I love experimenting in my kitchen and welcome any assistance from funky gadgets. I roam the aisles of cooking supply shops and my kitchen drawers and shelves are stuffed with my finds. Sometimes I can’t actually locate what I need, but there are a few things I bought recently that are still on the top of the pile or reside on my kitchen counter.
The Sous Vide Supreme
Sous vide cooking technique has long been available in restaurants, but the price tag and counter space they required had generally meant that home cooks would didn’t have access to the method. Now that Eades Appliances has brought us the Sous Vide Supreme, it’s a cinch for anyone who can push a few buttons.
Sous vide literally means cooking under vacuum, but its best described as cooking foods in air-tight pouches and submerging them in a water bath for the duration. Cooking times and temperature vary with different items.
What’s the point? Chef Heston Blumenthal says it best. “By vacuum-sealing the food and maintaining low temperatures, you lock in healthy nutrients, flavour and moisture. The taste and texture you get from cooking sous vide is simply spectacular”. “It’s going to revolutionize home cooking in ways that the microwave didn’t even dream of doing.”
It’s a no-fail technique that takes the guessing out of cooking meats. Tougher cuts come out tender as the protein breaks down in the cooking process. There’s also the advantage of holding the food at a given temperature without overcooking, so you can actually time your meals more precisely and cater to those late arriving guests.
http://www.sousvidesupreme.com/ – $450 online only (soon to arrive to Vancouver)
Serious Eats covers the technique with Blumenthal on their site, http://www.seriouseats.com/2009/10/understanding-sous-vide-cooking-heston-blumenthal.html
Cuisinart Pure Indulgence Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream and Sorbet Maker
Those who have toiled over a batch of ice cream using a hand cranker will love this gadget. Simply mix and pour and 25 minutes later you have a batch of healthy yogurt or decadent ice cream. It’s also small enough not to take over your entire kitchen counter and priced at $80 it won’t break the bank either.
http://www.cuisinart.ca/cuisinart_product.php?item_id=143&product_id=127&cat_id=27
Oxo Kitchen Scale
Oxo has stepped up to the plate (or scale in this case) and brought us a useful measuring device for large plates or bowls. The pull out display prevents shadowing from oversize containers. AND, you don’t need math skills to subtract the container weight from the measurement; you can press the zero button to offset the weight. The platform can be removed for cleaning, but hand-washing is recommended for all parts. http://www.oxo.com/xxoxo_ibeCCtpOXOPrdDtl.jsp?section=10057&item=63529&minisite=10024&respid=53057
T-fal Actifry
The main advantage of the T-fal Actifry is that you can cook a batch of fries with very little oil, but I like it for creating risottos without hovering over the stove to stir the rice every three seconds. The rotating arm does all the work and your stop top is freed for other dishes.
http://www.tefal.com/All+Products/Cooking+appliances/Fryers/Products/ActiFry/Actifry.htm
Kuhn Rikon Juli Peeler
Julienning veggies and fruit can be a timely endeavour, but not with this little peeler. It quickly thinly slices your cucumbers, apples, and other crunchy fruits and vegetables, into an attractive presentation for salads, stir fries or dessert topping.
Progressive Silicone Scraper
When baking and in need to transfer ingredients from one bowl to the next, this scraper gets every last drop, even from strange angels. No more waste, but your children may complain as they can’t lick the bowl clean. There’s always the egg beater!
http://www.progressiveintl.com/
Presto Bucket!
Very little storage space, but in need of an ice or wash bucket? The Presto Bucket folds flat and opens into a watertight 28 gallon bucket. Colourful and handy.
Great Gadget Sources
Gourmet Warehouse
Cookshop
Ming Wo
The Kitchen Corner
Well Seasoned – Langley
Sur La Table – Seattle
I want a Sous Vide Supreme to play with just for a few days 🙂