Great Flatware, Hand Held Tools and Accessories, Bakeware, Cookware, Dinnerware, Electronic Kitchen Devices and Knives For Your Kitchen

A Lifetime of Products

Over your lifetime you will buy and receive all kinds of products for your kitchen. You will get flatware, knives, hand-held tools, accessories, cookware, dinnerware, bakeware and electronic kitchen devices (to name a few).

Over the years, I have owned these kinds of things, some great, some mediocre and some a big disappointment.

I want to share with you those items that I and my family have found over the years, to be great (and share with you a small few that I have found to be a disappointment).

I will show you those things that I believe might work well for you and save you a lot of money in the future (because the things you end up getting will hopefully last a long time).

If any of the product links below indicate that they are out of stock, there might be more available later. If you can wait until they re-stock, I think you’ll find it is worth the wait.

Flatware

(known as Cutlery outside of the United States)

Most flatware has nickel in it. I’m allergic to nickel. Did you know (as of the time of this writing), that up to 17% of women are allergic to nickel and 3% of men are too?

My flatware (seen above), is nickel-free. It is “The Copeland pattern, made by Oneida”. This flatware is the best that I have ever owned. It is sturdy, substantial (very strong).

(Go ahead, ask me what I use to scoop ice cream out of a container with… yep, this sets soupspoons).

You may or may not be able to find my pattern (as I’ve had it for a few years), but I found a similar pattern on Amazon, also made by “Oneida.” The pattern is called “Reyna“. It too is 100% nickel-free, identified as 18/0 (18% chromium 0% nickel). This pattern is cited as being dishwasher safe, not all Oneida sets are so be careful to pay attention to this (unless you are ok with washing your flatware by hand).

“Oneida” also makes a flatware set called “Wordsworth” that is very pretty. The Wordsworth set has beautiful scrolling with two roses and multiple other little flowers in the pattern. It is nickel-free (18/0) and is cited as being dishwasher safe.

If you want a set of flatware that is like modern artwork, you should consider purchasing “Oneida’s Tuscany” pattern (also 18/0).

I am a loyal, long-time “Oneida Brand” customer. I have seen “Oneida Brand” flatware increase in value as the years go by. My mother purchased a pattern back in the 60s that she loved (pattern code: OHSMYR). The pattern is called “My Rose”. She paid somewhere around $60.00 for 40 pieces. Her 40-piece set today is worth $399.95.

I use my hammered set of “Oneida Brand” flatware every day, but I also use it for small gatherings and larger parties because it looks great out on display.

Hand Held Tools and Accessories

Flat Graters

Flat graters are low-tech and very simple. I like flat graters because they are relatively easy to use. My graters are very strong. They don’t bend under the pressure of grating. Some have rubber non-slip feet at the base. This helps prevent the grater from slipping out of position during use.

They don’t have any moving parts, so nothing should go wrong with them. I find them to be the easiest to clean. Flat graters fit well in my dishwasher. They store well in my kitchen drawers too.

I bought the two graters (seen below), more than ten years ago, but they are still going strong. Here is a link to a small hole grater similar to mine. Here is a link to a large hole grater similar to mine.

Four Sided (Box Style Graters)

Some people do not want multiple graters. They just want one device that does it all for them. If you are one of these people, you may want to choose a square bottom, box-style grater.

I have had good luck in the past with “KitchenAid” handheld gadgets. I don’t own one of their graters, but I see that they make a four-sided grater. The only problem I have with a four-sided grater is the inside corners can be somewhat difficult to clean/keep clean.

Other than that, this box-style grater made by “KitchenAid” looks great. Not only has it got four different sizes of grater cuts, but it has a catch bowl with a lid too.

This grater also has a non-slip bottom, which is very important to have. The last thing you want to do is have it slip out of your control while you are grating.

The only thing I see, that could be seen as negative about any of these graters, is they don’t seem to be nickel-free.

“Gannk Brand” Peelers

These “Gannk Brand” vegetable peelers don’t look fancy, but they work very well. My husband found them, ordered them and we found they work better than the fancier ones we own.

