Posts from — November 2008

The magazine Waitrose Food Illustrated brought together a panel of 33 leaders in the world of food, including Jamie Oliver, Raymond Blanc and Prue Leith. They voted upon a list of the most useful gadgets in the kitchen, and without further adieu here’s a run down:

1 Wooden Spoon

The humble, inexpensive wooden spoon tops the list!

I guess it’s because it’s just so useful, just think what you can do with one; mix, stir, taste, sprinkle, spread, bash, etc

It’s hygenic, hard wearing and easy to clean too. A classic kitchen tool that you just can’t do without. Spoon shown is made by Typhoon and is stocked by John Lewis.

2 Microplane Grater

Another inexpensive kitchen gadget.

Microplane graters are available in both fine and coarse cut and are designed to work as a zester for citrus fruits, grater for cheese, chocolate and nutmeg or to puree ginger or garlic.

Made from durable stainless-steel with rubber handle for easy grip and comfort. Dishwasher safe. Stocked by John Lewis.

3 KitchenAid Mixer

The KitchenAid Mixer is a design classic!

A regular favourite for those wanting a professional mixer and also for those just wanting to adorn their worktop with something smart.

This mixer has both classic good looks and high-quality craftsmanship – it’s also available in a range of finishes. It’s robust all-metal construction, powerful 10 speed motor and tilt-up head design make mixing large batches easy. It also features a unique mixing action that ensures faster and more thorough blending. Guaranteed for 5 years for parts and labour. Stocked by John Lewis.

4 Wand Blender

Stick / wand blenders are made by a wide range of manufacturers such as Kenwood, Braun, Breville and own label brands.

I personally like this Dualit Hand Blender set. If it’s anything like the build quality of our Dualit toaster and scales then it’ll last for years.

Look out for features such as variable speed and pulse button blending.

5 Magimix Food Processor

The Magimix Food Processor is, like the KitchenAid mixer above, a more expensive item but should last you years of use.

It’s available in two models; the 5200 (pictured) and the cheaper 3200. Both are stocked by John Lewis. These powerful food processors mix, grate, slice, chop, whisk, knead and liquidise your ingredients. Aside from the main bowl it has an integrated mini processor for processing smaller quantities such as dips, mayonnaise or baby food, while the midi bowl can be used for slicing and shredding ingredients. All the bowls and blades are dishwasher safe. The commercial grade induction motor is guaranteed for 12 years, with an overall parts guarantee of 3 years; there’s just one speed, which operates quietly at the optimum speed for the job required.