DrXmus Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 It figures that there'd be a NASA KSC gift shop at the Orlando airport. The mitts run a little on the small side, fwiw. My newest object(s) of desire: Very cool, but I'd be more likely to get a set if they cut tomatoes with ease after slicing through an aluminum can. Ginsu, watch out. The Light Saber Knife is coming after you!! [Actually, I guess the number of lawsuits they'd have to deal with after people sliced off a finger or three would make the product prohibitively expensive. Too bad.] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhone1998 Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 The perfect brunoise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrXmus Posted April 24, 2011 Share Posted April 24, 2011 I just bought a Taylor Outdoor Digital Thermometer at Lowe's in Chantilly. It was only $20 and gives my $80 Thermopen a run for its money. It's got a very small tip, although it's a little bigger than a Thermopen's, and it reads accurately at the very last 1/4" of the probe. The temperature reading is stable after about 1 second, so it's slightly slower than the Thermopen, but when does half a second really matter? It's got some pre-programmed temperature settings for meats with lights that tell you if you're below, near or above your target temp, but it does show the current temp in F or C which is the primary purpose, right? The programmed settings aren't on automatically, so it's not really an issue. Seriously, though, if you want meat at 160 and the temp is 150, do you really need a light to tell you the current temp is below your target? Well, if this is important to you, this little beauty will give you a blue light. When the temp is 163, it'll give you a red light. Thank the Lord for technology!!;-) For years now, I've been waiting for thermocouple probes to hit the mainstream and it's finally happened. For $20, this thing is a steal, I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sthitch Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 This would sure make road trips a bit easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhone1998 Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 I want one of these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ol_ironstomach Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 Wanted: Dead or Filleted...preferably with a side of 'slaw and some fried potatoes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lperry Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 I think I need one of these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoramargolis Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 I think I need one of these. Wow. I would have loved to find out about this when I was searching for a way to grind wet nixtamal to make fresh masa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcs Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 Must-Have Gadgets for the Kitchen? Think Again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arleneivana Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 I don't think I can live another day without a juicer. I need to juice all the things. Anyone have any recommendations? A friend offered to sell me her Breville but I've also heard good things about the Omega brand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lperry Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 I was lent an Omega VRT350, and just juiced some ginger. Very impressive. Tasty too. It almost takes the sting out of doing my Virginia taxes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunnyJohn Posted May 17, 2012 Share Posted May 17, 2012 For the person who already has everything Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KMango Posted May 17, 2012 Share Posted May 17, 2012 For the person who already has everything And one of these to initially fill the shaker.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunnyJohn Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 And one of these to initially fill the shaker.... GENIOUS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KMango Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 My Ideal Fridge *want* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lperry Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 For the toast voyeur. Such as myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoramargolis Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 I need to get one of these for J. He is constantly popping the toast up and then back down again because it isn't dark enough. He also burns things because he'll put in a delicate bread, like challah, and crank the darkness gauge up to 5 and walk away. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheezepowder Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 Portable watermelon fridge (I don't actually want one. ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ol_ironstomach Posted May 29, 2013 Share Posted May 29, 2013 I've been a fan of Bathsheba Grossman's mathematical sculptures for years, but this one actually provides a useful function: The Klein bottle opener Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Hersch Posted May 29, 2013 Share Posted May 29, 2013 That is quite possibly the coolest bottle-opener in history. I just can't bring myself to spend $72 on a bottle-opener. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldenticket Posted July 16, 2013 Share Posted July 16, 2013 After a particularly gruesome incident involving my finger and the edge of a classic Microplane grater, I really want one of the Elite series graters. Or maybe even the Four-sided box grater. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lperry Posted July 16, 2013 Share Posted July 16, 2013 Ow. I bought these for less than three Microplanes and gave away the wood holder. I love them, especially the little bumper for the bottom of the bowl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weezy Posted July 16, 2013 Share Posted July 16, 2013 If anyone is in the market for knives, great sale on a Shun Edo set on Woot today. Also somewhere in that section is a deal on Wusthof steak knives, a set of 4 for $70. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weezy Posted July 16, 2013 Share Posted July 16, 2013 After a particularly gruesome incident involving my finger and the edge of a classic Microplane grater, I really want one of the Elite series graters. Or maybe even the Four-sided box grater. Ouchy! I have one of the plain vanilla 4-sided box graters from when I first moved into my own place. I've tried various other things over the years. They get discarded and I go back to the old tried and true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodeats Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 Now that my neuro fuzzy is teetering on temperamental, and my sister said she wanted one of these, I decided that I would like one too. Except for the price... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ilaine Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 Surfing around on Amazon, looking for a bacon grease holder, which led me to a bacon press, which now I also want. But the cute one with the pig on top is nine inches in diameter and won't fit in Old Reliable, my ancient cast iron skillet of unknown provenance. So then I wandered far, looking at various cast iron skillets, only to realize that I have no idea what the diameter means when the vendor states the measurement. Is it the external diameter at the top of the pan? Because the busines end of the pan is the internal diameter at the bottom. Anybody know? Or do I need to go to the store with a tape measure? Also, anybody use a bacon press? How do you like it? Maybe a rectangular or square pan would be better for bacon, which is also rectangular and about 9 inches long. Am I right? And then I would probably want a rectangular bacon press, I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thistle Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 I have a bacon press (Camp Chef), & I don't remember ever using it, but I may, some day. I have a cast iron griddle that goes on the camp stove. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ilaine Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 The cool (well, not, not cool) thing that a bacon press appears to do is that it will get hot, which cooks the bacon from the top while it's cooking from the bottom. Some people say heat it in the skillet, which means that the skillet will be hot when you put in the bacon, which seems just wrong. Let the bacon come to room temperature and start it in a cool pan is what I always do. Reviews on Amazon say that having heat from both sides will help cook the bacon in two minutes. I don't really care if the bacon is flat, you have to be pretty OCD to care, methinks, but not standing over the stove flipping the bacon every minute or two would be nice. I use two cast iron pans when making grilled cheese sandwiches, one on the top, and that works pretty well. Never tried it with bacon. Might work the same as a bacon press? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bookluvingbabe Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 The cool (well, not, not cool) thing that a bacon press appears to do is that it will get hot, which cooks the bacon from the top while it's cooking from the bottom. Some people say heat it in the skillet, which means that the skillet will be hot when you put in the bacon, which seems just wrong. Let the bacon come to room temperature and start it in a cool pan is what I always do. Reviews on Amazon say that having heat from both sides will help cook the bacon in two minutes. I don't really care if the bacon is flat, you have to be pretty OCD to care, methinks, but not standing over the stove flipping the bacon every minute or two would be nice. I use two cast iron pans when making grilled cheese sandwiches, one on the top, and that works pretty well. Never tried it with bacon. Might work the same as a bacon press? You could just cook the bacon in the oven. It takes longer but you can't beat it for laziness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoramargolis Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 I wrap the bacon press in aluminum foil before using so I don't need to wash it. I use it more often for grilled sandwiches than for bacon. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weezy Posted December 16, 2013 Share Posted December 16, 2013 I got one and also rarely use it. Even when I'm making grilled sandwiches, I typically forget that I have it and use another cast iron skillet as a press. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoramargolis Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Here's one for the cool design gadget geeks: click. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 I wrap the bacon press in aluminum foil before using so I don't need to wash it. I use it more often for grilled sandwiches than for bacon. Well, that might just be my best tip of 2013, even if I'm just seeing it now. I have two bacon presses and use them for grilled cheese more than anything else. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ilaine Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 Speak to me about whether I would actually use a mortar and pestle. Food 52 is selling a very nice-looking one, but why would I want one? If you have one, what do you actually do with it? I mash guacamole with a potato masher, I don't mind chunky. I grind spices in a mini-Cuisinart, which works OK. I make pesto in the big Cuisinart. Would a good mortar and pestle change my ways? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillvalley Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 For $90 it should come with someone to do all the work for you. They are great when you need to bash the hell out of something, and for many of the uses you listed above, but if you have any problems with your arm, elbow or hand don't bother. I'd say find a much cheaper one and go for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcs Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 Speak to me about whether I would actually use a mortar and pestle. Food 52 is selling a very nice-looking one, but why would I want one? If you have one, what do you actually do with it? I mash guacamole with a potato masher, I don't mind chunky. I grind spices in a mini-Cuisinart, which works OK. I make pesto in the big Cuisinart. Would a good mortar and pestle change my ways? From the product details: With a minimalist design, it's decorative enough to sit out on your kitchen counter. It's funny. When I read mortar and pestle in your post my first thought was that it would probably look nice on the fireplace mantle. That is probably the most use I would get out of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LauraB Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 I have a mortar & pestle and it may be the least used cooking equipment in my kitchen. It's very nice and I know it cost way less than $90. I have several electric mini-grinders, including a German one that I bought in the '80s and it's still going strong(!), that I use for grinding spices, nuts, and almost everything else. They work great and, if the results aren't 'authentic' or as tasty as a mortar-ground ingredient, oh well. I've saved myself a lot of time and elbow grease. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 For $90 it should come with someone to do all the work for you. They are great when you need to bash the hell out of something, and for many of the uses you listed above, but if you have any problems with your arm, elbow or hand don't bother. I'd say find a much cheaper one and go for it. I agree with getting a cheaper one. I mostly use mine to crush spices and nuts that don't have to be crushed fine. I don't like pulling out my spice grinder unless I have to, and, especially for nuts, getting them broken coarsely is sometimes more desirable than turning them into powder. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Hersch Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 I had a mortar and pestle for many years, finally jettisoning it during a move. I'm not sure I ever used it; if I did, it was probably on the day I got it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoramargolis Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 Fishinnards uses one all the time for his Thai recipes. Perhaps he will chime in here with good reasons to get one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lperry Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 I'm with Pat on this one. Mine gets used once a week or so, usually for crushing things like toasted sesame seeds that just need a little breaking to get the flavor out. They are also nice for grinding things into coarse salt, like rosemary and lemon zest. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsDiPesto Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 I've entertained the idea of getting one from Edmund Scientific for the geekiness quotient. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrXmus Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 This may deserve its own thread, but I want the machine (if it's given to me) that makes a bottle of wine in 4 days. Sure, I can make my own with my homebrewing supplies, but how cool is this thing?!!?: http://themiraclemachine.net/# 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishinnards Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Fishinnards uses one all the time for his Thai recipes. Perhaps he will chime in here with good reasons to get one. I highly recommend a granite mortar and pestle. It's cheaper than marble and indestructible. I do own many electric appliances (Mixie, mini-chop, Cuisinart etc.) and use them frequently, but nothing can compete with the mortar and pestle for breaking down fibrous ingredients. It's also great for small amounts, plus it doesn't care if your ingredients are wet or dry. With the marble one you can do the roll grind, but it's probably not as good at bashing things to a pulp. Granite is great for smashing. The only drawback is the loud steady banging noise (along with the "how much longer are you going to be doing that?"). The weight of the pestle does most most of the work, so you don't need to be strong. Unless you cook a lot of South and Southeast Asian food, you could probably live without one, but I also use it for Mexican, Italian, and Korean cooking. You can find these at Thai and Vietnamese groceries around here and save on S & H, but here's some mail order links: Temple of Thai Import Food 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smita Nordwall Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 You can find these at Thai and Vietnamese groceries around here Eric, where can I find one in NoVa specifically? Any ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishinnards Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 Eric, where can I find one in NoVa specifically? Any ideas? Duangrat's Grocery 5888 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Virginia 22041. Also the grocery in Eden Center has them. Bangkok 54 Grocery on Columbia Pike is still closed from the fire, but should re-open sometime in April. They will have them as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smita Nordwall Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 Duangrat's Grocery 5888 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Virginia 22041. Also the grocery in Eden Center has them. Bangkok 54 Grocery on Columbia Pike is still closed from the fire, but should re-open sometime in April. They will have them as well. Thanks for giving me a reason to visit Eden Center. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porcupine Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 Agree with Pat and Linda. I use mine every few days for small amounts of spices like cardamom, coriander, cloves, fennel, cumin... I don't buy or store ground spices, only whole, and even a little spice grinder won't do much for half a teaspoon of cardamom seeds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ol_ironstomach Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 After struggling to keep a cheapie cassette stove cranking out enough heat for deep-frying this weekend (the proximate issue was the butane can becoming too cold to boil its contents, thus dropping the fuel system pressure), I'm watching a Jacques Pepin video this afternoon and realize he's making his dish over what appears to be a portable burner...and it's really cranking out the heat! He was using one of these: an Iwatani 35FW. It turns out that Iwatani's butane cassette stoves are respectively rated at 12k and 15k BTU/hr, versus around 8k for the garden variety item (which has still been really useful for the past 16 years). Might be time to upgrade. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhone1998 Posted February 5, 2017 Share Posted February 5, 2017 Just came across this supposedly self-sharpening knife block from Calphalon. Seems like a cool idea, but wondering if anyone has any experience with either their knives or this technology? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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