• Welcome to Phoenix Rising!

    Created in 2008, Phoenix Rising is the largest and oldest forum dedicated to furthering the understanding of and finding treatments for complex chronic illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia (FM), long COVID, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and allied diseases.

    To become a member, simply click the Register button at the top right.

What kitchen appliances are on your countertop?

Strawberry

Senior Member
Messages
2,107
Location
Seattle, WA USA
This is an extension of my last thread, on soups for easy cooking. I'm trying TRYING to get cooking more and less reliant on microwave meals on weekends. So I got the thought that maybe if I could clean my kitchen counters completely off and put some appliances (like maybe my blender and/or food processor) that maybe it would make prep easier and quicker.

Is there something that sits on your counter top that makes your life much easier for cooking?

(this thread idea was created by my own failure. I made my favorite soup this weekend, but couldn't slice the aromatics for the broth - galangal, lime leaves, and lemon grass. I'd make this soup more often if I could pre slice the galangal then freeze in batches. But I want to hear other's ideas, and hopefully share ideas that will help more than me)
 

Sushi

Moderation Resource Albuquerque
Messages
19,935
Location
Albuquerque
Is there something that sits on your counter top that makes your life much easier for cooking?
An InstantPot. I pace the prep, toss it all in the pot, and after about 20 minutes cook time (using the pressure cook feature) I have 6-8 servings that I can freeze. As far as counter space though, it has to be used in a place where the escaping steam won’t cause damage. I move it to an island when I use it.
 

Rufous McKinney

Senior Member
Messages
13,251
My friend stopped by, and noticed we use a swiss army knife to open cans, and butter is still in the wrapper.

She buys us a huge electric can openner and huge glass butter dish. So now that has to live on the countertop.
 

Strawberry

Senior Member
Messages
2,107
Location
Seattle, WA USA
@Sushi Yeah, I've thought about putting my Instant Pot on the counter. I rarely use it! But I find most soups cook just as quick on the stove top. And unfortunately, my island doesn't have an outlet. So I just turn it until the vent just misses my cabinets. Thankfully I really don't care (original 1950s kitchen.... )

we use a swiss army knife to open cans

:rofl:
 

Rebeccare

Moose Enthusiast
Messages
9,064
Location
Massachusetts
I have a chopper, similar to this one (I'm not 100% sure the brand ours is); you just put the vegetable on it, press down, and it's diced for you! You have to be careful while washing the blades because they're sharp, but you can also put them in the dishwasher. There are some models that also have inserts that allow you to use the contraption as a mandolin, but I find I get more out of breath using a mandolin than simply slicing with a knife.
 
Last edited:

Rufous McKinney

Senior Member
Messages
13,251
I like that! Standing and chopping is one of the hardest things in cooking.

We tried Food in a Box...my daughter signed us up. Its sure challenging. Because- well following the recipe is cognitvely difficult... and even when I chose a meal, I chose wrong.

Why- did they say to put a large pan of water in the oven, boil that, and cook your rice in the oven? I then could not roast the peppers. And the peppers, described as mild- weren't mild and so: I could not tolerate them.

I don't use the Mexican spice full of cumin (cumin might cure this!)...I use this other one..as I don't want to smell cumin. Or vinegar.

My oven- stupid digital stuff. Why can't it just have two dials? Why Why? so its shuts off, the timer is lame, the clock is hiding..

Next I burn things.

And you sometimes need: specialised dishes and I have a thrift store replaced kitchen. I don't shop.

It does generate some creativity however. You've been shipped ingredients, you cannot necessarily eat, or I modify it- I don't eat the salad, saute the vegies instead.

Then the dishes. Then the husband yelling about the kitchen, the dishes, the burnt stuff in the pan, And I can't clean the kitchen..very well, like the floor.

:sluggish::yuck::xeyes::pem:
 

Rufous McKinney

Senior Member
Messages
13,251
This doesn't excite me near as much as the onion chopper, but I might get it to try that soup!

this suddenly reminds me my moms Antiquities Vintage nut chopper- burnt up too. DANG. I loved that thing. Glass jar, little lump of wood in the bottom dull blades. Red knob. Very fun.
 

Strawberry

Senior Member
Messages
2,107
Location
Seattle, WA USA
Oh and ps dishes is my next biggest complaint that I need to figure out. I don't have a dishwasher, and I have crap laying around from weeks ago. As well as I have started using plastic cups because I'm dropping (and breaking) my "unbreakable" glasses........ I am contemplating one of those countertop dishwashers. Then I'd just have to wash the kettles. I don't want to switch to paper and plastic and throw away, but I might.
 

Rufous McKinney

Senior Member
Messages
13,251
Did you watch the customer video?

No, as I quicklly blinded myself laughing...at such a complex thingy necessary to do: such a thing as peel.

Think about the design of the classic Potatoe Peeler...its like Nobel Prize winning!

(I'll go back and watch the video have to see it now)
 

Rufous McKinney

Senior Member
Messages
13,251
Did you watch the customer video?

failed to locate video- but I pretended the 5 photos run together- and pretended THAT was a movie.N

gee- you push and then you pull.

Now we need the big piece of equipment to peel the pear. (so far this year, one inedible pear).
 

Strawberry

Senior Member
Messages
2,107
Location
Seattle, WA USA
The video is towards the bottom, just above the "Customer Questions and answers" section. 1st on the left is a customer uploaded video, all the others are for unrelated products. So if you get to the reviews, you went too far!