POTS AND PANS CITY BLOG

This is a handy kitchen calculator gadget that helps with such things as enabling you to accurately scale recipe ingredient portions for more or fewer servings.  Other features include metric and U.S. weights and measures conversion and a timer with alarm.

Calculated Industries makes two different kitchen calculators.  The KitchenCalc 8300 runs around $20.00 and the 8305 Pro model is larger and comes with two alarms.  The 8305 costs just under $30.00.  Both calculators come with soft plastic covers to protect from spills and splashes.  Both models can also perform normal calculator functions.

For most of us,  twisting a jar lid off is not much of a trial.  It usually involves a mere twist of the hands.  So at first glance,  the Black & Decker Lids Off® Deluxe Jar Opener may just seem to be another luxury gadget that takes up precious kitchen space.

For those with arthritis or other disabilities however, jar lids can be pretty scary things.  Some may even have to avoid buying something that they would like to because they may fear having too much difficulty with the container’s lid.  Black & Decker’s jar opening gadget is more than just a luxury or convenience in such cases.  

The Lids Off adjusts to the size of your jar automatically and twists the lid right off quickly and effortlessly.  At less than $25 it won’t break the bank either.

I was able to spend some time at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this weekend.  While most of the hype at this year’s show revolved around 3D television, ereaders and tablet computers,  I did find this interesting kitchen gadget.

The Demy Touchscreen Recipe Reader by Key Ingredient Corp. is an attractive device with lots of useful features. 

The Demy has a bright and colorful 7-inch LCD touch screen housed in a tough splash   resistant housing.  The Demy seemed to me to be very solidly constructed. There is a built-in stand on the back that allows you to position it at a couple of different angles.  The font size is adjustable to make your recipes easy to read, and you can also adjust the brightness level.

250 recipes are pre-loaded,  but you can add more via your computer’s USB connection.  Both PC and Mac are supported.  The Demy can hold up to 2500 recipes.  The device lets you organize your recipes and search through them.

In addition the Demy has three separate timers and a weights and measures conversion tool.  There is also an ingredient substitution list in case you are out of something.

Demy Kitchen Safe Touchscreen Recipe Reader is available from Amazon for $299.

We are all looking for ways to make our money go further in today’s difficult economic climate.  Food is  a large and constant part of every family’s budget.

Buying cheaper cuts of meat is one obvious way to save. When coming home from work dead tired though, one wants something quick and easy to cook.  Grilling or frying a steak is one easy solution, but can be expensive.  And frying up a lower priced cut of meat does not a happy meal make.

Cooking with a crockpot is one good solution.  Crockpots use low heat and cook over a longer time than other types of cooking.  Cheaper cuts of meat can be best for crock pot cooking as they often have rich flavor and are tenderized by the long slow cooking.

Crockpots can also be very convenient as you can put the meat and vegetables into the pot in the morning before you go to work and come home to a meal mostly ready to eat. Often there is less cleanup time when you prepare your meal with a crockpot.  Crockpot cooking can also help keep the temperature down in the kitchen on those hot summer days.

You can adapt many recipes to the crockpot if you follow a few basic guidelines:

Vegetables
Root vegetables such as carrots and other dense vegetables such as potatoes should be cut into pieces that are one inch or smaller in size.  Since they take longer to cook, they should be placed in the bottom of the pot.

Beans
Beans should usually be soaked overnight before going into your crockpot.  Beans should be precooked enough to soften them before adding sugar or acidic ingredients such as tomatoes.

Liquids
Generally speaking, you can use about half as much liquid for crock pot cooking as you would if you were preparing the same recipe by another method.  One cup of liquid is usually enough unless the dish contains pasta or rice.

Rice and Pasta
Cook pasta just enough to make it slightly tender before adding to the crockpot if your recipe calls for adding cooked pasta.  For uncooked rice, add 1/4 cup extra liquid per 1/4 cup of rice.  Long grain converted rice works best.  You can add cooked rice shortly before servings if your recipe requires a long time in the crockpot.

Herbs and Spices
Whole herbs work well for crockpot cooking as they release their flavor over time.  The flavor of ground spices and herbs tends to dissipate with long cooking times, so it is better to add them towards the end of cooking.

Milk and Cheese
Milk, cheese, cream and sour cream don’t do well when cooking over long periods of time, so it is best to add these ingredients in the last hour of cooking.  For milk based soups, use 1 or 2 cups of water and then add your milk or cream in the last hour.

