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As a disclaimer, I will admit to dining out far too much but I've always been that way from a teen.  From my teens, I was spoiled being allowed to eat out all the time and through the years, although my wife is a GREAT cook, I've chosen to dine out and as finances will allow it I still like the variety of dining out based on my specific mood at the time.    That said I also enjoy cooking at home and through the years have acquired various different Kitchen Gadgets or appliances.  You, at times, see these gadgets advertised on a TV promo ad and often you wonder ... Is it worth it? or Does it really work?

Sometimes the devices look far better and are made out to be better than they really are.  Below are some of the devices that I really like and use quite often, in the Kitchen, when I do eat at home.

  • T-Fal Deep Fryer FR8000 model with oil filtration and EZ Clean slide out oil container.  I like how you flip a switch and the oil is filtered and drops into the oil container and then you can remove the deep fryer container to clean.  T-Fal deep fryer link.  TFal deep fryer at Sam's Club.  Emeril's model similar in style and function to the TFal model.
  • NuWave Triple Combo oven NuWave Oven link. Of all the countertop ovens I really like this one.  We purchased the one with the extender attachment but usually, the attachment isn't needed.  We've used this very often and have cooked our Thanksgiving Turkey and it does a great job.  It's actually one of the best purchases I've made and we use it as often as any of our Kitchen Gadgets.  
  • Cuisinart GR-4N Griddler is great for Paninis and other grilling needs.  It has reversible plates for a flat or ribbed cooking surface.   Like the T-Fal Optigrill, below, you don't have to turn the food for it cooks from both the top and bottom sides.  The cooking surface of this device is horizontal/flat whereas that of the Optigrill below is slanted so that grease/oil being released from food being cooked runs down and off the surface and into a tray that is there to catch the oil.  The Cuisinart doesn't have the oil catch tray.
  • T-Fal Optigrill - This grill has not so stellar reviews and if you went by the reviews T-Fal OptiGrill.  I really have liked this grill and find it works pretty well except if you go strictly by the colored light indicator you will overcook your steak.  This device, like the NuWave oven, does great for cooking things directly from frozen to serve at the table.  
  • Ninja Foodi - Instant Pot - Ninja Foodi $$$ while expensive the Ninja Foodi really does take the place of several other appliances and is an electric pressure cooker, like the Instant Pot, as well as a slow cooker (Crock Pot), but the best thing about the Ninja Foodi, over the Instant Pot, is that with the Tendercrisp option you can actually broil steaks/food as well as air fry or brown foods.  Unlike many devices advertised on TV, this one actually does what it says it will do and you can use recipes from Instant Pot and from Air Fryers as well.  It's expensive but I got a great deal on one so that's why I gave it a try.  If you are just getting an Electric Pressure Cooker or multi-cooker then I would recommend Instant Pot the which comes in small (3qt), Medium (6 qt.) or Large (8 qt).    
  • One of the lesser expensive items I wouldn't be without and the oldest gadget I have is the  Borner V-Slicer which is a Mandoline type device but whereas there are metal and plastic ones, this one is plastic, it's made in Germany and has some wicked sharp steel blade.  I've been using the same one for about 25 years now and it seems just as sharp as when I purchased it.  I have a second one that is still in the box but when or it I'll need to start using it will be determined by how long the initial/first one I purchased last.  Since I made my initial purchase, all those years ago, Swissmar has purchased Borner products but it seems the quality is still the same and this one really works for slicing and dicing fruits and vegetables when you need it.  For slicing tomatoes, potatoes or onions you can't beat it but it does more.

There are more items but these are the ones that stick out, to me, as the ones I like the best and use the most.  

Be as the Bereans ( Acts 17:11 )

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Kraven posted:
What about the Hot Air system, some people love it, I guess it
has it's place somewhere in the kitchen--

While I haven't experienced it yet, it is tempting and I am sure sooner or later one will be in the kitchen. Meanwhile, I have purchased a copper coated pan with a basket that suspends the food off of the pan, I think this pretty much serves the same purpose of the air fryer.

Kraven posted:
3 or 4 days ago I ordered one from QVC so I'll find out soon if
I'm going to like it--

Power Air Fryer Elite 5.5-qt 6-in-1 Digital Air Fryer w/ Pan

I have the very one and I think you'll like it.  One suggestion I would make though is it will come with a pump up oil bottle and it's recommended that you spray oil on various things you air fry to actually make them taste more like the deep-fried counterpart.  Instead of the pump up oil bottle, that came with mine, I purchased (at Publix) a can of olive oil spray.  It sprays much better and uniform than the pump bottle.

I really like the air fryer and although it isn't exactly the same as deep fried it is very good and quite close.  Cleanup though beats deep frying hands down though.  I didn't mention it above because the Ninja Foodi does air frying as well and while I use the Power Air Fryer, as it was in my Kitchen first, it's just easier to keep one item on the counter rather than taking one down to bring another out.   While the Power Air Fryer makes a larger model that has several trays I like the original one because it works just as well, just can't put as much in it, but the clean up is far easier with the original.

Power Air Fryer XL 5.3 QT Black Deluxe - Turbo Cyclonic Airfryer Include Air-Fryer Accessories Kit With Baking Insert, Pizza Pan And Cooking Tongs

Last edited by gbrk
unclegus posted:

The toaster is probably the most used, along with the steamer, crock pot and food processor. Since I do a lot of barbecue, one that is coming around a lot is the bear claws. 

I got the "Bear Claws" recently from Amazon.com and I really like them.  While there were others, that were less money and had good feedback ratings, I chose these The Original Bear Paws Shredder Claws - Easily Lift, Handle, Shred, and Cut Meats - Essential for BBQ Pros - Ultra-Sharp Blades and Heat Resistant Nylon.   

Because they were made in the USA and not China like a lot of the others.  They are really sharp, lightweight, but you have to be careful of those points because they are sharp and work great.

Last edited by gbrk

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