Surprisingly loved appliances

[Anonymous No.9143936]

Was there an appliance or gadget you got, that surprised you with how useful it was?

Pic related. I bought an extra-large electric griddle for cheap.
Thought it would mainly be for breakfasts, but it ended up being fantastic for food prep, since I can grill huge batches of meat in minutes.

[Anonymous No.9143962]

I've always wanted a small griddle but never had the counter space.

Two items I have been using in ways I didn't originally think of at the time are my ceramic grater and boston shaker. Tend to use my ceramic grater for not only ginger and garlic but other foods such as tomatoes. Surprisingly handy.

Also bartend so I am used to adding eggs to drinks. Now I use my shaker at home to make a quick batter or just a basic egg mixture. Only downside is needing to keep a solid grip on any batters so it doesn't pop open from the yeast.

[Anonymous No.9144003]

>>9143936
I got a mortar and pestle as a gift and gave it a go. I'm surprised by how much I prefer it over grinders. Yes it's more work but you can control the consistency which I really appreciate.

Plus bitches think it's fancy.

[Anonymous No.9144079]

>>9143962
They're not as good but you can use these on your stove.

[Anonymous No.9144107]

>>9143962
>I've always wanted a small griddle but never had the counter space.

The one I bought is a 'Presto 22 Inch with removable handles'.

I usually cook with it resting on my stove top, I'll use my counter only if I need to use a stove element at the same time.

For storage, you can pop off the temperature control bit, and the handles. I'll then lean the main griddle pan sideways in a cupboard, so it doesn't require much storage space.

[Anonymous No.9144151]

I'd post my blender, but I wasn't surprised. I spent $400 because I already knew how useful it would be.

The air popper I got for roasting coffee also pops corn pretty well.

[Anonymous No.9144303]

>>9144151
I received a $300 Breville blender as a gift less than 2 years ago, and I'm somewhat disappointed with it.

The chrome finish is chipping off of the base, and food constantly gunks up the rubber ring and around the blade insert.

The 'Tritan' plastic jug used to be clear as glass, but it now looks constantly grimy, even after a thorough hand-wash.

It still functions well, but it looks like crap on my counter.

[Anonymous No.9144323]

I got a griddle too for Christmas 2015. Thing is fucking great, I use it for everything.

[Anonymous No.9144324]

>>9144303
If you want something that isn't shit, get a Vitamix, Blendtec, or part-Chinese (pitcher is U.S. and blade is Japan) clone like a CleanBlend. Blendtec's blade assemblies eventually leak bearing lubricant out the bottom, but after the warranty expires you can get third party pitchers with replaceable blade assemblies. Most bearings can run pretty dry for a long time.

[Anonymous No.9144334]

>>9144079
Bretty good idea senpai

[Anonymous No.9145218]

Rice cooker

[Anonymous No.9145235]

I never would have thought I'd get so much use out of this but damn do I love my deep frying pan. I make a lot of stewed/saucy recipes and being able to brown meat and veg in one pan without having to transfer them to a pot is a goddamn lifesaver

[Anonymous No.9145238]

>>9143936
I use my panini grill at least once a day, it makes it easier to make a grilled cheese than to boil water and make ramen, so it gets used often to make the one or two zero-effort meals a busy day requires

[Anonymous No.9145243]

i just got a 60$ ninja blender from costco
i hope its good i got it for protein shakes

[Anonymous No.9145353]

>>9143936
i want a decent griddle, which should I get?

[Anonymous No.9145363]

Food processors changed my life.

[Anonymous No.9145384]

I know it's goofy infomercial tier but I love my damn red copper pan, it's so easy to clean and gets hot as a motherfucker without making my sauces stick.

[Anonymous No.9145436]

>>9143936

this changed my life

[Anonymous No.9145454]

>>9145436
I still occasionally watch the magic bullet infomercial, it's almost Billy Mays tier

[Anonymous No.9145527]

>>9143936
Agree with OP. I have a flat piece of cast iron that fits over two burners and I couldn't live without it. What's that? You want 75 pancakes in 15 minutes? Done with 3 minutes to spare.

>>9145384
I am interested in this. I, unlike many people here, love teflon and think it has some very PERFECT applications, such as frying an egg or sauteeing some onions... These have always interested me.

[Anonymous No.9145536]

>>9145384
I actually have one of these fucking things and I can vouch for this anon.

[Anonymous No.9145537]

a knife

no more pulling things apart with my fingers or karate chopping them

such a life saver

[Anonymous No.9145572]

>>9145353
OP here.

The Presto 22 Inch that I picked up is fairly good for the $50 price, although after heavy use for almost two years, the non-stick coating has flaked off in a few tiny places.

My next griddle will probably be a material like stainless steel, or there's the Zojirushi griddles that are ceramic:
https://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-EA-DCC10-Gourmet-Sizzler-Electric/dp/B00G2TVNCC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499567383&sr=8-1&keywords=Zojirushi+griddle

[Anonymous No.9145574]

I bought a griddle with a reversible plate (grill/flat)
Absolutely fucking worthless. Cooks everything unevenly as shit and takes ages to heat up.

[Anonymous No.9145579]

>>9145574
This fucking thing.
Absolutely useless.

[Anonymous No.9145586]

foreman grills are GOAT

[Anonymous No.9146644]

>>9145586

[Anonymous No.9146655]

>>9146644
>normie
Clearly you don't know what that means.
Fucking idiot.

[Anonymous No.9146659]

>>9143936
my dad bought a griddle but rarely uses it. i've been thinking of using it to make burgers on.

[Anonymous No.9146676]

>>9145579
>hamilton beach

well yeah spend more than $20 on shit if you expect it to do anything.

[Anonymous No.9147407]

Does anyone have a pressure cooker? I was thinking of picking one up, but I don't know if it's worth it.

[Anonymous No.9147825]

This immersion blender

Obvious use to blend soaps like cream of broccoli which makes it worth it all on it's own.

I also use it to make super speedy hollandaise sauce, mayo, whipped cream, all types of sauces, smoothies.

Comes in handy pretty often, the whisk and food chopper attachments are also nice.

Whole set was a little over $40, but you can get them cheaper.

[Anonymous No.9147841]

>>9147825
Oh - used it last week to make guac and refried beans for nachos :D

[Anonymous No.9148769]

>>9145454
I remember watching it with a bunch of my cousins. It's pretty comfy

[Anonymous No.9149880]

>>9143936
That little beauty got me through college living in the dorms. Working in the cafeteria I'd miss dinner by working but raided the fuck out of the walk ins.

[Anonymous No.9150014]

>>9144079

I second this, I have one, it's the shit. I love it deeply.

[Anonymous No.9151603]

>>9145537
Next time you've got some extra money get a spoon. I got a fork first and it makes ice cream or soup a nightmare.

[Anonymous No.9151888]

>>9145586
This. I always grill shitty hotdogs with mine.