form over function

catciao · #1 03-06-2002, 06:00 AM

Okay, I admit it. I can't walk into the kitchen gadget area or Williams Sonoma without my heart starting to palpitate a bit. I absolutely have a compulsion/ obsession thing going on here. But after about 10 minutes I calm myself down and the responsible little guy in my head starts whispering "You don't really need that fancy-slicer, that's why you bought great knives; or "you don't need that $15 garlic press, just smash it with your chef's knive the old fashion way". Does anyone else have my illness? My questions to you are where do you draw the line? Is there a perfect collection of tools that anyone has found or are you having a hard time opening your kitchen drawers that are stuffed full of gadgets? What is the best kitchen tool that you have come across that performed as you expected and you use often? When do you buy a gadget if you know you have other tools that can perform the same function? I'm kinda a neat-freak in my kitchen, which also happens to be not very big, so less is more to me, which is unfortunate. I think I need a bigger kitchen!!

Svadhisthana · #2 03-06-2002, 08:34 AM

I too suffer from your disease. Stores, catalogues, cooking.com, etc. all tempt me on a regular basis. I make myself wait and only if I can justify the purchase somehow then I buy it. I'm also a neat freak and am big on NOT having two of something. I find that if I can purchase an object that has more than one function it can more easily integrate into my kitchen.

KyleW · #3 03-06-2002, 09:10 AM

I used to suffer from this disease. My EasyBake Kitchen has cured me

I don't have the luxury of owning any one trick ponies. I am now at a zero sum level. For everything I out into my kitchen, something has to come out. As an example of my former illness, I have 3 things designed for garlic; a wooden mushroom shaped thing, a garlic press and one of those flexible rubber tubes. I use my chef's knife

I also have a cherry pitter!

kuan · #4 03-06-2002, 10:38 AM

Depends on what you mean by gadget. Most of mine are specially shaped moulds and shapes. For example, I have 40 mini tart pans. Ridiculous, but I use them at least once a year

. I also like purchasing unique shaped dishes in a variety of sizes. I tend to stay away from supposed labor saving devices like those peddled by pampered chef. They're hard to clean anyways.

I use my gadgets a lot, especially since I've had more time to concentrate on things I like to do rather than pander to the masses. I'm doing a bunch of Chocolate Easter eggs right now actually. I have six egg sizes and four bunny sizes. It's worth it if you use it

Kuan

mudbug · #5 03-06-2002, 10:56 AM

Depending on the stage of your "disease" I believe storage space can have a definite impact.

shroomgirl · #6 03-06-2002, 02:05 PM

Emersion blender, microplane grater and non-melting spatula....those are pretty wonderful gadets.
Unfortunately I have alot of space....2100sq ft and walk in basement and huge closet with storage shelves to hold shtuff....sets of plates,glasses, I'm really big into ramekins....wine racks, I too have decorating and tiny pastry molds....chocolate molds and sugar egg molds...guess it's that time again. A dear friend of mine has a restaurant supply house adn gives me incredible deals....that place makes me drool, shoot just thinking about it....

84RHONDA · #7 03-06-2002, 06:24 PM

Wow, i'm glad to see there are people in the same boat as me. Maybe we can have a support group. If we had a Williams Sonoma here, I'd probably file for bankruptcy in about a year. My biggest problem is I have an instant attraction to anything shiny and stainless steel

.

I am running out of room in my apt, my cupboards are filled with stuff. I'm proud to say that I don't own anything "useless" or anything thing from an infomercial

. (mind you I'm guilty of watching the Rocket chef and that **** Ronco rotisserie infomercial, over and over again).

I agree with Shroomgirl that a microplaner is one of the most useful gadgets out there. Love it for garlic, no need to bust out the fancy SS knives.

And I have not drawn the line as of yet. I love kitchen stuff for their ART appeal too. I adore my knive block, it's so contemporary looking and looks like a piece of art. The kitchen aid mixer is also a beautiful piece to have "set out" as an art piece, but it's also extremely useful. I'm eyeying an espresso machine right now, unfortunately, I think it happens to be the world's most expensive HOME USE espresso machine

.

I have an addiction what can i say. Oh well, better than having a car addiction, oh wait, i have one of them too. D'OH!

84RHONDA · #8 03-06-2002, 06:26 PM

How come there's little **** in front of RONCO?

I swear i didn't curse...honest.....

Suzanne · #9 03-06-2002, 08:12 PM

I already use it for cheese, and zesting, and horseradish, and chocolate, and just found out about using it for nutmeg. But, wow, that's a new use to me! Thank you, thank you, thank you! See, there's just no end to the usefulness of a GOOD piece of equipment.

84RHONDA · #10 03-06-2002, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Suzanne
for nutmeg. GOOD

Wouldn'y you kill your sharp edge if you use NUTMEG on your microplanar? I use a small nutmeg "cheese grater" for that.

Suzanne · #11 03-06-2002, 08:33 PM

Well, I haven't actually tried it, just read about it somewhere.

But I can never get enough scraped off when I use a supposed nutmeg grater, so I figure it's worth a try. Besides, microplanes aren't very expensive now, so even if I ruin mine, it's easily replaceable.

bouland · #12 03-06-2002, 09:31 PM

Microplanes are relatively new to the food service industry, but they've been around the woodworking industry for a long time. They were, I've been told, originally designed to be used as wood rasps.

Foodie Jeff · #13 03-07-2002, 05:39 AM

I know what you mean about the compulusion catciao. I have purchased a significant number of items in the past year or so, including Emile Henry baking dishes, All-Clad LTD cookware, Wusthof knives, etc. I don't know if there is a "perfect" collection of tools and gadgets, but based upon the way I cook, some of my favorite tools/gadgets are a stainless steel foodmill and the Microplate coarse and fine graters. My wife, who does not cook, loves to grate Parmigiano with the Microplane, and the foodmill works great for puréed soup, mashed potatoes, etc. I almost forgot about some others: the 4 cup fat separator, baguette pan, Le Creuset spatulas, Julia's Art of French Cooking, digital pocket thermometer, Polder thermometer/timer, Unicorn peppermill, Matfer mandolin...

Some things I don't have (yet): a pasta machine and immersion blender.

katbalou · #14 03-07-2002, 06:21 AM

my question is, have you gone over the line when you start collecting antique kitchen gadgets on top of the new ones? i think i reached maximum capacity on the new ones and now have things from the '20s and up. family heirlooms i guess, probably only other collectors understand and my kids will toss them when i'm gone.

Pete · #15 03-07-2002, 06:49 AM

I too suffer from such a disease. Unfortunately, my wife does also, so I have no help in the restraint department. Of all the tools that I have my favorites are: my emersion blender, my morter & pestle, my mini cuisinart, and my Benrinier mandoline. Though I would hate to give up any of my "toys". Of course this doesn't include my knives and cast iron skillet, or my set of Allclad, or my mini teflon cheesecake pans, or my mini teflon tart pans, or my popcorn popper, or....................