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phalloidin

Registered: 07/03/04
Posts: 865
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kitchenware?
#5752867 - 06/15/06 09:21 AM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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I'm looking to get some quality stuff for my kitchen. In particular, I need a new skillet. Preferrebly a non-stick one. Any suggestions? Also, what other essential items should I have in my kitchen?
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geokills
∙∙∙∙☼ º¿° ☼∙∙∙∙


Registered: 05/08/01
Posts: 23,419
Loc: city of angels
Last seen: 1 minute, 10 seconds
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Go to your local department store - they have a wide variety of cookware that you can get a hands on feel for.. and usually they have some sort of discounts going on. If no specific sales, you can still probably sign up for their credit card and get 10 - 15% off of your entire purchase. That's what I did when I picked up my [Circulon 2] non-stick cookware. I started off with a single Circulon first gen 8" skillet four and a half years ago.. it treated me so well that when I finally went to check out all the cookware, I had to jump on top of the entire Circulon 2 set. It was also one of the most reasonably priced at the time. Just make sure that if you use non-stick cookware, that you do not use metal utensils with it, as that can damage the surface. It won't damage it immediately, but over time you can bet that it will slowly degrade the quality and non-stickiness of the pots and pans. Use silicon or wooden utensils only!
Generally speaking, when looking for cookware you want to seek out sturdy built equipment, as thick as possible for even heat distribution and retention, with tight fitting lids to keep steam in when cooking something like rice. Something with an oven safe handle is nice as well, if you want to finish certain dishes in the oven. [Edit: as noted in subsequent replies, having a nice cast iron skillet and/or dutch oven around is also a great thing]
As for other essential items:- good knives w/ honing steel
- spatula
- large spoon
- whisk
- grater and/or microplane
- can opener
- corkscrew
- potato masher
- blender and/or food processor
- cutting board (one wooden for non-meats, one plastic for meats)
- measuring cup and/or measuring spoons
- strainer
- pizza cutter
- ice cream scoop
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-------------------- ┼ ··∙ long live the shroomery ∙·· ┼ ...╬π╥ ╥π╬...
Edited by geokills (06/15/06 11:40 PM)
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Corporal Kielbasa

Registered: 05/29/04
Posts: 17,235
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I will rock cast iron till the day i die!
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champ
pudding pop


Registered: 06/27/01
Posts: 787
Loc: unknown trashscape
Last seen: 3 years, 8 months
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I really like my big All-Clad skillet. It isn't non-stick, but I use it for making everything besides eggs and pancakes, which I use a non-stick pan for.
Good Grips makes really good kitchen equipment, like spatulas and stuff.
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Corporal Kielbasa

Registered: 05/29/04
Posts: 17,235
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Re: kitchenware? [Re: champ]
#5753699 - 06/15/06 01:58 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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i use my well seasoned 80 + year old pan for eggs and the like. The important thing is not washing it. Well rinsing with hot water without scrubbing is the key to a good iron skillet. That and a splash of olive oil keeps the eggs from sticking.
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daussaulit
Forgetful

Registered: 08/06/02
Posts: 2,894
Loc: Earth
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According to Alton Brown, the high end ones aren't worth the money. Its a lot better and economical to buy cheap non-stick pans and replace then every so often when they wear out. After a few years, when you buy a new non-stick pan, it will work better than a old expensive non-stick and still be cheaper.
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soochi
Chef


Registered: 08/13/02
Posts: 2,420
Loc: The Richest County
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first of all don't listen to the last post. Buy quality pans!! they perform better and save you money in the long run. I personally don't like non stick pans because it's impossible to form a fond on the bottom for pan sauces, etc. plus no nonstick pan is truly indestrucable or should be used with metal utensils, etc. I can vouch for le creuset enameled cast iron, they make the best dutch ovens and their fry pans are really good for high heat searing. The one or two nonstick pans I do have I only use for delicate items like fish or eggs. I also recommend all clad, staub (another french made enameled cast iron) or if you want the best money can buy, Mauviel french copper (its amazing how sensitive copper pans are and how fast they heat up!) Just make sure that whatever pan you buy that it is HEAVY! and can go into the oven, preferably made with a multi-ply metal (either aluminum or copper core that extends to the sides as well as the bottom with stainless sandwich on the outside)light, cheap feeling pans will not last and will form hotspots and eventually warp. not a big fan of some t-fal pans although they do make some fairly sturdy and heavy nonstick pans which feel nice. you'll need around two sizes of sautee pans, a big dutch oven or stockpot for soup and stews, a small and large saucepan. Of course buy for your needs and space.
-------------------- Wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie, O, what panic's in thy breastie! Thou need na start awa sae hasty, Wi' bickering brattle!
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GabbaDj
BTH


