If you had to ditch three things

Cooking Discussions Cookware
143

You meant Marie Kondo, right?
I see that she’s now selling stuff to put your stuff in. Clever kitty-

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I collect and use vintage cast iron, but I once bought a CI bean pot that I have literally never used, and likely never will. So that’s first.

  1. cast iron bean pot
  2. multiple muffin tins (I never make muffins nor cupcakes)
  3. a Sanyo brand indoor electric grill-type thing (countertop.) what was i thinking/!
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145

I would gladly donate my tortilla press. For one, I discovered i don’t like the taste of masa harina {what do I do with the rest of the bag?} Tortillas should be simple to make but they are not. Also, store-bought torillas are inexpensive and good. Why torture myself?

Next to go would be my pizza stone. I’ve used it exactly once in the 15+ years since I bought it.

Then I have to admit I foolishly bought a Kitchen Aid food chopper. I’ve never used it and probably never will. Truth be told, I LIKE chopping vegetables. What was I thinking?

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146

Funny you should mention pesto, as I might have made it with a mortar and pestle rather than food processor, though both would undoubtedly produce delicious products, if not different in texture and maybe subtly in taste.

Please advise where you obtain sufficiently large amounts of basil for pesto? The markets I frequent sell it in too little of a quantity to make a big enough batch. Am I ignorant of some wholesale-sized packs of fresh basil, or can it be found cheaply at 99 Ranch Asian markets?

For now I buy the kirkland brand basil pesto at costco, which is pretty good, but lesser than the fresh version.

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+1 on the Fondue maker, though I haven’t given up mine. I used it once and god lumpy cheese sauce and vowed to try again but haven’t yet. It’s one of those cuisinart electric ones that’s supposed to be so easy.

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Ooh, the stand mixer excels at whipped cream too! As does the hand held mixer for sure.

A stick blender is also good for whipped cream.

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I did. @Aubergine’s well ahead of you & seems to be a fan, as they corrected me already.

Never read her silly book is probz why I misspelled her name. Mea maxima culpa :wink:

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150

I buy it at Restaurant Depot - it comes in 1 pound boxes. RD is not open to the public, but membership is free if you qualify (or find a friend with a membership).

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151

I have an iSi for making whipped cream products and rely on my hand mixer’s whipping attachment for whipping egg whites for chiles rellenos. Sometimes I get the grandies to whip cream with the antique whipper.

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Another option is Trader Joe’s, assuming you live near one of their stores. They usually sell plastic clamshells of organic (and non-organic) basil from Mexico for quite decent prices.

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Yes, and TJ’s also sells live basil plants that can be replanted and/or shorn as needed.

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I aspire to become better organized. I’m much more careful about buying stuff, no room for more kitchen items!

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I buy those clamshells of organic basil, snip the ends, place in a cup of water on my counter. At least, my basil LASTS! Per Kenji on Serious Eats.

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I harvested a couple of cups from the planter on my porch. If you keep them watered thyme and basil seem to thrive in the heat.

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157

Or a balloon whisk!

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I do not have a big enough mortar and pestle.

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I have a round cast iron griddle given to me years ago that’s the perfect thing for warming corn tortillas for tacos or griled cheese sandwiches. I love that thing.

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160

An immersion heater? We used to have one at work to warm up photo chemicals that needed to be at 100 degrees (fahrenheit) to use. It was a beast. But that was a long time ago.

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Okay, I’m back with my ditching thoughts.

  1. Slow cookerS – bought enthusiastically on deep discount one Black Friday (three – two 1.5qt and a 4qt)

  2. Grill pan (LC) – small, square, also on sale; seemed like a great idea but is actually not

  3. Baking stuff – bunch of things bought before I baked much, that don’t match what I actually bake now

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162

Yeah. An immersion heater. Most immersion heaters look like this and is based on electricity directly heating up an element in the heater.
image

These Miito and Heatle is based on induction heating. The base is the induction plate, and the rod is nothing more than a metal to be heat up.

Ironically, I don’t think Miito and Heatle will work well for a metal glass / containers.

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