Kitchen Gadgetry, Etc

I'm getting married this summer, and when this happens, apparently, many people give you things. And if you don't ask for specific things (I hear), you end up with an attic full of good-intentioned, useless things. So I'm trying to put together a registry.

Though I rate myself a fairly accomplished eater, my cooking skills are decidedly Beginner. Like, so Beginner that I'm not even sure what kind of stuff should ask for. (Though it is my intention, in the coming years, to hone my skills up to Intermediate, or even Advanced-Intermediate.) So basically: what should I ask for?

I'm not looking for, like, suggestions on the best $1200 espresso maker (foam-capacitor, bluetooth-ready, grows its own beans, etc); an example would be: this silicone mat that Bill/SFNM mentioned in a post about cookbooks. (Incidentally, after reading that thread, I have gone to town on cookbook-registering.** Boy!).

I could find some posts about specific items-- is Calphalon better than All-Clad, is Wusthof better than Henckels-- and there are some wedding-gift-idea-ish threads, and a thread about holiday gifts that kind of dances around what I'm looking for. Which is: what am I looking for? Good knives, baking sheets, pans, digital timers, Microplanes, crock-pots, what? (Say, $10-$300.) (Heavy on the $10-$50 stuff.) Stuff you use often enough that you don't give much thought to it anymore. The indispensable basics of your kitchen. You tell me.

(My future well-fed self thanks you.)




**To wit:
-- On Food and Cooking by Harold McGee
-- Jacques Pepin Fast Food My Way by Jacques Pepin
-- Mexico One Plate At A Time by Rick Bayless
-- Rick Bayless's Mexican Kitchen by Rick Bayless
-- The Professional Chef by The Culinary Institute of America
-- How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman
-- The Best Recipes in the World by Mark Bittman
-- Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan
-- The Silver Spoon by Phaidon Press
-- The New Best Recipe by Editors of Cook's Illustrated Magazine

Can you give an idea of what you're starting with? Probably the best place to start is an assessment of what you've (collectively) got and what of it needs to be replaced: e.g. small appliances, cookware and dishware. This should give you a roadmap. Also, I don't know what your plans are for the more distant future, but consider that you may need to plan for an increase in kitchen output (more dishes, bigger pots....)

Long ago and far away, we had a modest wedding; I was amazed at the incredible generousity of everyone...and I was grateful we had registered. We still got things we didn't know what to do with; my fondest memory is of a sterling cheese knife set from Tiffany's (which, after thanking the giver profusely, I ungraciously returned and paid our rent with the proceeds)

Congratulations! It's a fun ride!

Silpat, although parchment paper works most places a silpat is useful
candy/fry thermometer
probe or instant-read thermometer
Stick blender or regular blender
a good balloon whisk, if you don't have one
a good one of each: chef's knife, utility/paring knife (3.5-5" or so) (wusthof, shun, global are fine choices), 12" nonstick skillet, 12" regular skillet (all clad or calphalon are fine choices)
a kitchenaid stand mixer, or if space is a premium a good hand mixer
a microplane, either the long skinny one or a few of the shorter, broader ones.

The good folks at Cooks Illustrated graciously put out this The Essential Kitchen: 25 Kitchen Tools No Cook Should Be Without a couple of years back. I can think of no better starting point. The next step down the slippery slope would probably be Alton Brown's Guide to the Gear.

The best advice, oft-repeated but not often enough followed (guilty as charged...), is it's better to get a few quality tools than drawersful of junk.

Best of luck to you!

I would second ralpho and add that I'd get an online subscription to Cooks Illustrated in the next few days, and then review their recommendations. You've selected one of their books already - I can't imagine you can go wrong. They have great illustrations and explain the science behind why they make their decisions. It helps you become a better scratch cook/baker/etc. If you want to learn more about why things work (and don't work), Shirley Corriher's "Cookwise" is an excellent book to have.

Congratulations on the upcoming nuptials and your goal to become a better baker/cook/candlestick maker .

Oh, one last thing to add - if I were making a list, it might be a little different as baking is a primary passion. So, my list would be skewed to having a few more things in that direction. If you have a passion for a particular type of culinary practice or food, research those things and ask for the basics - or even a few beyond basics - in that area.

First off congratulations on the impending nuptials! Here are some thoughts re things that get heavy duty use in our kitchen:

A set of nesting, non-skid melamine mixing bowls. Have had a set of 3 for 17 years and they are just great.

Rimmed jelly roll baking pans - very useful and not just for baking.

Cuisinart food processor - useful for prep if you're pressed for time.

Electric hand mixer - we have the ubiquitous Kitchenaid stand mixer but it just doesn't get as much use as the hand mixer.

Enameled cast iron dutch oven - Used to think it was so chichi when I could get a Lodge for $20 (and I have one of those too). But, having picked up a 3.5 quart one during the Edward Don clearance, I have to admit that I love it.