Registered: 04/08/01
Posts: 19,679
Loc: By The Lake
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Re: kitchenware? [Re: soochi]
#5755593 - 06/15/06 10:42 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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First of all, dont listen to that last post. Unless you have more than a thousand dollars to spend on a few pots and pans.
http://ww1.williams-sonoma.com/cat/index.cfm?cid=ckwb&root=shop&src=catcshop%7Cp1%7Crshop%2Fhme I got a $75 gift cirtificate for Williams Sonoma a while back and Ive never used it. You cant even buy a cutting board at that place for $75. They do only sell the BEST of the highest end blow your money on crap stuff 
Having pots and pans that can go from stove top to oven is a real nice thing to have and looking for things that are heavy is the greatest tip ever. Other than that, just shop in your budget.
-------------------- GabbaDj FAMM.ORG
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geokills
∙∙∙∙☼ º¿° ☼∙∙∙∙


Registered: 05/08/01
Posts: 23,419
Loc: city of angels
Last seen: 1 minute, 10 seconds
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Re: kitchenware? [Re: GabbaDj]
#5755789 - 06/15/06 11:43 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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First of all, if you're not going to use your $75 gift certificate for Williams-Sonoma, I call dibs!
I've actually been spying their [Warring Deep Fryer] for a couple months now.. but am waiting until I get settled into my new digs in July before I take the plunge.
--------------------
-------------------- ┼ ··∙ long live the shroomery ∙·· ┼ ...╬π╥ ╥π╬...
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GabbaDj
BTH


Registered: 04/08/01
Posts: 19,679
Loc: By The Lake
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Re: kitchenware? [Re: geokills]
#5757000 - 06/16/06 11:37 AM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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Ha, I remember that post. That is a real nice price for such a nice fryer. Especially at that store..
I like it inside the one near my place. They have a working kitchen right in the middle and they cook gourmet food all day for customers to sample.
They also talk about the benefits of having such high end cookware like Sochi does while they demonstrate technique and stuff. Its pretty neat.
But when they try and tell me that a $300 sauce pan is necissary I just got to laugh. Thats more than I spend on food for the month.
-------------------- GabbaDj FAMM.ORG
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goobler
Reanimated



Registered: 02/24/03
Posts: 48,909
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you really should consider cast iron
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Corporal Kielbasa

Registered: 05/29/04
Posts: 17,235
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Re: kitchenware? [Re: goobler]
#5758009 - 06/16/06 04:37 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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:high-five:
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GabbaDj
BTH


Registered: 04/08/01
Posts: 19,679
Loc: By The Lake
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The number one kitchen gadget Ive always wanted is the Kitchenaid stand mixer.
http://www.kitchenaid.com/home.jsp
I want to get all the attatchments and gadgets and hooks and everything. Id like to make my own sausage again.
-------------------- GabbaDj FAMM.ORG
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goobler
Reanimated



Registered: 02/24/03
Posts: 48,909
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:high five:
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geokills
∙∙∙∙☼ º¿° ☼∙∙∙∙


Registered: 05/08/01
Posts: 23,419
Loc: city of angels
Last seen: 1 minute, 10 seconds
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Re: kitchenware? [Re: GabbaDj]
#5760362 - 06/17/06 11:23 AM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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Yea those Stand Mixers look pretty darn sweet - I'm sure it would increase my interest in baking if I had one.. but they're quite expensive and at this point I'm just not sure how often I'd use it! One of these days...
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-------------------- ┼ ··∙ long live the shroomery ∙·· ┼ ...╬π╥ ╥π╬...
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Corporal Kielbasa