I see that “Gannk” also makes a tool that not only can peel but can thin slice or Julienne fruits and vegetables. I think I’m going to have to purchase one and add it to my collection.

“KitchenAid Brand” Mixer Rotary Grater / Slicer Attachment

If you own a “KitchenAid” Mixer, you can get a grater attachment for the front of the mixer that allows you to grate and slice. What a great gift idea this makes for anyone who has a “KitchenAid” mixer.

If you don’t have a “KitchenAid” Mixer and would like to consider one, scroll down to the section under Electronic Kitchen Devices that discusses Mixers.

Vegetable Spiralizers

My youngest son owns a handheld vegetable spiralizer. The brand is “Veggitti“. He told me he has had this tool as long as he’s had a kitchen and says it is great. He highly recommended it, so I bought the one seen below for my kitchen.

If you don’t feel comfortable using a handheld vegetable spiralizer, “Veggitti” makes a tabletop model too.

If you have a “KitchenAid” mixer, they make a spiralizer and slicer attachment for the front of their machines.

Don’t have a “KitchenAid mixer, scroll down to the section under Electronic Kitchen Devices that discusses Mixers.

Colander

I make lots of pasta. I prefer a colander with a stand. If I am draining hot pasta, I place my colander on a small plate, in the sink, so the water that touches the sink never touches the bottom of the colander. This link will take you to a colander made by “Tezorrio”, which is very similar to mine.

If you have a travel trailer, you want to save space. A great way to save space in the kitchen is with collapsible colanders. Our daughter gave us a set for our travel trailer.

Tongs

Tongs are an important tool for any kitchen. I’ve owned tongs with removable silicone tips. Frankly, I’m not confident in my ability to clean the insides of those removable tips. I prefer a tong that doesn’t have removable tips.

The “Good Grips Brand” silicone head tongs (in the links below), come very highly rated by over 4000 people on Amazon who have purchased them. There are two different lengths, a nine-inch tong and a twelve-inch tong. Each is sold separately. You can probably find a set that is cheaper than one of these tongs but as they say, “You get what you pay for”.

Rolling Pins

I love pasta! I make “Handmade, Homemade Egg Noodles” for my homemade chicken noodle soup (click the link above to see my egg noodle recipe). I use a wooden rolling pin when I make my homemade egg noodles.

This rolling pin of mine is made of wood. I’ve probably had it for more than twenty years. I have no clue what kind of wood it is made of though.

My rolling pin has two handles. Handled rolling pins are a little harder to clean than those that don’t have handles. Even so, I like a rolling pin with handles (keeps my hands off of the roller itself which keeps a little bit of me out of the dough).

I never put my rolling pin in the dishwasher and I never leave it soaking, as doing either of these things would likely result in my rolling pin warping or splitting. Aside from my cleaning practices, the best thing you can do for your rolling pin is to clean it according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

JK Adams is a rolling pin manufacturer, whose handled rolling pin was reviewed by the New York Times on September 11, 2019. The rolling pin was well-liked as a handled-style rolling pin by the tester at that time (a ten-year-old). This maple wooden rolling pin will likely fit in anyone’s budget.

Farberware also makes a wooden rolling pin with rust-proof nylon bearings. Farberware is one of the name brands I have trusted over time. The rolling pin they sell is in a price range that almost anyone should be able to afford.

When talking about rolling pins, cherry and walnut rolling pins are cited as being the best. I told my husband that I’d love a two-handled walnut rolling pin. Guess what he did…yep he ordered me one through Amazon for Christmas.

Some people prefer rolling pins that come without handles. Those without handles are easier to clean than those with handles. If you prefer a rolling pin that doesn’t have handles, here is a walnut rolling pin that should work well for you.

“Greenrain Brand” Silicone Pastry Mat

In addition to my rolling pin, I need a surface to roll my dough on. When I went to visit my daughter, I saw that she had a lovely silicone pastry mat.

My husband heard that I’d love to have one, so he ordered me the large, extra-thick silicone pastry mat but there are various sizes and thicknesses to choose from.

This manufacturer offers four different sizes of pastry mats. Before you order one, measure the counter where you intend to roll your dough and buy the size that fits your needs.

