The world of technology is ever expanding, and thankfully
these technological advances have spilled over into the
culinary world in the form of appliances. The availability
and variety of appliances are vast, with new inventions and
improvements popping up every day! In this article, we're
going to talk about a few appliances that aren't new
inventions by any means, but have been improved nearly
beyond recognition!
Slow Cooker
The slow cooker is a pretty basic appliance. It consists of
an electric housing unit (usually metal) in which a large
ceramic pot is inserted, complete with lid. Slow cookers
are called such because they do genuinely cook slowly
compared to a microwave or toaster oven. Slow cookers are
ideal for recipes that allow you to simply chuck in all of
the ingredients and leave it to cook. Stew, soup, chilli,
nacho cheese, and pot roast are excellent examples of
dishes that cook well in a slow cooker. Over the years,
here hasn't been much advancement with slow cookers, save
for the fact that many brands have now gone
digital—which means you can program it to shut off at
a certain time. Is that handy, or what? This "set it and
leave it" approach to cooking is brilliant for those who
lead a busy lifestyle but want to enjoy a warm, cooked meal
at the end of the day.
Bread Machine
Bread machines, as the small household appliance that we
know today, can be traced back to 1986, although they
didn't really catch on until the mid-nineties. Bread
machines take all the work out of bread making—and
you bakers out there understand how laborious the task can
be! With a bread machine, you load up the necessary
ingredients, shut the lid, and press the button for the
appropriate setting. The machine uses a dough hook to mix
and knead the dough, then it heats up slightly to allow the
dough to rise. After it has risen, the hook resumes
kneading for a few minutes, and then the machine heats up
and cooks the bread. Voila—homemade bread!
Toaster Oven
Heat, toast, bake, and broil—toaster ovens can do it
all! While a toaster oven might be a miracle to some
kitchens, it may not get nearly as much use in others.
Toasted sandwiches, crispy French fries, pizza, cookies,
Cornish hens—virtually any small dishes you bake in
your oven can be cooked in a countertop oven.
Food Processor
Food processors have been used in a domestic fashion since
the early 70's, and it's no wonder why they're still widely
used today. Chopping, dicing, and slicing by hand takes
ages of time, but a food processor does all of that in
seconds! Fruit and vegetables can easily be prepared for
salads, sauces, or pureed for homemade baby food. While
there are digital food processors on the market, it simply
hasn't caught on quite yet as food processing doesn't
really utilize a digital display to the full advantage.
Electric Steamer
This is likely to be one of the most health-promoting
appliances you can own! When vegetables are boiled or
baked, most of the nutrients flow out with the juices,
leaving the veggies low in both nutrients AND flavour.
However, steaming food allows it to be thoroughly cooked
and still remain healthful. And steamers aren't just for
cooking vegetables, either! You can steam chicken, fish,
and even rice. Most steamers come with "tiers" or trays, so
you can steam all of your food at once. The digital feature
really did kick off with steamers, as programmable features
and an automatic shut-off function add to the convenience
of this appliance.
You might own some of these appliances, and you might not
own a single one. Not all kitchens have the space or the
need for these terrific items, but some people truly can
reap the benefits that these machines have to offer. Ask
yourself this: could YOU benefit from one—or a
few—of these machines?
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