Summer Splurge: New Small Appliances

[frigilux]

Had myself a bit of a splurge (relatively speaking) and bought a trio of new kitchen smalls. I had to decide between a weekend getaway in Minneapolis or appliances. Appliances won, of course!

First, a new KitchenAid toaster: Pushbutton and motorized! It reminds me of a fully-automatic vintage Sunbeam. It makes perfectly-colored toast from corner to corner. The slots even close in via motor. It has a bar graph to show toasting progress, at which point three loud beeps announce the toast's arrival. Has a Keep Warm option, which is nice.

 

[frigilux]

My old workhorse Hamilton Beach blender bit the dust a couple of weeks ago, so I checked with Consumer Reports and America's Test Kitchen/Cook's Illustrated and this blender was recommended. Have only made a couple of breakfast smoothies with it, but it seems to work well. Surprisingly quiet, too.

 

[frigilux]

How did I manage to go all these years without a panini maker?! This Breville is a champ---really crisps and presses the bread nicely. I've made a sandwich with it almost every day since it arrived two weeks ago. It operates at the perfect temperature---no burning.

 

[frigilux]

The inner workings: It has an adjustable lid to accommodate thick or thin sandwiches, or it can hover over an open-face sandwich to create the perfect melt.

 

[frigilux]

Lunch is served!

 

[countryguy]

Frigilux,

I started a thread earlier today about this same KA toaster. Do you find that it takes a l-o-n-g time to toast? Compared to my old Sunbeam, it takes at least twice as long.

Gary

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?40659_4

 

[westie2]

Thanks for posting these appliances.  Like all three.  The toaster I love.  Our 30 plus year old GE toaster oven is still working so can't say need that Kitcheen Aid one but boy nice.  I have wanted a panini grill for a long time you have almost twisted my arm to go get one!! LOL

 

Is that pea salad with you panini?  A favorite of mine to make and eat.  When I make it and carry to a pot luck or have with company they all says it been years since I had pea salad.

 

You did youself good by purchasing these.

 

[petek]

I bought a Breville Panini grill almost exactly like that one a couple of years ago however on mine the plates are flat on the top and bottom. It seems to be very good quality and I like how it locks in place at different heights.

 

[frigilux]

Gary--- The KitchenAid definitely takes longer to make toast. The company claims the slower toasting helps to heat the bread to the center. My previous toaster was also a 4-slice KitchenAid, so I'm used to the leisurely toasting speed.

Charles--- I didn't ever think I'd get a panini maker, but I'm really sold on the Breville. Highly recommended. I paid $57 for it on Amazon. The salad is a standard deli-style macaroni salad, but I can see from the picture why you'd think it was pea salad. I like peas, so I dumped double the amount into the recipe. I do, though, love pea salad and I make it regularly. You don't tend to see it very often any more, but I'm a big fan.

 

[twintubdexter]

That toaster is too pretty to put bread in.

 

[frigilux]

Joe-- I will admit that upon seeing the KA toaster online, I knew it would soon be on my kitchen counter. It's a beauty. The one-year old KA 4-slice it replaces is going to a young couple I know who are setting up house. They want stainless steel appliances and are looking for used ones, as they don't have much money. I polished the toaster, took it to where the girl works, and she was as delighted by the gift as her co-worker was perplexed, LOL.

 

[countryguy]

Frigilux,

 

Do you mind me asking what you paid for the toaster?  Here in Canada I got mine from the Home Shopping Channel on sale for $89.  It was regularly priced at $149.   It also came with a KA cutting board.  

 

Gary

 

[frigilux]

I paid $98 for the toaster, plus $9 for shipping--I got mine from Amazon.

 

[mattl]

Wow, I don't know  but I'd have a real issue paying $149 for a toaster.  I think the most I paid was $59 and that seemed high.  Not that I am in the market but is there anything in the KA units that warrants that price?

 

[frigilux]

Matt-- I think most places sell the motorized KA toaster for $98-99 dollars; not that that's exactly cheap. They're a solidly built toaster, but I'm sure one can find any number of very good toasters for far less. I was hooked by the whole motorized/pushbutton glitz. The 2-slice version sells for $70.

 

 

 

[kevin313]

Eugene - I have a KA blender and I think it one of the best (modern) machines I own. It does a wonderful job - has lots of power - and it cleans up easily. I like that the blades are not removable, so you don't have take apart/put together at every cleaning. Enjoy!

 

[frigilux]

Kevin--- Glad you like the blender. I was not sure about the non removable blades, but it hasn't been a problem at all. I've only made smoothies with it, but it seems to work very well. It's a solid, substantial appliance.

Aside: My go-to smoothie has no dairy.

THE FRIGILUX SMOOTHIE
2/3 cup orange juice
1 frozen banana, sliced
5-8 strawberries, hulled

Put all ingredients in blender. Blend at high speed until smooth.

Substitute fruit of your choice for the strawbs. Blueberries, raspberries, or peaches work well.