Kitchen Appliances That Never Quite Fullfilled Their Promises

[joeekaitis]

Nutation washers

Most notoriously, uh, famously, Whirlpool and Kenmore Calypso. What’s a few tears, shreds and tatters if you’re saving water?

 

[DADoES]

 
I've never had clothing damaged in 8+ years of using my Calypso.

 

[petek]

Some of the other counter top appliances I see in abundance at the thrift stores are George Foreman style grills and Nu Wave type glass ovens. Within the next year or two I expect to be seeing many Tfal Actifry thingamibobs with the rotating turntable. Those are quickly being replaced by air fryers.

 

[justjunque]

Petek

I don't know if I'm the only one, but I LOVE my George Foreman grill!
I do steak on it, boneless chicken breasts, burgers, ground chicken patties, etc.
I just really like it!

Barry

 

[mjg0619]

I'm with Barry. I LOVE my George Foreman grill and really want to get a bigger one.

 

[tolivac]

I used to have a George Foreman grill and HATED it.The mesat cooked on it was like eating shoe leather-and the non removable grates also made me give it away to someone else.My old Farberware electric grill was MUCH better!!!The George Foreman machine did well with grilled cheese sandwitches

 

[justjunque]

Matt:
We actually have two of them. Both were given to us by my mom.
A really small one, for times where you're just making one burger, one smallish steak, maybe a grilled cheese.
Then we have the one that fits four burgers.

Rex:
I will admit, I would like it even more if the grates were removable for cleaning.
But that's never been enough of a negative to make me stop using it.
Believe it or not, I've never tried making a grilled cheese sandwich on it!
But now I'm going to!

Barry

 

[tolivac]

My Mom used hers for the grilled cheese sandwiches-about all she used it for.I don't like the fixed temps and cleaning the thing after cooking meat on it was a pain.And the drip pan that can't go in a dishwasher.And too me the flavors of the meat dripped into the little tray along with the fat!Hence the shoe leather meat.However for meat the machine did cook hamburgers better than steaks.

 

[iowabear]

I've tried a couple of the Foreman-type grills. 

 

One had removable plates, one did not.  They were both hard to clean, even the one with removable plates had to be cleaned around the edges.  I always used them on my cooktop so I could vent out the smoke - so I always ended up cleaning that too because some grease always seemed to drip or leak.

 

In the end a small frying pan was just less trouble and easier to deal with.

 

[askolover]

I have a GE version of a Foreman grill...it has a drippings drawer and removable grates that are dishwasher safe.  I haven't used it in at least 10 years though!  I did like using it for chicken, pork chops, occasionally hamburgers.  Never used it for sandwiches.

 

[ea56]

I have a Hamilton Beach Contact Grill,with removable plates. It really does a nice job on burgers, pork chops and boneless chicken breasts. The grills are easy to clean and it doesn’t generate any smoke. But I really prefer using the broiler instead. I think its faster,and I like the results of the broiled meats better.

Eddie

 

[joeekaitis]

You mean no one has mentioned . . .

Continuous cleaning ovens?

The death knell was probably most users ignoring the instructions to resist the urge to clean the thing and spraying on two inches of Easy-Off (in the yellow can, of course).

 

[norgeway]

Re George Foreman Grill

I had one but got rid of it, WAYYYY too hot for my cooking, burned up everything.

 

[iowabear]

Surprised nobody has mentioned electric knives.

 

In the late 70s it seemed like everybody had one but nobody used them.  I think I remember ours getting used twice.

 

Today when I see one all I can picture is the dinner scene from the RHPS.

 



 

 

[appnut]

My dad used our quite a bit.  He became quite adapt at its usage.  I have it, but I wouldn't use it, too dangerous for me.  But guests are welcome to use it wwen the opportunity arises.  I've toyed with the idea of using it to slice bread out of the oven. 

 

[petek]

Yes the electric knife is great for slicing soft bread.. Some bread machines also come with one.. It's also good for cutting and shaping foam if you have a reupholstery project

 

[DADoES]

 
My sister received 6 (or more?) electric knives at their wedding 25+ years ago.

 

[xraytech]

I love my electric knife. Mine is a mid 60s GE in avocado. Was grandmas. We both use it for carving hams, I’ve used it for bread and cheese as well

 

[countryguy]

I use the electric knife for carving any type of meat - turkey, roast, etc. I also use it to cut home made bread or if I buy bread not already sliced.

Gary

 

[justjunque]

Electric knife

My parents had one, probably bought back in the 70s. Hamilton Beach Scovill.
I could slice a roast NICE with it.
I'm horrible at it with a normal knife.
I'm on a quest to find one exactly like it, with original box, since my mom gave hers to my brother, who destroys everything.

Barry