Appliance reality check. We have never had a “real” microwave. In fact, I was given our first 3′ by 3′ microwave a few years ago and then only used it to reheat single size portions. Last year, we “upgraded” to a brand new $50 microwave which we kept under our cabinet island. Since I cook so much from scratch, primarily using the oven and the cook top, I didn’t see as much of a need for it.
Some of you who follow me on Twitter may remember my cry for help a few months ago. Through the hazy coating of smoke, I tweeted, “What takes out a burned popcorn smell” Yes, nine minutes of microwaving popcorn leaves more than just a small fragrance… after ten different solutions, the answer is “Nothing.” We could never get the smell out or the burn mark, for that matter. But we lived with it, and were grateful the house didn’t burn down.
So when I found out that I was receiving a professional microwave from Frigidaire, I honestly didn’t have a clue how much I would use it, but I sure was ecstatic.
Do you remember what this area looked like before the new range/microwave ?
When we built the house, we intentionally had them install the plug for an above range microwave. I admit, it took twelve years to finally get one, and then we had to have them move the plug for it to work. 🙂
Can you believe the difference? It ties everything together. I miss my chalkboard menu planner tray, but my already purchased Dayspring “Welcome” Sign was a perfect quick fix. (I’m now on the hunt for something just a tad bigger.)
Honestly, my favorite appliance is hands down the range, but I had no clue how much I would use this microwave. We couldn’t put a plate flat in our little one. Yes, don’t laugh. I wish I had a picture, but every day the kids would angle their plates at just the perfect angle so that the food didn’t roll off. Now, I can put whole, huge casseroles in and there is even a two layer rack. Can you see it? Such a great feature.
So, I want to have a little fun and find out what one or two appliances you could not live without.
I’ll compile the results and see what everyone loves the most. It may not even be a traditional appliance. I know there are a few odd kitchen investments that I have made over the years that were worth every penny.
**I wrote this while participating in a Test Drive Campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Frigidaire and will receive a Frigidaire Refrigerator, Range/Microwave, Washer/Dryer set, and a Dishwasher to facilitate my review
I can’t wait to be inspired this week.
As always, Please link directly to your recipe post and not your blog URL. Also blog courtesy requests that you please link back here so that everyone can join in the fun.
I use my stand mixer almost daily. My husband is constantly amazed about the things that I can adapt to make with it! It is just so handy! We also use the toaster oven a lot to cook or reheat since there is just the two of us!
We use our toaster oven daily….I can’t believe how often the kids pop things in. 🙂
My favorite and oft-used appliances are my George Foreman grill and my Crock Pot! Love them both so much they have to stay out all the time! Love your blog, thanks so much for all the inspiration!
My toaster oven! I use it for everything, including toasting waffles, cooking bacon and reheating pizza. I like that it doesn’t heat up the whole house and can do the job quickly!
My KitchenAid mixer! I don’t use it everyday…the “use it everyday” appliance would the coffee maker…but my mixer is my favorite. I’ve had this same mixer for almost 20 years now and there’s never been a bit of trouble. That’s more than I can say for hubby!
That is too funny.. 🙂 My mixer is Kitchen Aid just had her 17th bday…yep, wedding present investment. 🙂
I couldn’t live without my crockpot/slowcooker! It gets too hot some days for turning on the oven, and it’s a life saver when the day is too busy to stand over the stove.
Well, the coffee maker. Because it makes the day possible. 🙂
And then, my stand mixer- I so love it and use it all the time.
I could NOT live without my dishwasher. Well, I guess I could but I don’t want to! 😉 I think I use my stove/oven more than the microwave.
I’d have to say my oven. I use my microwave to heat up quick foods for the kids and love my crock pot beyond words, but if either broke, I’d use old faithful stove 🙂
I’m with Missy K – my coffee maker
Now that the weather is warm, is my grill considered an appliance??
I love my dishwasher! We run it about 1.75 times daily – couldn’t live without it!
I can definitely live without a microwave – in fact, we haven’t used one in over 6 years and actually sold our over-the-stove microwave when we switched from an electric to a gas stove about a year ago.
Honestly, I could live without a dishwasher (GASP)! But I couldn’t live w/o my oven/stove top. Used every. single. day.
My stand mixer! I use it at least twice a week; I could never make all of our bread products, most of our breakfasts, and desserts from scratch with out it. I usually keep large, bulky appliances under the counters in cabinets so they don’t take up counter space, but I use my stand mixer way to much to do that! Other than that, I think I probably use the stove the most…just wish it were gas instead of electric.
