apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I don't need the rice cooker.

Just sold my kitchenaid. I'd rather mix by hand, or hand mixer for whipped cream/egg whites. Essentials are a cast iron pan, a soup pot, a chef's knife, and a paring knife. I think you can wing the rest.

Definitely don't need a ricer cooker or a juicer. And practically any microwave can function as a timer.

This is a weird list. Although, my father does have the Peugeot pepper mill and has never had a problem with it.

Though it has come in handy once or twice, I've seriously considered freecycling my kitchen scale many times. Perhaps next time....

is the Moka Express really $18? I think it's more about $81... We got one as a wedding present and loved it for about a month, until it started making cold cappuccino. In any case, it's not essential. (we've lost the directions so if anyone has advice I'd love to hear it)

The only thing on that list that I'd say I NEED is a kitchen timer, since I have a habit of losing track of time while cooking.

I'm not sure what I'd put on my list-- other than the bare essentials-- a Le Cruset Dutch oven, perhaps. I adore mine.

I have the Sarpaneva cast iron pot and its an absolute dream. I didn't know it was available here in the U.S. and purchased it in Finland last year. Its heavy and traveling with in is not easy. I use it at least once a week, including for some curry goat last night.

I also have the Bialetti, the one with the "cow print". That too was purchased in europe (Switzlerand) for the equivalent of $55.

-Rice cooker? No, not for me at least.
-Definitely if you like to bake the kitchen aid standing mixer is a MUST, I can say from experience after not having one for so long then finally getting one, it cuts the time it takes to make cake, cookies...anything, in half!
-I also love my peugot pepper mills, I have 2.
-SILPAT! makes clean-up a breeze.
-I have a thing, don't know what it's called, but it's flat, thin, metal with a rounded handle and you use it to scrape up whatever your chopping to put it into your bowl, pot, pan, whatever. A scraper maybe?
-If you like coffee the combo grinder/coffee maker, uses whole beans so you have fresh ground coffee everytime. We have a Capresso that we love.
-Last, I know it's expensive, but I will never buy another toaster now that we have a Dualit, we use it all the time and it's the best. Plus it's guaranteed for life.
-OH, really good knives.

I'm surprised not to see the Francais Francais espresso maker on there. Maybe it's too "classic." Or not "digital" enough.....

My husband and I would NEVER cook at home if I didn't have:

*bright mustard colored Le Crucet dutch oven, I use it TONS

*an industrial, electric knife SHARPENER. That's right folks. You can make middle-of-the-road knives last way longer if you sharpen them properly yourself, plus you become mighty popular with the neighbors

*silicone spatulas

*DeLonghi Indoor Grill, since we moved to a condo

I use my microplane several times a week and haven't found anything I like as much for zesting or grating hard cheeses.

"Just sold my kitchenaid." That comment made the blood drain out of my face. There is no way I could live without my kitchenaid. Well, at least there would be no way I would want to live without my kitchenaid.

Great tools/equipment: Plus several good knives: I have 2 kitchen timers, several strainers ranging from large to small (I never use my colander any more so I guess I should get rid of it), a whisk, spatulas (I like the new ones -- whatever that silicone stuff is they're made from) and a microplane which is one of the best things I ever bought. I have a Cuisinart MiniPrep and a blender, both of which I could do without but which make my life so much easier. I have the lime squeezer I brought back from Mexico and a long-handled spoon. Tongs. Kitchen scissors. I love that iron pot in the Dwell list but don't have it -- I have to have pots I can lift when they're full, and a lot of the high-end are just too heavy.

Eliza, I think you're confusing Bialetti's Moka Express with the Mukka Express, which is indeed closer to $90. I have both (wedding gifts) and have had good luck with the Mukka (WHY make the names so close?) but it's so tricky to clean that we hardly ever use it. From that link you can access a partial user manual or e-mail for help.

The plain old Moka Express is great; it's what most Italians use to make coffee and my parents switched over completely a couple years ago. When it says "3-cup" they mean 3 espresso cups, or 4.5 ounces!

The two most used and can't live without items in my kitchen are my Champion Juicer and my VitaMix Blender. Third is my KitchenAid 12-cup Food Processor.

I'll also second the Microplane mentioned above.

kitchen scissors, microplane, Omega juicer and Oxo salad spinner. Sharp knives too, of course

How big are your kitchens?

Does the Moka express make espresso or coffee??

Anokha- It's espresso (or close to it).

You named some of my faves Sarpaneva pot and the Bialetti espresso. I have several different sized Bialettis and they are a staple in my kitchen drawer.
I allways wonder, why Starck's Jucy Salif is so overrated. It is def. the messiest way to make orange juice, all your kitchen boards with be spotted with juice and pulp. It is sooo disfunctional.

I like to add a Le Creset pot and some A. Aalto glassware to the list.

Katef,

So here's the big question: Do I buy a countertop espresso maker, or one of these Moka pots? I mostly drink coffees and lattes... (I somehow justify that as being my daily dairy intake)

top favorite kitchen items:

cuisinart mini-prep food processor
dean & deluca silicone spatulas in 4 sizes
cuisinart 'brew central' coffee maker
whole foods brand parchment paper
my grandma's ancient butcher block
a pot of fresh basil in the windowsill