I wouldn’t advise you to use anything sharp on the surface of your silicone mat (see below for an appropriate cutting tool for pastry mats).

Pastry Cutter for Use on Your Silicone Pastry Mat

If you want to cut pastry on your silicone pastry mat, you will need a tool that if used properly shouldn’t damage the mat. My tool seen here works great for me, but sadly I don’t find it offered for sale online now.

Here is a link to a red “Spring Chef Brand” dough cutter that comes with a stainless steel bench scraper. At the time of this writing, the one online comes in multiple colors. I find the black dough cutter with the white print to be the easiest to read, but the red one is my favorite.

If you own a KitchenAid standing mixer you can get an attachment for the front that rolls and cuts pasta/noodles! This is great because with all of the attachments offered by KitchenAid, someone could have one device that does so much (mixer, grater, slicer and pasta maker).

Cutting Boards

You may not know this, but bamboo is a hardwood. Bamboo is not a tree, it’s a form of grass. Even though it is a form of grass, it is harder than oak. Bamboo will grow to maturity (ready for harvest), in 3 to 5 years. Oak matures in 20 to 30 years. It makes more sense to harvest bamboo rather than oak to make kitchen cutting boards. The next time you want to buy yourself a nice set of cutting boards, save a tree and purchase bamboo cutting boards.

My husband found these organic “Royal Brand” bamboo cutting boards on Amazon, as part of a set of three (one small one medium and one large size). We use them often.

It is important to clean your bamboo boards and set them out to dry after use. You should follow the manufacturer’s instructions when it comes to caring for your cutting boards.

To keep our bamboo cutting boards in good condition, we treat them with “Thirteen Chef’s Brand, gluten-free, food-grade mineral oil.

Measuring Cups and Measuring Spoons

Measuring cups and spoons are essential in a kitchen. My everyday kitchen set is red and black, but I can’t find those on Amazon. I was able to find a gray and black set made by “KitchenAid”.

A set of collapsible measuring cups and spoons are great for camping. I have a set of each for my travel trailer because you need all the storage room you can get in a travel trailer kitchen.

I have a set of “Pyrex Brand” glass measuring cups for things like hot liquids and larger quantities of dry ingredients.

Silicone Ladles, Spatulas and Spoons

I have silicone kitchen tools. I own some that are “Farberware”. I own some that are a less expensive brand. I found that the less expensive off-brand changed color (so I was seeing some dark material under the silicone). Sometime after that happened, a bubble appeared under the silicone (the bubble is just left of the slots in the spoon below).

I haven’t seen this happen to my “Farberware” kitchen tools.

Farberware Colourworks are made with BPA-free silicone and can withstand an amazing amount of heat. “Farberware” does cost a little more, but I have confidence in my “Farberware” tools.

Here are various Farberware utensils I was able to find on Amazon.

“Farberware” 11-inch cooking spoon

“Faberware Colourworks” slotted turner

“Farberware Basics” spatulas in a 2 pack

“Farberware” heat resistant basting brush

“Farberware Professional ” small silicone whisks (quantity 2)

Spoon Rests

Every cook needs a place to rest their spoon when not in use. I love my stainless steel spoon rest. My husband hates it.

My spoon rest holds little or big spoons. It is dishwasher safe and doesn’t show any signs of rust or tarnish. I think the high shine of the stainless steel is pretty (yep, I like chrome on old cars too).

My husband hates it. He says it isn’t pretty, doesn’t hold enough spoons and takes up more room than a spoon rest should. He would rather have a ceramic spoon rest with a floral pattern and two slots for spoons.

Because of his opinion, I went in search of a spoon rest he might like better. I ended up finding one I liked better. It is “Le Tauci Brand”. It comes in either black or white ceramic, has more than one slot for a spoon handle, has a catch basin and best of all, has a lid rest too. It will hold a lid as big as ten and a half inches across.

We both agree, since we have a dark counter and a white stove top, that the white spoon rest would work best for us. I plan on ordering one.

“OGGI Brand” Mixing Bowls

These are “OGGI Brand” melamine mixing bowls. We use these mixing bowls almost everyday of the week.

They are great for scrambling raw eggs in a bowl.

