Kitchen appliances chat

Wouldn’t be a problem if I hadn’t fired my personal chef

Had a Bosch one, it started leaking onto the base.

Anyone got any "life-hack" style suggestions for small microwavable dishes that don't get too hot?

We batch make food for our youngest then freeze it in ice cubes. Our main bowls are fine, but once you use 3p/d for that plus breakfast etc. they don't last long. Our others get ferociously hot.

Something compact which could take 3 big ice cubes would be perfect.

Any recommendations on cooker hoods that have an exhaust to the rear, rather than to the top?

Ceiling height is 270cm or so, so a chimney might look too long, and there is stud wall behind the location of the cooker hood so can go straight back and ducted out.

Elica look like they do some, not sure if Neff or Miele and other brands have it too?

I want a toaster that lasts more than 3 years. Also needs to fit wide home baked bread slices.

Dualit long slot was my hunch but I see quite a few broken ones on eBay which tells me they're probably as shit as any other.

Any better suggestions?

Dualit classic 4 slot is a tank, survives B&B use. 5 year warranty, but spendy.

Dualit

They sell spare parts and are fairly easy to service.

Which reminds me, I need to fettle our toaster, the timer keeps stopping part way and we end up burning the toast. I suspect some wd40 will help, and might enhance the flavour as well.

Didn't know if this was one of those where the brand has rep but they 'value-engineer' their products to the point of being shit. Good to know though, will save an eBay search. Unfortunately the 4 slot doesn't look big enough for anything bigger than tin loaves, not sure if the long slot is of the same quality build.

As it turns out I managed to fix ours with some constructive drilling. I hope security screws in appliances are banned under 'right to mend'. Was just some crumbs in the electromagnet, but getting to it was a bit of a bastard.

Actually while I'm on the subject of mending appliances, what grease is good for up to 300 degrees? My oven has removable screws to hold in the racks but they've started to corrode. One seized and sheared off, I'd like to avoid that happening with the others.

Don't buy the cheap/lite dualit. It's basically a Morphy Richards in sheep's clothing. The classic is a different beast

New post for different topic. Can anyone recommend a set of pans for my new induction hob.
Im struggling to identify the difference between salter pans at Argos, John Lewis own brand and le cruset, bar the price. I'm used to buying whatever anodised pans the supermarkets have but the dishwasher slowly eats them.

Also a 2L+ induction compatible stovetop kettle, because I can.

Le creuset triple ply stainless. Shop around as you can often find sets or special offers.

Kettle - any ferrous one will do, I use a coffee pour over kettle just because it’s good for making v60 too.

Re toasters - don’t bother

Just heat a skillet and put bread on it. The best toast I have ever eaten was done on an aga in a wire contraption for flipping it over.

I don’t have an aga, they are only good for making toast and even I can’t justify one for that singular purpose.

My FiL is staying in a place with an electric Aga.
Has most of the inconveniences of a regular Aga (boil and simmer hobs, 3 ovens with different temperatures, non-adjustable) only plus is you don't need to keep feeding it all the time.

/CSB

I quite like the stainless tefal ingenio pans.
Induction compatible, stackable for space.

Le Creuset triple ply stainless is lovely stuff, but I have le Creuset cast iron, which is what I hope to use a lot of once I get my new kitchen fitted.

I have Circulon Infinite saucepans which are going on for ten years old and are still nicely non-stick and clean very well.

I also have a Le Creuset hardened non-stick and that is starting to stick a bit after just a year. Wouldn't recommend given the hefty price tag.

For induction I would go with the thickest base you can afford which is usually a stainless disc with alu core. Most tri-ply pans have the same thickness all around so you end up with a fairly thin base which with the uneven but intense heating from induction gives you hot spots and can even warp the base. So maybe only a small tri ply pot for milk stuff .
I would suggest pots with thick disc base for liquid like soups etc, 1 cast iron emaille pot for stews and braising in the oven, 1 coated pan for delicate stuff and 1 cast iron pan for high heat. If you want less maintenance Demeyere makes a 5mm thick 7ply pan which is great but heavy.
Definitely mix and match and don't buy just as set from one brand.

The cast iron pan we have gave the induction hob big scratches almost instantly, I thought they would all relatively similar and so have avoided using it but are they?

I also have a Le Creuset hardened non-stick and that is starting to stick a bit after just a year.

If you contact them and show them they will replace them.

I was wondering how good their warranty is. I looked at it the other week and there seemed to be lots of caveats about damage due to heat but will have to give it a try.

I guess that depends on the bottom, I mostly use a enamel one that is smooth. When I had a small dent in the bottom of the stainless pressure cooker that also caused scratches and was
almost impossible to find.

Edit: I have decommissioned the cast iron frying pan because my wife can't be bothered with any maintenance and only use the enamel cast iron pot.

Go to one of their concessions and argue the toss irl would be my suggestion

Scratching induction hobs is my big fear of having one

It’s why I’m thinking a domino system so I can replace the induction part when kiddies smash it by accident.

Need to start looking at ordering what I go for now as kitchen is soon going in and need to sort out worktop templating.

Neff dominos: metal trim, induction controls have a + / - ui, which isn’t ideal.

Siemens dominos: more modern look, Induction has slide control
Cast iron gas pan supports are less supportive

Bosch dominos: induction isn’t multizone, so it’s out

Fisher Paykel: 60cm unit and 30cm induction, 5 year warranty

Miele dominos: each domino is too wide and $

Gaggenau: $$$$$$$$

Smeg dual fuel: wok burner and 4 induction 90cm. 5y warranty. As it’s a single unit, less installation hassle/cost

Any others to consider?