Registered: 05/29/04
Posts: 17,235
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Re: kitchenware? [Re: geokills]
#5760449 - 06/17/06 12:05 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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My friends mother bakes and cooks every thing around 5 am . She says it gets to hot the rest of the day. Good way to do it. Like make sausage one day, bake bread and make calzones the next day. Pickle something another day. That way you never go dry, you always have food you like, and your healthy. Farm life is where its at.
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automan
blasted chipmunk


Registered: 09/18/03
Posts: 8,272
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i have a chef friend that always said to never buy a teflon non-stick pan. she said that between copper, stainless steel, and cast iron you can do anything you ever need to do. that was 10 years ago.
i remember reading a few months back that teflon has been proven to be very very bad for humans... and not in that random way they can prove that everything is bad. but in a serious sort of way that is going to force them to stop using teflon over the next few years.
just my 2 cents.
-------------------- No, no, you're not thinking, you're just being logical. ~ Niels Bohr
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phalloidin

Registered: 07/03/04
Posts: 865
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Re: kitchenware? [Re: automan]
#5760560 - 06/17/06 12:55 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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thanks for all the advise. I'm leaning more towards cast iron now. What are the limitations/drawbacks when using cast iron. I want something that's pretty versatile. I have a small kitchen and need to get the most use out of the fewest items. Also, I have an electric stove, if that makes any difference. So a well seasoned cast iron skillet will be pretty much non-stick, right? Should I get one that's pre-seasoned? Is there any advantage to seasoning it yourself?
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daussaulit
Forgetful

Registered: 08/06/02
Posts: 2,894
Loc: Earth
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Re: kitchenware? [Re: automan]
#5760726 - 06/17/06 02:19 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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Teflon releases toxic fumes when the pan is heated to very high temps.
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Corporal Kielbasa

Registered: 05/29/04
Posts: 17,235
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It doesn't matter much if you buy an old used one you would probably want to season it again anyways. You coat it in oil and heat it in the over ant 350 or something close for a couple hours i think. But the More you use it and cook with it they more seasoned it gets. Just cant scrub at it with Brillo and soup like other pans.
You can get square ones and you can get round ones. Get what ever side accommodates your cooking habits. Get a couple Pyrex baking dishes and a couple pots along with a few different sized skillets and your rocking!
Dutch ovens are great to have!
Edited by Corporal Kielbasa (06/17/06 02:20 PM)
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soochi
Chef


Registered: 08/13/02
Posts: 2,420
Loc: The Richest County
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cast iron takes a little longer to heat up, but it has the best heat retention once hot. other than that they're pretty indestructable, and readily affordable. Just keep in mind that they are quite heavy for their size. Even the "pre-seasoned" pans they sell aren't as well seasoned as one you use on a constant basis. I inherited my grandmothers cast iron pan and that thing is slick! obviously from the god knows how many decades of constant use. If you want to skip all this then I seriously recommend splurging on at least one good sized le creuset pan, it has all the benefits of cast iron, without the need for seasoning. (plus since they use sand casting, each one is unique) If Im searing meat on my pan I usually just clean it with water first then, get the stuck on stuff with some coarse kosher salt or baking soda. Once you form a nice seasoning you can actually use a plastic brillo pad for cleaning, but that takes a while. I also use a half a lemon dipped in kosher salt to clean the outsides of my copper pans as it forms a nice patina.
As with anything else in life, you get what you pay for. I mean, can we really justify the existence of a Rolls-Royce Phantom?? but Im sure it's worth the $350,000 for as much technology and hand crafting it takes to build one. Sure most people could never dream of spending $200 on a pan, but if it's what you love to do? some people buy golf equipment, supe up cars, get all the latest gagetry. I buy pans and foie gras.
-------------------- Wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie, O, what panic's in thy breastie! Thou need na start awa sae hasty, Wi' bickering brattle!
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Corporal Kielbasa

Registered: 05/29/04
Posts: 17,235
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Re: kitchenware? [Re: soochi]
#5763830 - 06/18/06 10:07 AM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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You got me sold on the pan! I think upon my next move into a new house i will get a nice copper pan!
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