Upgrade kitchen tools, gadgets & cookware

I decided that I really didn’t need the Double Burner Griddle and returned it today. I used the store credit to purchase:

• Medium Size Cutting Board
• Microplane Multi Citrus Tool
• Two-In-One Citrus Juicer
• Melamine Mixing Bowls
• Dish Scrub Brushes (2)

Hours after cooking Thanksgiving dinner, I took my Williams-Sonoma gift card and arrived at the outlet mall before it opened at midnight. I was interested in All-Clad items but wanted a roasting pan without the insert (I just bought the insert a couple weeks ago) and didn’t like the handles of the saucepans so I decided to look for something else. I will buy Vollrath Tribute saucepans instead of the All-Clad soon. I only found one item from my previous lists at WS, and managed to purchase more upgrades for my kitchen:

• Hand Mixer (upgraded to a 9 speed KitchenAid)
• Ramekins (needed 4 oz size x 8)
• New Cutting Board (large enough to fit inside sheet pan)
• Egg Whisk (a small size)
• Double Burner Griddle (All-Clad)
• Salad Spinner (OXO)
• Small Herb/Salad Spinner (OXO)
• Extra measuring spoons and cups
• Kitchen towels

I saved a lot of money on my purchases and glad I was able to shop during the sale. All Clad was 40% off, appliances 20% off and everything else at least 30% off. Once I started shopping, I found out there was also a $50 discount for spending $250, so I shopped until my total reached that amount. I still have a little money on the gift card, which I will use another time.

... is always an excuse to buy more kitchenware! I still have a few things on last years list, but realize it’s time to upgrade some baking pans & grids. I have plenty of cooling racks but not all are the grid pattern and avoid using them when baking, so they need replaced. My sheet pans have been heavily used and although they are great for cooking meat, placing under a springform pan or when baking creme brulee, I want new ones for baking. Holidays always make me realize the potato ricer I use is too small when cooking for a crowd and a food mill would be handy for removing seeds and skins for sauces or a fruit based glaze. After purchasing a food mill, I realized I could also use that for mashed potatoes and don’t really need the larger potato ricer.

• Round cake cooling racks (3)
• Quarter size cooling racks (2)
• 1/4 Sheet Pans (2) Amco
• 1/2 Sheet Pan (1)
• Cookie Sheets (2) Vollrath
• Jelly Roll Pans (2 sizes)
• Square Cake Pans (6) 6”x6”x2”
• 6-cup Bundt Pans (2)
• 6” Tart Pans (2)
• 9” Tart Pan
• Offset Spatulas (smaller sizes)
• Additional Pastry Brushes
• Rotary Food Mill (OXO Good Grips)
• Salt & Pepper Mills (Unicorn Magnum & Magnum Plus

I already purchased a few of the items at Surfas’ and willgo back there before the holiday. I just used some American Express reward points for a Williams-Sonoma gift card and will use it to buy a few items on my list.

I wasn’t happy with the condition of my sheet pans, but I purchased a different cleaner for stainless steel & aluminum cookware and was able to remove the discoloring caused by the dishwasher detergent.

The cookie sheets and jellyroll pans were found online but need to wait a few weeks until they are back in stock.

...purchased all the knives that I needed, just had a couple more and the knife block to buy. While searching for a knife block, I noticed a set of knives on sale (58% off) at Amazon.com in the same brand as my new knives, so I ordered a set. I would have spent almost as much if I bought the few knives separately.

The extra knives since they will come in handy when there are multiple cooks in the kitchen or when I need to bring a few knives to cook at a relatives house.

..goal hasn’t been completed, I am going to give up on it for a while. I purchased more items off this list this weekend and going to wait a while to complete the list. The Le Crueset that I want probably won’t be on sale for another month or so and will gradually purchase the Vollrath saucepans, stockpots and other items on my list at a slower pace than my recent shopping trips. I know exactly what I want and will probably spend at least another $1,000 to complete this goal.

...while shopping at Smart & Final, I noticed they sold the same brand knives that received high reviews from Cook’s Illustrated. I wasn’t planning on buying knives for a while and after looking at the Forschner Victorinox 8” Chef’s knife I decided to buy it. The price was very, very reasonable – I can buy all the knives on my list for less than what my last chef’s knife cost.

I tried out my new knife and think that I made a good choice. I prefer light weight knives and it seems to feel better in my hand. The knife is dishwasher safe, which is good since my husband always forgets the current knife set isn’t.

I am still interested in trying Wusthof Grand Prix knives, but in no rush to buy them or have any space for another set.

...that I waited so long to order the parts for the Vita-Mix. I actually purchased a new blender a while ago because the Vita-Mix was broken. It only took a few minutes to find their website, open a .PDF file and figure out which parts were needed. The model I have has been discontinued, so I was very happy the parts are still available and ordered them today.

I also placed several orders for some of the items that were on my list – a couple of Vollrath Tribute fry pans, a Le Creuset Saucier Pan, a Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Nonstick Skillet, two small wire whisks and two glass measuring cups. I thought it would take longer to figure out which brands of cookware to buy, but I had already narrowed it down to a few brands of each type. This is the first time I am not buying a complete set of cookware and selecting them based on my cooking requirements. Hopefully they will last longer than the last set of Calphalon that I bought.

My next purchase will be some new knives but in no hurry to buy them since I have already purchased a lot of kitchen items in the past month.

...I always notice that it’s time to upgrade some tools in the kitchen. Most of things I have are in good working condition, but I would like to upgrade some of the items. I bought some kitchenware before Thanksgiving, and would like continue upgrading some of the things I use the most. Currently my cookware is mostly hard-anodized or non-stick and would like to replace them with healthy cookware in stainless or enamel and only keep a few non-stick skillets.

My kitchen could really use:

• Better knives (8” Chef’s, 6” Chef’s, Bread,Boning, Paring, scissors & a sharpening steel)
• A wider stock pot: 12 or 16 Quart (Cusinart)
• A larger Dutch oven (Le Creuset 5 1/2 Quart)
• Soup Pots (Le Creuset 4 1/4 & 7 1/2 Quart)
• A larger V-rack for the roaster (All-Clad)
• Another Villaware 10-square ravioli maker
• New skillets: A couple stainless fry pans, 8” non-stick fry pan and a saute pan (Vollrath and Cuisinart)
• Saucier pan (Le Creuset)
• 1 quart saucier, 2 1/2 quart saucepan & 4 1/2 quart saucepan (Vollrath)
• A french rolling pin
• More wire whisks (small, balloon, flat & French)
• More glass measuring cups: 1, 2 & 8 cup (Pyrex)
• Ice Cream Maker Attachment for KitchenAid Mixer
• Beater Blade for KitchenAid Mixer
• Parmesan/Ice Grater Disc for Food Processor (KitchenAid)

This isn’t my complete list, but a good start.