On Sep 27, 11:58 pm, (Judy Haffner) wrote:
> I'm not talking about the usual bigger appliances that are found in a
> kitchen, such as dish washer, microwave, refrigerator , stove, etc., but
> ones such as a electric can opener (for instance). Do you have some
> appliances that you use often and would be lost without?

If countertop real estate is the criterion, the most indispensible one
is the coffee grinder. I really should get a hand-cranked version as a
backup. The next hardest-to-get-along-without is the toaster.
Although, after years of camping I can make toast by holding a slice
of bread with wire tongs over a burner.

The coffeemaker can be replaced with water boiled on the stove, poured
into either a French press or a Chemex. And, although I would have to
read how to do it properly on the stove, I suppose we could do without
the rice cooker.

We seldom get out the (hand) mixer. The Osterizer sees a lot more use,
but it lives in a cabinet, as does the slow cooker/deep fryer (for
making stocks with the liner in, and Buffalo wings with the liner out)
And the Cuisinart we got as a present seems like so much junk to drag
out and then clean.

>
> I learned to cook with an electric skillet and mostly always have two on
> hand, which I use daily.

We have one in the garage for frying chicken or making Wiener
schnitzel, for which it is invaluable.

> I would VERY much miss my Kitchen Aid mixer, as
> I do a lot of baking, and would be lost without it too.

Depending on what we're doing, a wire whisk or wooden spoon
substitutes.

> I also have a
> hand portable mixer, which is handy for a quick mix and smaller
> quantities. My Cuisinart food processor is a Godsend. Also love our Bunn
> coffeemaker. I have other appliances I use periodically, such as a mini
> processor (for small jobs) and the can opener, deep fryer, waffle iron,
> and blender, which I would miss, but not to the same degree as other
> appliances.
>

My wife uses a mini chop or a spice grinder a couple of times a month,
each.