They are great for mixing seasoning into turkey meat to make breakfast sausage.

They are great for mixing Bisquick, milk, zucchini and corn to make vegetable dumplings.

They are great for mixing so many other things.

Bakeware

“Springform Brand” Cake Pans

I have had good luck with my “Springform Brand” Cheesecake Pans. These cheesecake pans help to easily remove the cheesecake from the pan without the need for parchment paper. I have the nine-inch size but they also come in a seven-inch size. In addition to this, they come in different colors.

When you click on this link you will see a set of “Springform Brand” Cake Pans that a person can use to make up to a four-tiered cake.

“Pyrex Brand” Bakeware with Lids

Pyrex has been making high-quality bakeware for a very long time. A couple of the things I love about these bakeware dishes are the fact that they are not round, they have easy grab handles, they come with lids, they are non-toxic and BPA-free.

Two Non-Stick “Nordic Ware Brand” Half-Sheet Aluminum Baking Pans

I just bought this set of baking pans and am looking forward to using them.

I like that they are cited on the package seen below as “Free of chemicals and coatings for healthy baking. Uncoated aluminum is naturally non-stick, will not rust and ensures even browning every time you bake. Encapsulated steel rim prevents warping”.

Silicone Cupcake and Muffin Pan Liners

When I make cupcakes or muffins, I place silicone liners in the cupcake/muffin pan.

The “OXO Brand” of silicone pan liners has side tags for easy removal from the pan.

If you apply a thin lining of vegetable oil or non-stick spray before pouring the batter into the liners, removal of the cupcakes/muffins from the liner becomes easy. Clean-up is easier too.

Great Non-Toxic, Non-Stick Cookware

“GreenLife Brand” Six-Quart Stock Pot

If you have looked at my recipes, you know there is one cooking pot I own, that I love and use a lot. It’s my “GreenLife Brand” six-quart stock pot (which comes with a strainer lid).

This cooking pot is cited by the manufacturer as healthy, as they say, it is made with “Thermolon” which is PSAF-free. I bought my green one a while back and have used it over and over. I went to look for it so I could provide you with a link for this post and found they make it in pink. I love pink, so now I have two of my favorite pots (in case one gives up the ghost one day, I’ll have a backup). Here is a link to the pink.

“GreenPan Brand” Cooking Sets

(Not to be confused with “GreenLife Brand”)

Due to my sensitivities to metals, I need cookware that has a ceramic interior. I have an entire set of GreenPan brand cookware that fits the bill and has served me well over the years.

I have read many reviews about GreenPan and it is said that the best bang for your buck is the Venice Pro series. Do some research, take a look at each of the following sets and see which one you like the best.

“GreenPan Brand” Venice Pro series

“GreenPan Brand” Venice Pro Noir series

These sets are advertised as dishwasher safe, but I never wash any of my non-stick things in the dishwasher.

Everyday Use Dinnerware

I love beautiful dinnerware. I have several sets in different patterns and shapes. Each set is like a piece of art (or a blank canvas if you like all-white dinnerware).

“222 Fifth Brand” Dinnerware

I had a 16-piece place setting of “222 Fifth Brand” Adelaide Dinnerware.

I also had a set of “222 Fifth Brand” Christmas Lane patterned dinnerware. It seems that almost all of the new market pieces of this pattern are sold out though.

The “222 Fifth Brand” dinnerware looked beautiful, but I found them to be heavier than I like, so I gave them to my youngest son. He likes them. I prefer square dinnerware (it fits better in my kitchen cabinets), but at this time, all of my dinnerware is round.

“Corelle Brand” Dinnerware

I prefer my “Corelle Brand” Bandhani pattern dinnerware (it is a 16-piece set). I find loading and unloading my dishwasher so much easier when I’m working with these dishes.

Chips don’t happen as frequently with “Corelle” as with other types of dinnerware I’ve owned (and own). I know if I drop a “Corelle” dish there is a good chance it will survive the fall (but when they do break, they often break into shards).

If you aren’t able to find my dinnerware pattern available (or you find the cost to be too high), “Corelle” makes a pattern called Crimson Trellis (a 16-piece service for 4), that is similar to mine, which you might like.

