Small Appliances- Residential and Commercial
There are a variety of motorized tools that can speed up production time in the kitchen.
Hand Mixer-motorized base with electrical cord and 2 beaters
Predominantly used in residential kitchens, this machine is perfect for
creaming ingredients together before adding other ingredients (e.g. butter and sugar in a cookie dough)
blending ingredients together to form a unified mixture (e.g. sour cream and spices for a vegetable dip)
*Important do not use with overly stiff doughs or hard butter as this will overwork the motor and shorten the life span of the equipment.
Risks:Moving Parts-keep fingers and tools away from moving blades
Electrical Shock-keep away from water
Predominantly used in residential kitchens, this machine is perfect for
creaming ingredients together before adding other ingredients (e.g. butter and sugar in a cookie dough)
blending ingredients together to form a unified mixture (e.g. sour cream and spices for a vegetable dip)
*Important do not use with overly stiff doughs or hard butter as this will overwork the motor and shorten the life span of the equipment.
Risks:Moving Parts-keep fingers and tools away from moving blades
Electrical Shock-keep away from water
Immersion Blender-Motorized wand (electrical cord with speed adjustment) and removable bottom blade
Residential and commercial immersion blenders come in a variety of sizes, and strengths. The duty of the immersion blender is to blend soups, sauces and sometimes beverages (such as smoothies) to a smooth puree. As its name suggests, the wand can be immersed directly into the pot or pitcher when blending, allowing for quick work and minimal clean up!
Risks:
Moving Parts-keep fingers and tools away from moving blades
Electrical Shock-keep away from water
Residential and commercial immersion blenders come in a variety of sizes, and strengths. The duty of the immersion blender is to blend soups, sauces and sometimes beverages (such as smoothies) to a smooth puree. As its name suggests, the wand can be immersed directly into the pot or pitcher when blending, allowing for quick work and minimal clean up!
Risks:
Moving Parts-keep fingers and tools away from moving blades
Electrical Shock-keep away from water
Portable Flat Top/Griddle-Plastic Base with handles, drip tray, metal, non stick coated grill/griddle, electrical cord with temperature control
This convenient piece of equipment can be used both as a griddle (to prepare grilled cheese sandwiches,eggs, pancakes, bacon etc) or as a grill (to cook steak, chicken or other meat products).
Risks:
Burns-Hot surfaces-cool before cleaning
Electrical Shock-do not submerse in water
This convenient piece of equipment can be used both as a griddle (to prepare grilled cheese sandwiches,eggs, pancakes, bacon etc) or as a grill (to cook steak, chicken or other meat products).
Risks:
Burns-Hot surfaces-cool before cleaning
Electrical Shock-do not submerse in water
Microwave-Box like body with control panel and electrical cord, removable glass tray
While designed to be a "revolutionary cooking tool", in my opinion, this tools falls short of the mark due to its uneven cooking and ability to draw moisture from the food being cooked resulting in dry, unappetizing products.
Saying that, I do think that this tool has a place in the kitchen. It is excellent for small jobs such as softening butter or boiling water or other liquids. It is also a great reheating tool for leftovers and can prepare a quick snack of popcorn in a jiffy!
Risks:
Burns (from food and equipment prepared in the microwave)
Electrical Shock-do not use near water, ensure plugs are grounded
While designed to be a "revolutionary cooking tool", in my opinion, this tools falls short of the mark due to its uneven cooking and ability to draw moisture from the food being cooked resulting in dry, unappetizing products.
Saying that, I do think that this tool has a place in the kitchen. It is excellent for small jobs such as softening butter or boiling water or other liquids. It is also a great reheating tool for leftovers and can prepare a quick snack of popcorn in a jiffy!
Risks:
Burns (from food and equipment prepared in the microwave)
Electrical Shock-do not use near water, ensure plugs are grounded
Blender-motorized base with electrical cord.Glass or plastic pitcher with blade at the bottom, plastic lid with food chute
Used to combine liquids the same way an immersion blender might do except that all foods are inserted into the pitcher first.
Blenders are a great way to mix a batch of drinks such as smoothies or for quickly pureeing a soup or sauce. The down side of this machine is that they do require a good cleaning-wipe down base, and full wash and dry of the pitcher and lid. The blade can be tricky to clean-watch those fingers!
Risks:
Moving Parts- unplug before cleaning
Electrical Shock-Do not immerse base in water
Used to combine liquids the same way an immersion blender might do except that all foods are inserted into the pitcher first.
Blenders are a great way to mix a batch of drinks such as smoothies or for quickly pureeing a soup or sauce. The down side of this machine is that they do require a good cleaning-wipe down base, and full wash and dry of the pitcher and lid. The blade can be tricky to clean-watch those fingers!