Try not to open your crockpot’s lid while cooking, as this will let the heat and water vapor escape, adding to your cooking time as well as drying out the contents.

There is not much better on a hot summer day than a really good ice cream, unless that is, if it is a really good ice cream that you have made yourself.

The first hand-cranked ice cream machine was invented in 1847. Traditionally, making your own ice cream meant a lot of fuss and bother, hard work and mess. Fortunately, nowadays we have some really cool electronic ice cream makers.

All ice cream makers work by simultaneously freezing the ice cream mixture and stirring or churning it to aerate and prevent the formation of ice crystals.

There are three basic types of modern ice cream makers for the home:

> Counter-top machines which use a freezing element (a double walled bowl which contains a solution that freezes below the freezing point of water) which must be pre frozen in your freezer for up to 24 hours before use. When frozen, the bowl is placed in the machine and the ice cream ingredients are added. This system works best if the ingredients are also ice cold. Rotating paddles (sometimes also called dashers) stir the mixture, which slowly freezes; usually in 20 to 30 minutes. The main disadvantage of this type of maker is that to make multiple batches, you will need multiple bowls, which are usually available for purchase separately. The advantage of this type of ice cream maker is lower cost – usually less than $100.

>Ice cream makers that use crushed ice and rock salt. These are usually more or less bucket shaped and traditional looking. There is usually an outer bowl and a smaller inner bowl. The space between the bowls is filled with layers of crushed ice and rock salt. Some claim that this type of maker creates the best ice cream with the best texture, but the drawbacks are that it is a much messier and labor-intensive process.

>Ice cream makers that have the freezing element built-in. This type of machine can usually make a batch of ice cream in 20 – 30 minutes. Disadvantages are high cost, and in many cases, self-freezing machines are larger. Ice cream machines of this type are usually meant to be stationary, as in some cases moving them will disturb the freezing system’s coolant. Some machines should therefore not be used for up to 12 hours after moving. One advantage for this type of device is that multiple batches can be made.
There are a number of brands of ice cream makers available, and each company usually has several models available of different sizes and with different features. Most of these machines can also be used to make frozen yogurt, sorbet, or frozen drinks as well as ice cream. We will review a few of the more popular models:

Cuisinart 1-1/2-Quart Automatic Ice Cream Maker

This model comes in a choice of white or red housing and uses a freezer bowl. Additional freezer bowls are available for about $30. The top is transparent for easy monitoring. Takes about 20 minutes to make 1 – 1 1/2 quarts of ice cream. The interior chamber is nonstick for easier cleaning. Cuisinart provides a 3-year limited warranty on their ice cream makers.

At just under $50, this is an excellent machine to start making your own ice cream and it is very well rated by users. It is relatively quiet, and easy to use.

Cuisinart ICE-40 Flavor Duo Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker

This model also uses freezer bowls, but has two 1 quart bowls so that you can make two different flavors at the same time. You can also choose to use only one bowl for smaller batches. This maker is also highly rated by users and runs around $75.

Cuisinart ICE-50BC Supreme Ice Cream Maker

This is a 1 1/2 quart compressor ice cream maker, so there is no freezer bowl, and you can easily make multiple batches for parties, etc.  At about $235 it is more expensive than models that use a freezer bowl; but it is one of the lowest price self-freezing ice cream makers.  The mixing paddles are made from plastic, and probably will not be as durable as metal; although replacements are readily available should you require them. Also, this machine is fairly noisy.  With the exception of these two common complaints this is another highly rated machine.

Cuisinart Supreme Commercial Quality Ice Cream Maker – ICE-50BC

This is similar to the above machine but the parts, with the exception of the lid, are made of metal. This higher quality also comes at a higher price: just under $400.

KitchenAid KICA0WH Ice Cream Maker Attachment

This is a freezer bowl based maker that is designed to fit on KitchenAid stand mixers. It costs around $75 and will make up to 2 quarts in about 30 minutes. Some parts are dishwasher safe, but the freezer bowl must be hand washed. Overall this gets pretty good reviews, but one has to wonder if it would not be better to just get a dedicated ice cream maker for the same price.