Hmmm, I’d have to say my KitchenAid mixer and coffee maker. 😀 I can’t do without coffee, and the KitchenAid helps so much in the kitchen that I don’t know what I did before it. 😀
I couldn’t live without the coffee maker. The dishwasher is great too. I use my gas stove top way more than the microwave. But, still – wouldn’t enjoy any of them as much without that morning cup of coffee!
I think as long as I have an oven and a fridge, I can survive!! But as far as luxuries, I adore my stand mixer and crockpot!
Jessie
JEN – DID YOU KNOW THAT LOWES SELLS A PRE-CUT PIECE OF STAINLESS STEEL THAT GOES BETWEEN THE RANGE AND MICROWAVE? IT HAS TWO PRE-DRILLED HOLES THAT YOU JUST PUT A NAIL THROUGH LIKE HANGING A PICTURE. A PERFECT BACK SPLASH FOR ABOUT $20. I AM EMAILING YOU A PICTURE RIGHT NOW.
Really? Ok, that could make me look really fancy, couldn’t it? How fun….but I didn’t get your picture. Off to check spam. 🙂 Thanks for looking out for me.
I have a Senso coffee pot that makes me one blessed cup of coffee at a time. If I make a pot I drink a pot, if I make a cup I drink a cup!
My blender as of late has been my fave, you can make so many things in it!
For small appliances, I use my Kitchenaid mixer and my blender the most. My Cuisinart would be next.
My first thought to the question was my very large electric skillet. its about the size of 2 regular ones. ( I have a family of 8 to cook for) I actually never use a skillet except to sauté veggies.
But I have to have my microwave, and stove.
I don’t have a dishwasher so we can live without that one, and I don’t drink coffee so I don’t need that one. either.
I do love my large crockpot also.
I have a different choice. I use my immersion blender with attachments, daily, several times daily. It is great to cut up small amounts of nuts, veggies and chocolate and the blender is used with such ease to blend soups and other liquids.
That is one i am going to mention on a post. I NEVER thought I would use my immersion blender. I thought it would just sit in the cabinet, but I was SO wrong….LOVE IT!
Congratulations on your beautiful microwave! It’ll be fun to hear from you all the ways that you use it. We don’t cook with ours very much, but we do use it quite often for re-heating things, defrosting frozen meats, and melting butter.
Honestly, though, I think the appliance I use most is my KitchenAid mixer. I’m not sure I could get along without it!
Hope you’re having a great week!
Funny how the item that is indispensable to some is what others could care less about! Our is definitely the microwave! 🙂
Hey girl. I couldn’t live without my microwave – as old as it may be. I’m like you – I like to cook from scratch. I have double ovens (old as they may be – a theme, ha) and I don’t want to ever have a kitchen with just one oven again. I’ve gotten spoiled!
What a difference your new appliances make cosmetically and I’m sure they have added to your joy for cooking as well. Yay for you! Thanks for hosting the party. Already tons of yummy pictures up there…gotta get to making the rounds!
One of my favs is my Kitchen Aid stand mixer…it makes my life so much easier!!
Have a blessed week!
So thankful for my instant hot water kettle. In 2 minutes it helps me get moving quickly with green tea ready in a flash – sometimes hardly even enough time to scan my morning email before it’s done!
I use my oven/stove top the most out of anything, but as for smaller appliances I really love my toaster oven!!! It’s fantastic for warming leftovers, making toast, thawing meat, etc. It’s a keeper. 🙂
My favorite appliance is my Kitchen Aid stand mixer. I use it all the time. I also love it because it’s red 🙂 It’s so cheerful!
As far as what I use all the time, it’s my stove. But my favorite is definitely my crockpot!
My favorite kitchen appliances are my stove and stand mixer. We don’t own a microwave either! Funny, I thought we were the only ones ;o) Have a great day!
My stove and crockpot are my favorites!
I use my stove the most. But I find that with small children I use the microwave for reheating several times a day! I have a kitchen aid mixer – have only used it once – so I want to know what everyone does with them!
I couldn’t live without my toaster oven. It’s so hot in the summer that I HATE to turn on my big oven. I use my toaster oven for EVERYTHING baked. I also couldn’t do without my microwave.