I love this pattern of “Corelle”. It is called Boutique Adlyn. As is the case with the two sets of “Corelle” referenced above, this set comes with matching coffee cups (not all of their sets do).

If you need a service for 12 (78 pieces in total), and don’t mind that they don’t come with matching coffee cups, you might like “Corelle’s Splendor” pattern of dinnerware.

A Couple of Dinnerware Sets I’d Love to Own

“Brylane Home Brand” pattern “Geometric”

If you are someone who loves white dinnerware with bold gold trim, here is a beautiful 8-piece set that could easily be used for holidays or everyday use. I feel this set is very reasonably priced.

“Wedgwood Brand” pattern Hibiscus

It is rare nowadays that I find a stunning set of dinnerware. I’m adding a link so you can see another beautiful set that I would love to own. The link is for a 5-piece place setting. This set may or may not be in your budget, but if you love blue, this might be the perfect set for you.

Take my advice, if you find a set of dinnerware for holidays or everyday use that you love, buy it as soon as you can. As is the case with both of my holiday sets (and my old “222 Fifth Brand” Christmas Lane pattern), once they’re gone, they’re gone.

Holiday Dinnerware

I have two different holly pattern sets of dinnerware. My favorite set is my “Gibson Brand” Everyday Housewares Dinnerware.

I love the gentle leaf work in green with berries all around the edges of the plates and the outside of the cup. These dishes are all trimmed with gold.

I’ve had my set a very long time, so you may not find mine out there. “Gibson Brand” does have a cute (budget-friendly), holiday set this year called “Home Tree Festival” that you might like. “Lenox Brand” has a lovely holiday set this year and so does Mikasa.

The other holiday dinnerware set I have was made by “Hallmark”. The only places I believe you might find my Gibson or Hallmark dinnerware (at this point), are on the vintage/previously owned marketplaces online or in your local thrift store.

Buffet Organizer

I have a three-tiered foldable serving stand that I use for dinner parties. A display stand like this helps to dress up any serving table.

I’ve had my buffet organizer for quite some time, so wasn’t able to find the exact one for you to consider buying, but this “Kanwone Brand” three-tiered foldable serving stand comes close. This one even comes with three white plates (one for each tier).

You may want a stand that has a place for flatware and paper napkins too. If that is the case, I think you’ll love this “Collections Etc. Brand” metal buffet organizer.

Condiment Server

During your buffet-style dinner, your guests could enjoy fresh vegetables and dressing, cold cuts, cheeses and more, all kept icy cold in your “ImpiriLux Brand” covered cold condiment server.

Electronic Kitchen Devices

Pod Style Coffee Maker

My husband loves coffee. We haven’t had good luck with electric coffee makers though. We have bought several pod-style coffee makers in a row and had to throw them all in the garbage. We bought the same major brand several times, then switched to another major brand, and then went to a couple of off-brands. They all failed way too fast (most stopped between six months and a year).

The last electric coffee maker we bought wasn’t the pod style. It had a carafe. Sadly, it made horrible-tasting (plastic-flavored), coffee. We ran a vinegar and water rinse several times through it in an attempt to clear the plastic taste, but it didn’t work. We just sent it to the great coffee maker graveyard.

If you buy an electric coffee maker I suggest you consider getting the two-year insurance if it is offered.

Percolator Style Coffee Maker

We gave up on electric coffee makers because every one that we bought was poorly manufactured and ceased to function way too soon or produced coffee that tasted bad.

We decided to go old school and bought a “Farberware Brand” twelve-cup percolator. Finally, a way to make great coffee again, but on the stovetop. I’m confident it will last a long time.

My husband likes to make himself a couple of cups of French press coffee in the morning. We bought a french coffee press. It makes great coffee too.

Hot Water Kettle

I drink a lot of hot tea. I like instant hot apple cider and instant oatmeal. My husband drinks a couple of cups of French press coffee daily. My kids like instant hot cocoa and they also like Cup of Soup. All of these things (and many other quick foods and drinks) require boiling water.

