Kitchen Gadge...

[Comacchio]

So I have £250 birthday money to spend and I feel as if kitchen gadgets are where it's going. I'm torn as to what though.

I have 2 Kamado BBQs that will be the centre of an outdoor kitchen project this summer (A bit like Smoking Dad BBQ's setup on YT), both have rotisseries already and I have setups for doing pizzas on both too. I was tempted to get an air fryer, but after watching some video reviews I'm not convinced - are they really worth it? Can you make KFC style chicken in them?

Another thought was a sous vide machine, for perfect prepped cooks before a quick lick of flames to sear, or for reheating leftover BBQ.

Then I thought about knives - I don't really have a decent BBQ knife, we've got 2 blocks of semi decent knives but nothing outrageous. Possibly a vacuum sealer too?

If you had £250 to spend and had a similar setup to me already what would it go on?

[sc0tt]

I know you said no to an air fryer but, an air fryer.

My oven is seldom used. I bought a ninja foodie so does away with a lot of things. Pulled brisket… 55 minutes.

KFC style chicken, no problems.

Crispy French fries, check.

It really does it all and I was hesitant spending £200 on a gadget but it is used at least 6 days of the week.

My only bug bear is if I want “chicken and chips” as an example because it is one pot I have to use foil or reheat but I rarely bump into that issue.

[M11rph]

Instant Pot?
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9470181?clickSR=sl...

Essentially an electric pressure cooker. So can do all the pressure cooker things in one pot, but also a slow cooker and has a Sous Vide function. Soups, casseroles, sauces for your BBQ etc.

Get yourself a Vacuum sealer for around £40 (they are fantastic, the kitchen equivalent of the laminator we all surely own?!)

I'm sure you'll have one, but a spare kitchen thermometer is always handy. These ones with the accessory extension thingy are useful.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/NIXIUKOL-Thermometer-Digi...

Yes, Air Fryers are great. If they called them Blast Ovens it would make more sense, butno need to spend a fortune. Costco have a couple at sensible money. Cheap enough that they might be worth a try?
Single basket https://www.costco.co.uk/Appliances/Small-Kitchen-...
2 small baskets https://www.costco.co.uk/Appliances/Small-Kitchen-...

[Mobile Chicane]

I would be looking at a vacuum sealer and sous vide for sure. It will take your cooking to another level.

[Cotty]

Mobile Chicane said:

I would be looking at a vacuum sealer and sous vide for sure. It will take your cooking to another level.

I was going to say I thought you needed both to sous vide.

[number2]

Nah, get yourself a treat. Something you'll look at on it's stand and admire, something you'll take great pleasure in using.

https://cuttingedgeknives.co.uk/collections/japane...

Maybe not that one... although I'm after a carver

https://cuttingedgeknives.co.uk/collections/santok...

or similar.

[number2]

Or, a Konro.

Two KJs but no Japanese BBQ? Crazy.

There's a small one here for £240.

Get you Yakitori game on. Bloody delicious with a good tare.

https://www.chefslocker.co.uk/konro-grill.html

[Moog72]

Vacuum sealer all the way. Had one of these models for a few years, faultless and saved money by freezing stuff properly sealed

https://www.lava-vacuum-packing.com/

[Lynchie999]

Smoking Guns are pretty useful things!

or a smoking cabinet thing...

[bomb]

Cotty said:

Mobile Chicane said:

I would be looking at a vacuum sealer and sous vide for sure. It will take your cooking to another level.

I was going to say I thought you needed both to sous vide.

Another vote for a sous Vide. Your steaks will be the best in the world !

How about a pizza oven by Ooni too ??

[ac13]

Kitchen knives, Not sure if this is the right place to put it, but didn't want to start a whole new topic.

I recently came across these

https://www.knivesfromjapan.co.uk/search/silver-an...

These are kitchen knives that are made by sintering titanium with ceramic and silver (it says diamond but the diamond knives have different lettering) They are supposed to retain an edge longer. I bought the 18cm knife and have been using it exclusively for over two months and it is still very sharp. I imagine that sharpening will require a diamond sharpening steel but I want to see how long they last before trying to sharpen them.

They are also approx 75% off so really cheap for sharp knives.

[miniman]

Have you got a MEATER?

[Mobile Chicane]

30cm tweezers!



I've been using them in the pro kitchen for a while for fancy plating, but it has dawned on me how useful they are instead of boggo tongs at home.

[21TonyK]

Other than gadgets or toys have you considered a day at a cookery school?

I just bought my Dad a gift voucher for a day, he'll gain much more technically and greater enjoyment from that than more stuff for the kitcehn cupboard.

That aside, sous vide is a good call and even if the bath doesnt get used that much the vacpac is IMO almost an essential anyway.

Alternatively you could help fund a 3d chocolate printer, got to be worth $100 of anyones money.

https://cocoapress.com/products/cocoa-press-3d-cho...