My daughters and I are tea freaks, so I couldn’t live without my electric tea kettle. I probably boil ten pots a day in that. And more than a few years ago, we used to laugh about the “salad shooter” commercials on television — so corny — so my brother gave us one for Christmas sort of as a gag. Danged if we didn’t used that thing UP, totally disintegrated from such frequent use. I don’t know if they make them anymore, but I really should check, because that was one of the most useful little things I’ve ever seen.
Hmmm this is hard because I have alot of favorites in the kitchen. I have always had an electric range and about 18 months ago we got a gas range and I LOVE IT!!! I think because I can control things better (I have too poor planning for electric, lol). But I also love my coffee pot and kitchen aid mixer. I think I use my micro the least.
Kristi
Does a pan count? My favorite is a “chicken fryer” pan that doesn’t have the long handle on it…seriously, those always get in the way, especially when I have 4 burners going, it is not easy to get long handles all pointing AWAY from the reach of little hands on the stove top (OK, my helpers aren’t little anymore, it is a habit that I still have). Don’t even get me started on fitting them into the cabinet! My pan is about 4″ deep and 12″ across with 2 Dutch oven style handles. I use it for everything from tortillini to omelets…I am getting nervous thinking that the non-stick is going to go anytime due to its age, and I haven’t seen a similar replacement 🙁 As for a plug in the wall appliance, I will vote for the gas stove/oven; followed by the refrigerator–I definately do not miss filling ice cube trays!
Being that in my many years of marriage, I have lived lengthy amounts of time w/o certain large appliances, I can really appreciate them. The two I could not live w/o would be my washer and stove/oven. I HATE the laundry mat. Hated it during college and when you have children, it’s awful. Not too bad if it’s just the two of you. It makes you have a conversation! You can’t leave until the clothes are finished.
I have lived w/o a dryer when my second baby was born. Hubby helped hang out all the tiny baby items in winter time. Have lived w/o a washer and a stove all during time with children. We cooked on a camp stove until we could get a stove. We also survived hurricane Hugo and had to really learn to camp when we had no power for nearly three weeks.
I can remember my grandma talking about what wonders disposable diapers and wipes were but she couldn’t understand why I didn’t have water without power – the pump has to have electricity to work.
I feel truly blessed to have my appliances. My small appliance favorite would be my crock pot. I am blessed with two and use both at one time. They’re blessings with large families.
I would have a difficult time surviving without my Vitamix high speed blender to make our daily green smoothies or my fridge/freezer. Our microwave (happily) died 6+ months ago. The underneath light and vent work as well as the clock and timer, so we’re doing fine without it.
Oh Anne – this is on my list of investments this year. I have wanted a Vitamix for so long, but just haven’t splurged yet. Have saved up enough Swagbucks to go for it, so am pondering trying to find one used. I’ve been looking, but I don’t want a really old one. I need to find someone who bought it, used it a few times and then didn’t realize the treasure they want to get rid of…LOL
Is a sewing machine considered an appliance? If so, yes…that’s what I use most! If not, it’s the toaster oven!
Friend – for you, a sewing machine is definitely an appliance. Now I just need to use mine with 1/8 of your ability. 🙂
Jen,
Something messed up with the linky and it didn’t display a thumbnail for me to choose a picture.
Can you delete it? And I will try and enter it again.
Thanks!
~Liz
I was able to delete after I refreshed. I’ll try again 🙂
Okay, I’m not linking this week, but promise to be back soon with PICTURES. You should be so proud. I have to admit, I prefer them myself, just don’t always have the time to grab a shot. Meanwhile, I’ll comment regarding those appliances.
First of all, your home looks absolutely beautiful. It pictures well, and I love the new duo. I own a stainless GE Profile set which is similar, and I have to say, I couldn’t do without either. I love the convection bake cycle, and the ability to keep foods warm in the micro above.
However, there is one downfall to note. The exhaust doesn’t seem to work as well as I’d prefer, and you might consider leaving what you have on the wall in tact, or opt for something that will clean easily when grease travels. Yuck to clean, and if you’re like me, you could do without the extra mess.
Email me when you post results.
Ginger
We use our microwave everyday–we even microwave ice cream! It makes it soft and easy to mix–yum! We also heat up brownies and chocolate chip cookies (can u tell we love our desserts?)
I have an electric griddle that gets used all day. It sits on the counter and the kids can fix their own breakfasts, lunches, and even snacks on it. We have to replace it about every 6 months because we just wear the finish right off it.
Dishwasher! I hate doing dishes by hand. Laundry by hand would probably be worse though 🙂