My youngest son bought me a wonderful hot water kettle as a gift. My husband and I use that kettle multiple times every day. It is one of my favorite appliances.

The kettle he bought for us is a “Mueller Brand” kettle. If you need to boil water for yourself, I’d recommend you buy this brand. It has served me well for years without failure. I wish I could say the same for all of the electric coffee makers I bought.

Toaster

We haven’t gone through as many toasters as coffee makers, but we’ve gone through a few. Several of our toasters that have failed quickly, have been top name brands that cost me a bit more because of their name.

Right now I have a “Amazon Basics” 4-slot toaster. It is working well.

If this toaster ever quits, I will likely buy a “Meuller Austria Brand” toaster. They make a slim two-slot long toaster. This “Meuller” toaster can also handle the thickness of bagels, Texas toast and artisan bread.

“Meuller” also makes a long four-slot toaster.

Hand Held Mixer

I own a great hand-held mixer (the very best I’ve ever owned). It is handy for quick and easy beating! If I want to make pancake batter, a simple boxed cake mix or mashed potatoes for instance, I bring out my “Hamilton Beach Brand” mixer.

This mixer hasn’t ever failed to function. The funny thing is, the thing I love most about this mixer isn’t its functionality. This mixer has a transparent box that attaches to the bottom of the mixer that holds the cord and the beater blades for storage.

I never have a loose cord flopping around or that has to be wrapped around the mixer for storage. I don’t have a cord that needs to be pushed into the bottom of the mixer (that one day fails to come back out). I never have to go in search of my mixer blades either because they are all stored together with the mixer.

My “Hamilton Beach” mixer has been my all-time favorite handheld mixer!

Blenders

My husband likes to make smoothies. He uses our “Oster Brand” blender to make the best blueberry smoothies I’ve ever had.

I don’t find my blender on Amazon at this time, but they do have a similar “Oster Brand” blender.

If you need a blender that does a little more, the “Oster Pro 1200” comes with a professional tartan jar and food processor attachment.

Electric Can Opener

An electric can opener has also been a tough one for me. What’s up with the failure rate of small appliances as of late? Why are they failing as often as they do now? Are companies increasing their profits by making pretty-looking units that have poor-quality electronic components (so they fail and you are forced to go buy another unit)?

I haven’t had a lot of good luck with the electric can openers that I’ve owned in the last few years. The only thing I can recommend is to buy a brand that has a good reputation and research what consumers feel about it. Also, consider buying the two-year insurance if it is offered.

The last electric can opener we bought is a “Cuisinart Brand” tall can opener. We have had this one for more than a year. It hasn’t failed us yet and hopefully, it won’t.

When I was looking up this Cuisinart can opener on Amazon, I happened to see this “Hamilton Beach Brand” electric can opener”. It is a standard height can opener. At the time of this writing, the Hamilton Beach can opener is rated highly by over 71,000 Amazon customers.

Manual Can Opener (no, not an electronic device but it fits here)

You should have a manual (handheld), can opener as a backup to an electric can opener (or don’t even bother buying an electric can opener). “KitchenAid” has been a company whom which I have gotten good products. If I needed a new manual can opener, I’d likely buy one from “KitchenAid”. This can opener has had over 81,000 customers give it a high rating on Amazon. That alone says wonders about this can opener.

I haven’t ever owned one of these, but I see there are some manual can openers with a magnet to help you pick up the lid that has been cut free of the can. I don’t know if this feature works well, but it might be worth the risk to get one and see if it works.

Digital Thermometer

Our youngest son recommends this “Kizen Brand” digital meat thermometer.

It simply turns on when you unfold it.

It comes with a small single-cell battery (my son says he hasn’t had to replace the batteries since the date of purchase). He has had his thermometer for more than three years and he says, “It works every time”!

“KitchenAid Brand” Standing Mixer

For the bigger jobs (like making a batch of six dozen cookies for an annual Christmas cookie exchange party), I use my standing mixer.

“KitchenAid stand mixers come in a variety of colors and bowl capacities. I recommend the 600 Series Professional six-quart size.

At this time I am not able to find the “KitchenAid Brand” six-quart mixer in the color see in this post, but I was able to find one in “Empire Red” and another in “Onyx Black”.