Risks:
Moving Parts- unplug before cleaning
Electrical Shock-Do not immerse base in water
Food Processor-motorized base with electrical cord, removable bowl, blade, lid, feeder chute, disk attachments including blades for slicing/shredding and grating
Food processors are multi-purposed. They can be used to;
finely or coarsely chop all sorts of foods including fruits,vegetables, raw and cooked meats and nuts using the pulse option
puree and emulsify foods such as salad dressings and sauces
Using the attachments that come with the machine, you can also slice and shred a variety of vegetables for use in salads, muffins and more.
Risks:
Moving Parts-carefully remove the blade for cleaning
Electrical Shock-do not immerse base in water
Food processors are multi-purposed. They can be used to;
finely or coarsely chop all sorts of foods including fruits,vegetables, raw and cooked meats and nuts using the pulse option
puree and emulsify foods such as salad dressings and sauces
Using the attachments that come with the machine, you can also slice and shred a variety of vegetables for use in salads, muffins and more.
Risks:
Moving Parts-carefully remove the blade for cleaning
Electrical Shock-do not immerse base in water
Electric Kettle-May or may not have a separate electrical base, pitcher with heating coil in the middle
This is a single purpose tool-it boils water-enough said!
Safety Feature- On/Off automatic shut-off on some models
Risks:
Burns-watch the steam when pouring
Electrical Shock-never pull on the cord to unplug.
This is a single purpose tool-it boils water-enough said!
Safety Feature- On/Off automatic shut-off on some models
Risks:
Burns-watch the steam when pouring
Electrical Shock-never pull on the cord to unplug.
Portable Electrical Steam Table- Electrical well base with electrical power cord, steam table inserts
This handy tool is designed to keep hot foods hot while serving. The well is filled with a small amount of water (much like a bain marie). Foods are pale in steam table pans and inserted into the well.The water heats and maintains the temperature of the foods in the pans.
Risks-Burns-watch the steam when placing/removing steam table pans from the well.
Shocks- do not immerse base in water. Unplug using the correct procedure.
This handy tool is designed to keep hot foods hot while serving. The well is filled with a small amount of water (much like a bain marie). Foods are pale in steam table pans and inserted into the well.The water heats and maintains the temperature of the foods in the pans.
Risks-Burns-watch the steam when placing/removing steam table pans from the well.
Shocks- do not immerse base in water. Unplug using the correct procedure.
Counter Model Mixer
Okay, so this has to be, hands down, my favourite tool in the kitchen!
Counter model mixers are extremely versatile. Commercial and residential options are available-both look similar, however the many of the commercial options are made with a stronger motor and more durable internal parts, designed for use in a commercial kitchen. A basic model comes with the base (that houses the motor), a bowl and three attachments (the dough hook, paddle and whip). They can be used for mixing a variety of food products including breads, batters and meringues. Additional attachments performing other functions (grating, grinding, pasta making, ice cream making etc) and can be purchased separately.
Risks:Electrical Shock-do not immerse base in water and unplug using the proper method.
Moving Parts-keep fingers and tools away from moving blades. Always turn machine off before scraping down the sides of the bowl.
Okay, so this has to be, hands down, my favourite tool in the kitchen!
Counter model mixers are extremely versatile. Commercial and residential options are available-both look similar, however the many of the commercial options are made with a stronger motor and more durable internal parts, designed for use in a commercial kitchen. A basic model comes with the base (that houses the motor), a bowl and three attachments (the dough hook, paddle and whip). They can be used for mixing a variety of food products including breads, batters and meringues. Additional attachments performing other functions (grating, grinding, pasta making, ice cream making etc) and can be purchased separately.
Risks:Electrical Shock-do not immerse base in water and unplug using the proper method.
Moving Parts-keep fingers and tools away from moving blades. Always turn machine off before scraping down the sides of the bowl.
Portable Burner
In a pinch, a portable burner is handy for cooking foods when a proper stovetop is not available. Be aware, most portable burners do not have the heating capacity of a traditional heat source, cooking times may need to be extended for foods prepared on this type of element.
Risks-Burns-Element is Hot, turn off when done! The burner will take a while to cool down after use.
Shocks- do not immerse base in water. Unplug using the correct procedure.
In a pinch, a portable burner is handy for cooking foods when a proper stovetop is not available. Be aware, most portable burners do not have the heating capacity of a traditional heat source, cooking times may need to be extended for foods prepared on this type of element.
Risks-Burns-Element is Hot, turn off when done! The burner will take a while to cool down after use.
Shocks- do not immerse base in water. Unplug using the correct procedure.