is larger. Must have used the zoom feature on that one. I like that luscious almond cream color accented with the brown name band!!

[Big Daddy's House]

Here are pics of my dishwasher and fridge. You'll have to excuse all those magnetic stickers on the fridge.

[Len-NJ]

I believe in quality basics - absolutely love Calphalon, their knives are pretty good too for everyday. I discovered japanesechefsknife.com (http://www.japanesechefsknife.com/products.html) and got a few Hattori knives that are awesome.

My goto pieces are my Hattori knives (http://www.japanesechefsknife.com/HDSeries.html), Calphalon set (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007KQZ3O?ie=UTF8&tag=hellficollec-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0007KQZ3O) and my KitchenAid mate black mixer (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QJ0G0Y?ie=UTF8&tag=hellficollec-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000QJ0G0Y) with attachements.

[Leolady]

Thanks.

I take cooking & baking very seriously, so I buy equipment that I know is going to last, and last, and last.

I like big powerful heavy duty monster food prep appliances to do the job, knowing that they won't wimp out!!

Me too! But I tend to buy used equipment from the commercial lines to fulfill my lust for kitchen toys in a way that poor little me can afford. So my equipment is not only Top of the Line restaurant, but vintage Top of the Line restaurant stuff.

I kind of like having a "chef's delight vintage kitchen". I especially love my Hobart Kitchenaid Model G Chrome mixer, a Robot Coupe R2 food processor, and Vita Mix 4000 blender which I call my "Holy Trinity".

Then I adore my Copco enameled cast iron; carbon steel Sabatier knives; Dexter Russell utensils; Vollrath utensils, basins in all sizes [which I like better than bowls], and aluminum clad stock pots in all sizes; my old maple 36 inch square butcher block table; and my 36 by 52 inch marble table top which I use for pastry.

Nothing in my kitchen looks shiny new and most were bought for pennies on the dollar, but everything is heavy duty, durable, and dependable.

[Big Daddy's House]

Heavy duty use, durability and dependability are mainly what you're looking for when you want to buy ANY food prep appliance.

I'm now seeking to get a commecial or industria-typel vacuum sealer.

FoodSaver machines are no good. They all wimp out too damn prematurely!!

[samue1eb]

Having the right equipment definately makes things a lot easier in the kitchen. I am in need of a food processor, never have had one, which hasn't hinder me in some recipes, like creating a pie crust. Quality is important too you don't to keep having to replace something. Don't always need top of the line but not the cheap stuff.

[Starliteny]

Wow, I have nothing compared to what you guys have!

[Whoopie Pie]

I enjoy getting most gadgets and baking pans at restaurant supply, not only are they durable, but usually cost about the same and sometimes cheaper than department stores. I have a habit of breaking whisks, I just wear them out, untill..... I found the Vollrath wisks at the restaurant supply, these things are built like a tank. And most are under $10
http://www.thebachelorskitchen.com/images/prod/vollrath12piano_web.jpg

Baking sheets are often upwards of $20 for decent ones in the department stores, but at restaurant supply, they were $5 for the 1/2 sheet size.

If there is a gadget that I need and I will not be using it much, then I will buy a cheap one. But usually I will buy the best quality that I can afford.

I love my Samsung range, Kitchen aid mixer, cuisinart immersion blender and my Zyliss Susi garlic press (never thought I would like a garlic press, all previous ones were so bad!).

[Big Daddy's House]

I just got a larger Waring Pro Deep Fryer. Gave the smaller one to a friend up the street.

Took back two broken FoodSaver units to the BB&B store. On the older one, I could only get a merchandise credit, so that's how I got it. Haven't used it yet.

And here it is!

[Leolady]

Another member who appreciates the quality of Vollrath utensils!

[Big Daddy's House]

I also have some Vollrath utensils as well. Two cooking spoones, slotted and solid.

Plus two different size roasting / baking pans, small & large, plut a monster 17-qt. Stockpot. All are stainless steel.

[Leolady]

I also have some Vollrath utensils as well. Two cooking spoones, slotted and solid.

Plus two different size roasting / baking pans, small & large, plut a monster 17-qt. Stockpot. All are stainless steel.

I always recommend the Vollrath aluminum clad stockpots and double boilers. They come in every size from 11 qt up to 38 qts. They are great quality for a reasonable price.

I bought mine used from a metal salvage yard I used to frequent for literally pennies on the dollar. I seem to remember buying two 38qt stockpots in perfect condition one day for $9 each. I was able to outfit 3 church kitchens at that salvage yard.

[Big Daddy's House]

My Vollrath Stockpot DOES have an aluminum clad bottom.

I bought it in the early fall of '83 at what was known back then as Jordan Marsh. It's a little over 26 years old now, and it still cooks well like it did even back then!

I mainly use it to make beef stock from roasted beef bones and soups.

[Jojo00]

I have lots of Pampered Chef products. I started buying when I was young and now I finally get to use them all. I buy a little at a time when I can afford them and I even became a consultant for them at one point. I also have the kitchen aid mixer which I love and cannot live without now!

[Whoopie Pie]

I also love Vollrath dishers, I have a #30(black handle) #24(red handle) and a #8(gray handle) and I use them all.