I love the Empire Red color, but KitchenAid standing mixers come in so many other different colors (it makes it hard to choose which one to buy).

After you click on the link, scroll down until you see all of the other available colors. If you find a color you like in the size you want, don’t hesitate to buy it. Many of the colors that I thought were beautiful (and were recently available), are now sold out.

“KitchenAid” seems to have a larger supply of five-quart bowl capacity mixers rather than six-quart bowl capacity mixers. You might have a better color selection in the five-quart size. If you are like me and you want the six-quart mixer (bowl size), get one while supplies last.

If you want to see more colors and you scroll to the bottom of the Amazon page where more colors are found, be careful because some or all of the alternative colors displayed may not be about a 600 Series Professional six-quart standing mixer. Also, some of the pictures may be associated with attachments, not the actual mixer.

FYI, According to Allamerican.org, “KitchenAid” stand mixers have been made in Greenville, Ohio in the USA since 1941.

Rice Maker (AKA Slow Cooker)

We love rice in our family. I love my rice maker. It makes one of my kitchen tasks so simple. I put in water, rice and salt, shut the lid and turn the machine on. I don’t have to do anything else, except scoop out perfect rice.

“Aroma” made my twenty-cup rice cooker. I’ve never had a problem with it.

I liked my twenty-cup “Aroma Brand” rice cooker so much that I bought an eight-cup rice cooker for our trailer.

Slow Cooker – 1.5 Quart “Crock-Pot” Brand

I love simple “Crock-Pot” meals so much so that I bought a little “Crock-Pot” for our travel trailer. I have made so many simple meals in our trailer with this unit.

Slow Cooker – Triple Pot

Long ago I bought a beautiful, red, triple-pot buffet-style slow cooker for myself. It is great if I want to make three different courses for a meal. It is very useful during buffet-style gatherings for hot drinks (like hot cocoa, hot apple cider and warmed eggnog) or for different gravies and sauces at dinner. I love my triple-pot slow cooker.

On a Slightly Different Topic

People will give you advice when you are cooking, but not all advice is good advice.

When you are done reading through this post, take a moment and read about food safety when using a slow cooker. This is a great site, provided for all consumers by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture).

Electric Wok

Our daughter has an electric wok. Her wok was used in one of the recipes I posted. That recipe is titled “Fast and Easy Homemade Chicken Teriyaki“.

I loved using her wok that day. I didn’t have one, but guess what my husband bought me for Christmas this year!!! An “Aroma Brand” electric wok (how did he know)? Ok, it was on my Amazon wish list and I told him it was on my Amazon wish list.

Electric Griddle

Guess what else I got for Christmas this year. My daughter gave me this “Presto Brand” Electric Cool-Touch Griddle (yes, it was on my Amazon wish list too).

I see a couple of unboxing posts in my near future.

I think I need a bigger house.

Microwave Oven

Our eldest son bought a “Sharp Brand” 1200-watt microwave oven many years ago. He wanted me to make sure that this item was included in this list of great electronic kitchen devices. He told me, “This is a great machine”.

Knife Sharpener

Even great knives get dull with use. Everyone who has great kitchen knives needs a knife sharpener. My husband did some research and found what he feels is the best sharpener with the biggest bang for its buck. He bought the “Chef’s Choice Brand”, Model 15XV. He says it works great.

Knives

Currently, I have an assortment of kitchen knives (you might say a hodgepodge). The blades on all of my black-handled knives are sharp and can be sharpened. I’ve never needed to sharpen my white-handled, serrated knife.

Many Chefs say that they only buy the knives that they need. They don’t buy an entire set. They may only own a few knives that are their go-to knives. All a person needs is a few good knives, a knife holder and a good sharpener.

A good selection of knives would be a Chef’s knife, a serrated knife, a paring knife, a set of steak knives and maybe a fillet knife (depending on your specific uses).

I have three different brands of Chef’s knives. I use them to cut raw meat and vegetables. They work well for cutting cooked meat too.

The first Chef’s knife that I bought was my forged stainless steel. “Cuisinart Brand” triple rivet, eight-inch knife. It works well.

