The Miracle Of The Instant Pot

Like toys, kitchen gadgets go through a popularity phase too, especially during the holidays. This year, it's the Instant Pot, a home chef's best friend.It is the newest must have in the kitchen arsenal .

The genius behind this is Robert Wang and the Times Monday Business section featured him. He has created the godsend of modern appliances. The Instant Pot can do everything from make chili to ferment yogurt.It is easily programmable which is why so many home chefs, especially novices, love it. The Instant Pot has many pluses. It is made completely from stainless steel so there's no  questionable plastic interiors to worry over. It traps the aroma inside the pot, promising a more flavorful creation. It has lids that are both left and right handed friendly. There are several different models, such as the duo in seven which has everything from a rice and porridge steamer to a yogurt maker and warmer. The deluxe model, the Duo Plus 9-in 1 has that and a sterilizer. It also has a choice of settings, from less, normal and more.It also has the handy Keep Warm setting  that makes sure the foods don't get cold. There's also the Ultra 10 in1 which has a setting to create soft pudding like cakes along with a saute and searing setting.What is truly fascinating is the Instant Pot with the Bluetooth which can be set from your tablet or phone. It also cooks food up to seventy per cent faster than the other pots.

The pot became an instant success thanks to Amazon. Mr. Wang was also very shrewd because the Instant Pot test units  were sent to two hundred influential chefs, cooking instructors and food bloggers (why not me???) Good reviews and recipes appear on line, drawing the attention of foodies and home chef. What is also amazing about the product is that the inventor and investors raised the money themselves. Wang was only a lapsed home cook when he created the better version of a crock pot..He tried to start his own tech company after being laid off from telecom and tech jobs. What he created to now revolutionize modern cooking. It was different from other pressure cookers because it has sensors that keep the cooker from overheating or exploding under pressure. There is even a cookbook , written by Coco Morante, who also has a blog dedicated to the Instant Pot. After seeing the website and reading the recipes, I'm kind of hooked on it myself. I'm pricing them along with figuring out that the Mini Instant Pot would be perfect in my kitchen.I could make my Mom's famous chili along with her sauce.It would be perfect making steamed butternut squash and mashed potatoes too.

Robert Wang has created a genius invention. The Instant Pot is revolutionizing  how we cook . It is more than a fad and trend. it may be hot but it is also  a modern kitchen neccesity.

Fix it And Forget it Cuisine

It is the busiest time of the year, with holiday planning and shopping. Many home chefs feel like they have no time to cook a decent  for their families. Luckily there's a new cookbook out  and it involves slow cooker cuisine.

Fix It And Forget it Cookbook, Revised & Updated 700 Great Slow Cooker Recipes (Good Books 2017) edited by Phyllis Good is a great book for any home chef who relies heavily on their slow cooker for all sorts of meals. This is a very straightforward book. There's no introduction or explanation of slow cookers and pressure cookers. There's only an equivalence chart in the back with a short must have appliance and gadget list. The book goes straight into the first section, appetizer, snacks and spreads right away, This is a compilation of all sorts of recipes from all over the US, sent in by various home chefs.This is a simple book, with relatively uncomplicated recipes. It would make the perfect gift for the novice home chef, especially the college student who has just gotten their first apartment, The ingredients also are not fancy. It's what anyone , anywhere can find on their supermarket shelves in any of the fifty states. There are some fun chapters on bread that show a slow cooker gingerbread and hot drinks such as fruit punch and even hot chocolate. One thing that is lacking is that there should be a guide about what brand of slow cooker to buy, along with the difference between  pressure cookers and  slow cookers.