A really good set of knives - it is unbelievable how big a difference high quality cutlery makes in terms of making cooking prep more enjoyable. Don't forget the steel.

America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook - just got it for Christmas and it is already proving to be a great resource.

Subscription to Fine Cooking Magazine - this is our mainstay for recipes and cooking tips even more so than the cookbooks. I used to subscribe to Cooks Illustrated, but really felt that Fine Cooking did a better job of explanation and illustration for me and I liked their recipes more.

All Clad 12" Stainless Nonstick Fry pan - I like this one b/c it has a nice balance, heats really well and quickly and cleans easily. btw my preference is all-clad over calphalon. I have both and just feel that all-clad makes a better product.

2 or 3 quart covered saute pan - when I got it, my initial reaction was what am I going to do with this? But, like the cast iron, we use it at least 2-3 times a week for various things like stovetop braising, making rice pilaf, etc.

Salad spinner - we have the kind with the cord which seems to produce more spinning velocity than the hand crank ones.

Electric deep fryer w/basket - okay this we don't use 2-3 times a week but it makes deep frying a much cleaner endeavor and frees up your stove top. Very handy to have around.

Pyrex baking dishes with plastic covers and pyrex measuring cups. I have measuring cups in all shape form and material but Pyrex always gets used the most.

Bodum Santos Vacuum Coffee Maker. If you really like your coffee, you should get one. We bought it based on the America's Test Kitchen review and the fact that it was on clearance at Ed Don. I've tried just about every method out there and it is the best cup of coffee that I've ever brewed. Also, just about everyone we've served coffee to has commented on the flavor and inquired.

John

I don't have a food processor but I have an immersion blender and I love it. I would put that and a Kitchenaid standing mixer at the top of my list. I would also request some Le Creuset. They're expensive but guests can go in on the more expensive items together.

The things I use regularly:
* A "fuzzy logic" rice cooker. Yes it's a unitasker, but it gets used often enough
* Spring loaded tongs -- get several, there are some with silicone or plastic coatings on the business end to avoid scratching pans
* A good round-bottomed steel wok with a ring for your stove
* a cheap nonstick pan -- they wear out
* a good non-nonstick clad pan
* At least one really good chef's knife (I'm currently really happy with my "Alton's Angles" 7" knife by Shun)
* Flexible cutting mats. They're cheap, they'll get cut up and you replace them
* Kitchen Aid stand mixer. Get an extra bowl.
* 11+ cup food processor. Get an extra bowl (they sell a kit with a plain lid without a feed tube, good for doing bread dough and other things with the steel blade)
* lots of small bowls for mise en place I use glass bowls, custard cups, whatever isn't nailed down
* measuring cups in 1- and 2-cup sizes
* digital scale good from 1/10oz or less, up to 10 lbs or more
* silicone curved spatulas (try to find the ones by Isi that are a single piece with no parts where gunk can accumulate)
* can opener -- make sure the part with the blade can come off for cleaning

A friend here at work is getting married and I basically filled out her cookware registry for her. Here's the list. My problem is that when I get married, I won't have anything to register for !

Calphalon Contemporary Non-Stick Roaster
Calphalon One Infused Anodized 8-Piece Cookware Set
(she didn't need All-Clad/stainless so this was the compromise as it seem to include the necessary pieces)
Le Creuset 7 1/4-Quart Round French Oven

KitchenAid 4-Slice Toaster
Chef's Choice 1 3/4-Quart Cordless Electric Kettle
KitchenAid 12-Cup Food Processor
KitchenAid 5-Quart Artisan™ Stand Mixer

Oxo Safe for Non-Stick Cookware Tool Set
Microplane "The Better" Box Grater
Microplane Grater/Zester With Handle
Lemon Squeezer
Stainless Steel 11" Steamer Basket
Oxo Good Grips Peeler
Salter Digital Glass Kitchen Scale
Pyrex Pro Digital Thermometer
Oxo Good Grips Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
Oxo Good Grips Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
Oxo Good Grips Flour Sifter
Oxo Good Grips 11" Balloon Whisk
Oxo Good Grips 8" Double Rod Strainer
Oxo Good Grips Salad Spinner
Oxo Good Grips 3 1/2-Quart Plastic Colander
Chicago Metallic Professional Cookie/Jelly Sheet
Chicago Metallic Professional Cookie Sheet (2)
Chicago Metallic Professional 9" Round Cake Pan (2)
Pyrex 2-Piece Bakeware Set
Pyrex 1 Quart Measuring Cup
French Rolling Pin
John Boos & Company 20" x 15" Cutting Board

Wusthof Classic 10" Sharpening Steel
Wusthof Grand Prix 6" Sandwich Knife
Wusthof Grand Prix II 8" Cook's Knife
Wusthof Grand Prix II 8" Bread Knife
Wusthof Grand Prix II 3 1/2" Parer
Wusthof Classic 4-Piece Steak Set
Kapoosh Stainless Steel Knife Block