My husband and I often work together when making dinner, so we found that we needed a second Chef’s knife. We did some research looking for a good knife and ordered a forged stainless-steel Mercer triple rivet, M23510 renaissance, eight-inch knife through Amazon. Here is a link to a collection of Mercer knives. Here you should find Mercer’s M23510 model knife.

This knife works great, but it is significantly more expensive than the Cuisinart Chef’s knife. My husband thinks that it is sharper than the Cuisinart. It may be but I haven’t noticed a difference. I use whichever one I grab off of the knife stand. I liked the Mercer knife we bought and I needed a good paring knife, so I bought a Mercer M23540 paring knife. This is also a great knife to use.

One of my chef knives is a Victorinox Chef’s knife. It is a 7.9-inch stamped stainless-steel knife. Stamped means that the knife has been cut out of a big sheet of metal. After that, a handle is attached to it. This knife wasn’t much less expensive than the Mercer M23510. I bought it to compare a stamped knife to a forged knife.

I don’t typically like to use knives where there is a possibility for food contaminants getting into the creases where the handle meets the working end of a kitchen tool. I have seen over time where this can happen with stamped knives. Hopefully, that won’t be the case with this knife.

I have a Zwilling J.A. Henckels 6-inch stainless-steel utility slicing knife. I love that it is advertised to have a polypropylene handle that is permanently bonded to the blade giving a seamless and gap-free grip. This company understands how important it is for a knife to have a gap-free seam. I use this knife to thin-slice chicken or ham for sandwiches.

I have a Zwilling 7″ fillet knife. I don’t use it as often, as I don’t fillet fish or meat very often.

The oldest knife I own was given to me more years ago than I am willing to share with you. It was a wedding gift. The knife was made by Russell International and I haven’t ever found a need to sharpen it. It is a stamped knife, but it works excellently for cutting tomatoes, fruit, bread and meatloaf. I am not able to find this knife online, so I’d recommend if you are in the market for a serrated knife, you should consider a Mercer M23650 Renaissance, 9-inch bread knife.

I have to tell you, my favorite brand of knives I own is Mercer. The knives feel well-balanced in my hand the handles looked good when we bought them and they still look good. I need a new set of steak knives as my poor old set of steak knives is worn out. Once I have bought a set, I will add them to this blog. (Sadly, I have yet to find nickel-free knives).

Knife Guard (OK, not a knife but it fits here)

When I was looking at knives, I saw a great tool that I’d love to have for when I’m using my knives to cut. It’s an “OXO Brand” knife guard for fingers. If you haven’t seen one, you should click the link and take a look.

Knife Stand and a Hide Away Knife Tray

It isn’t very good to put your cooking knives in a drawer as the cutting edges and tips might get damaged in there. I bought a great stand for my hodgepodge of cooking knives. It is magnetic, so it holds my knives in an upright position on the counter. This stand is made by “Musifan”.

My daughter bought herself a great cooking knife holder. It is a drop-down tray that when pushed up, hides under her kitchen cabinet. I like this concept and she said it was very easy to install.

Summing It Up

My husband and I spend a lot of time in the kitchen and rely on the things we use in it every day. I hope that somewhere in this post, you found something new that will help you in your daily adventures, in your kitchen.

Are You Interested In Some Great Recipes?

If you would like to see recipes that you might like to try using your kitchen greats on, click here to go to Joy With Jan’s Recipes.

Other Things You Might Like To Read About

If you are a person who is allergic to nickel, the information at the American Academy of Dermatology Association may be able to help.

Did you know that food (even unprocessed, unpackaged food like homegrown fresh vegetables), can have nickel in it? The American Contact Dermatitis Society (ACDS), created a list to help people make better choices in what they eat daily, to reduce the quantity of nickel they consume in a day. In case you are interested, I have provided you with a link.

What Those Things Are Really Called

Reading and writing, blogs can be educational. I can’t tell you how many things I have learned (that I thought I already knew), since I started this adventure.

If you would like to learn some of the history behind tableware, here is a Wikipedia link that will tell you all you wanted to know about tableware but were afraid to ask…….(that phrase should date me).

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