The recipes are charmingly American. Think your aunt's favorite recipe or a church potluck supper. There are sections on beef,pork, chicken, turkey and seafood.Stews reign supreme here and there are several recipes featuring  classic beef stew. For some variety there's a sweet-sour beef and vegetables.  Roast recipes are also popular and novice chefs can create slow cooked ones to impress their family and friends.Ribs are at their best when slow cooked and there are a few good recipes for barbecue spareribs and pulled pork. Chicken recipes take a turn back to the 1950's with a simple coq au vin recipe and one that features the creamy and comforting chicken ala king. Sides can also benefit from a turn in a slow cooker and. Ms. Good has several baked bean ones. There are also a section on vegetables that feature glazed carrots and carmelized onions along with corn stuffing balls and cheesy corn. Potatoes have their due here and there are all sorts of ways to cook them from scalloped to even baked potatoes in foil. Slow cooked desserts are usually baked apples - and yes they're reprsented here along with pudding cakes in different flavors like apple, lemon and chocolate. You can also make various dessert sauces too in a slow cooker.


The Fix It And Forget It Cookbook  is a must have for any busy home chef. It also makes a nice holiday gift for the novice home chef who just bought a slow cooker. The recipes are easy but filling, the perfect combination during these busy days,

Simple But The Best Small Appliances

In this day and age there are so many fancy kitchen helpers that it's heard to keep track.These are appliances and tools that give us tasty  but gourmet dishes fit for any epicure. Yet  some of the best and most versatile are literally under our noses. They give us hot , and yummy foods and concoctions, as they;ve given our families much the same for decades.

Even though it's had bad rep lately crockpots are wonderful smaller appliances to have in any kitchens. They make some really flavorful and tender chilies.They're also good for cooking pot roasts, rendering the meat juicy and butter soft.Slow cookers are also good for giving home chefs such diversity from gumbos to applesauce. There are many kinds out there and they're all affordable (given the amount of times you'll be using them).Toaster ovens are another versatile small appliance. They can be used to brown rolls and croissants for breakfast to baking meat pies for lunch and dinner. They;re also great for make pizza bagels and pizza English muffins along with broiling smaller pieces of meats.

Before the food processor there was the blender. It is still a remarkable machine, and not just for smoothies. You can puree in it, blend, mix and even chop nuts. It;s great for making homemade soups and pestos as well as whipping up airy and light dips for parties. Another classic is the handheld mixer. This is the must have gold stand for bakers. It give batter a lightness, perfect for making angel food cakes. It can also be used for whipped homemade whipped cr4eam to accompany the cake as well as batters and dough for cookies, cupcakes and breads. Using a hand mixer also ensure shaving a light fluffy icing, the perfect foil to any cake or cupcake.

It is nice to have a fully stocked kitchen with impressive gear.Yet it's the classic appliances that give us hearty dishes and ethereal desserts.No home chef should be without them. They may be basic and no frills but they are vital to having successful food prep.

Gadget Crazy

All foodies , chefs and home cooks love anything that makes cooking prep fun, It creates a fun atmosphere and makes the time go by quickly. It also brings about a deeper love of cooking - no matter what's involved. From the egg timer to the food processor gadgets have captured our hearts and kitchens.

That was the subject of William Grimes' article in the Dining section of The New York Times. He interviews famous chefs along with those in the culinary arts. Some like the famed chef Sarah Moulton have bought gadgets that seem almost too dangerous as her pressure cooker. Afraid to use it Ms.Moulton has relegated it to her  closet.Sometimes the gadget is too complicated to use as was the case with Julia Collin Davison, the executive food editor of America;s test Kitchen book section, Ms Davison bought a salmon poacher that's just too hard to employ.

Sometimes  the gadget is too exotic as was the polenta maker that Christopher Koetke , the vice president of Chicago's Kendall College culinary arts department. It looked too intriguing, had to be bought and now is collecting dust. The same can be said for for handmade knives that Mr Koetke bought on his trips to Japan. Jack Bishop, an editorial director , also of America's Test Kitchen also knows the feeling of buyer's regret.He bought authentic Mexican molcajetes and French escargot tongs without ever trying them.

Gadgets seduce us , especially the kitchen ones.Some we'll use. Some we won't. For the ones we never use, at least they're on hand.