Most expensive tool/item in your kitchen

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cook a LOT and entertain a lot. Large groups of people too. I could become a caterer if I wanted.

I use every burner I have (4), my oven, my microwave, crockpots, outdoors grill and my patio bayou burner - year long.

DH asked me if I needed a kitchen remodel and I declined. I have a sunny and bright kitchen and medium expensive tools and appliances. I think it is more important that I am comfortable in my kitchen and that I am actually doing the cooking - making hearty meals and trying out new recipes and entertaining, instead of having a high-end kitchen and fixing just a meager sandwich for my family and not entertaining. What is the point?

You should copy and save this response for the next time there's a thread entitled "are expensive appliances worth it?"

For now...answer the question-- Most expensive appliance?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:sous vide machine. restaurant quality meals with little work virtually every day.

which one do you have? i've been thinking about getting one...

[Anonymous]

Nesspresso machine.

[Anonymous]

Double oven.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:sous vide machine. restaurant quality meals with little work virtually every day.

which one do you have? i've been thinking about getting one...

Not the PP, but I have an anova circulator that I like a lot. I am really not a fan of the sous vide pro and the other ones where the water bath and assembly are built in, especially when they don't have a circulator element.

[Anonymous]

My favorite "expensive" purchase were several non-stick Le Crueset frying pans. They are thick and heavy and work wonderfully. Not your normal Le Crueset cast iron stuff -- but I love them and they make me happy every time I use them.

[Anonymous]

Probably have to go with the Wolf warming drawer. Not sure the built in stuff should really count but since a warming drawer is totally optional I will use that. Love it and we use it a surprising amount.

Also have a pretty full set of LeCreuset and All Clad which we use daily, but no single piece was that expensive. Bought most of the all clad as a set but bought the Le Creuset over multiple years (before they started changing the colors all the time - which is super annoying).

[Anonymous]

Set of knives for me. I had never used good knives till I started dating my now DH. Now I am spoiled--it drives me crazy to cook at my parents' house and use the dull knives my mom has had since I was a kid...

My Cuisinart food processor is a close second. Don't use it nearly as often as the knives, but it's great to have when I need it. Only downside is having to wash all those pieces.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Knives set? KA mixer? Le Creuset?

Also, is it worth the $?

My brother got me a $300 pressure cooker. I think the $100 model would have been fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Set of knives for me. I had never used good knives till I started dating my now DH. Now I am spoiled--it drives me crazy to cook at my parents' house and use the dull knives my mom has had since I was a kid...

My Cuisinart food processor is a close second. Don't use it nearly as often as the knives, but it's great to have when I need it. Only downside is having to wash all those pieces.

I could've written this word for word.

The funny thing is, my mom gave me both the knife set and the cuisinart, but her own equipment is ancient (had it since I was a kid) and was cheap to begin with. Every time I visit, I tell her "get those knives you got me! They're amazing!" and she says "I'm glad you like them; maybe I should..." and then she doesn't, and then we have the same conversation the next Christmas.

One day, I'm just going to bite the bullet and spend the $500 or whatever to get her a set of great knives. And I'll be doing it for ME.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vitamix, le creuset and thermapen. All worth the $$.

This exact list and same exact sentiment. Though the thermapen is the cheapest and the one I'd be most loathe to give up.

[Anonymous]

My $20 digital thermometer works fine. What makes the $200 thermapen different?

[Anonymous]

1. Nespresso - we have gotten a lot of value out of it over the years, but we don't use it so much anymore as we have switched to mainly pour-overs and we don't drink milk in our coffee anymore, so I probably wouldn't get another one and I don't love how much space it takes in our kitchen. But we have shared some good times, and I still like a quick shot every once in a while.

2. Vitamix - I got it a couple months ago, and I am completely in love. I use it constantly and have convinced several other people that it is a necessity.

3. Kitchen Aid Mixer - It was certainly worth it, but as a long term investment. I don't bake often (maybe a cake every 3 months), but when I do, I don't know where I would be without it. Over the past 15 years, I have gotten a lot of use out of it. Not much out of the attachments that I purchased.

4. Le Creuset Dutch Oven - Love it. Love it. I have used it at least once a week every single week for the last decade and no other pot that I have holds a candle to it. Plus it is beautiful.

5. A couple global knives - I love my global chefs knife, and I travel with it whenever I am going by car. Cooking doesn't seem the same without it, and dull knives or knives that don't fit me are dangerous. The paring knife is fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Set of knives for me. I had never used good knives till I started dating my now DH. Now I am spoiled--it drives me crazy to cook at my parents' house and use the dull knives my mom has had since I was a kid...

My Cuisinart food processor is a close second. Don't use it nearly as often as the knives, but it's great to have when I need it. Only downside is having to wash all those pieces.

I could've written this word for word.

The funny thing is, my mom gave me both the knife set and the cuisinart, but her own equipment is ancient (had it since I was a kid) and was cheap to begin with. Every time I visit, I tell her "get those knives you got me! They're amazing!" and she says "I'm glad you like them; maybe I should..." and then she doesn't, and then we have the same conversation the next Christmas.

One day, I'm just going to bite the bullet and spend the $500 or whatever to get her a set of great knives. And I'll be doing it for ME.

Just get her a couple great knives. There is no need to wait until you can get her the set. A great chefs knife and a great paring knife will change her life forever.

[Anonymous]

Zojirushi rice cooker: We eat rice several times a week and this cooks it perfectly

KA mixer

Le Creuset dutch ovens

Wusthoff knives

Generally, I love kitchen gadgets and am always looking for new ones to try!