Rival F69206-X 6-Quart Electric White Mountain Ice Cream Freezer

Rival’s ice cream makers use crushed ice and rock salt. They have a more traditional look and even hand-cranked models are available. This model makes 6 quarts, and the freezer can and mixing element are dishwasher-safe, though the salt can cause rusting. The tongue and groove solid pine wood bucket is handcrafted.

This type of ice cream maker is a lot more work than the Cuisinart machines, but it could be a “fun for the whole family” type of event if everyone helps layering the crushed ice and salt preparatory to making the actual ice cream. If this is the kind of experience you are looking for then this is probably the best machine for you! Although some of the lower priced Rival ice cream makers don’t get great reviews, this one, which runs about $179 does. These makers are also noisy, and the wooden bucket can leak (this is probably more likely the drier your climate), so you may need to place it in a tray or tub.

Lello 4070 Gelato Junior

This machine comes with an on-board freezing system, a removable bowl for easier cleaning, and makes one quart in about 30 minutes. It weighs in at 31 lbs. and there is a one-year limited warranty. The Gelato Junior is relatively quiet and gets very good reviews. A couple of complaints are that the ingredient slot is small, and the timer doesn’t turn the machine off – it just alerts you to the fact that you need to turn it off – so this is not a set and forget maker. Also the instruction manual could be better written. At around $195 this is a very reasonably price machine, and is perhaps a better choice than the Cuisinart ICE-50BC if you want a quieter machine and if the smaller capacity works for you.

Lello 4090 Gelato Pro Quart Ice Cream Maker

This model takes about 45 minutes to make 2 quarts of ice cream, so it has twice the capacity of the Gelato Junior. It also has the removable bowl and features an auto shut off timer. The price is about $399, and this maker also gets good reviews by users.

Lello 4080 Musso Lussino 1.5-Quart Ice Cream Maker, Stainless

If you want the best you have to pay for it! At about $699 this is one of the most expensive ice cream makers designed for home use. The housing, bowl and paddles are all made of stainless steel. Makes 1 1/2 quarts in about 30 minutes. Completely automatic: pour in your ingredients and press two buttons. Built-in freezing system so no freezer bowls to mess with. This device gets very good reviews by users and comes with a one year warranty. One drawback is that the bowl is not removable; so while being stainless makes it easier to clean, you have to clean it in the machine. You probably would want to have a permanent place in your kitchen for this maker, as at 38 pounds it is a little too heavy to be moving in and out of cabinets. It does have a very nice appearance, and will compliment most kitchens.

One thing to consider before buying is that Cuisinart has a reputation for very good customer service; so if you are unlucky enough to purchase a machine that needs warranty work (and Cuisinart’s warranty is longer), you may have a less frustrating experience getting it taken care of if you choose one of their devices.

When you make your own ice cream, remember that the product as it comes out of the machine is in many cases softer than store-bought ice cream. This is especially true of makers that use a freezer bowl. You will probably need to place your fresh ice cream in the freezer for a while to harden before serving.

It is better to mix your ice cream base the night before you intend to use it. This allows the flavors to blend, and your mixture will be cold. Cold ice cream mix means that the ice cream will freeze quicker and also helps to prevent ice crystals.

Many people prefer custard-based ice creams that include egg yolks. Custard-based ice creams are richer, smoother and creamier.

If your machine has a large uncovered opening for adding ingredients, you may achieve better results by covering it with a clean kitchen towel to help prevent cold loss while making your frozen masterpieces.

Finally, you will probably want more recipes than will come with your new gadget, so we have a couple of excellent ice cream recipe books to recommend: Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Ice Cream & Dessert Book and The Best Ice Cream Maker Cookbook Ever .

Breadmakers For Easy Baking

A bread maker is a home appliance that has revolutionized the process of making breads. First manufactured in 1986 in Japan, breadmakers have since made their way to homes the world over. By means of a breadmaker, automatic baking has become possible and more convenient.

As with ordinary baking, ingredients must first be measured according to the recipe. The mixture is then poured into the bread pan which is placed in the machine. The breadmaker will then take some hours to bake the bread by first turning the mixture into dough and eventually baking it. The process of making dough is helped by a built-in paddle. Once the baking is done and it has been allowed to cool down, the bread is freed from the bread pan. The paddle at the bottom of the loaf should be removed from its place.

Breadmaker breads spoil easier than commercial breads due to the absence of additives. However, it is possible to add sourdough starter to the ingredients to prolong the shelf life of the breads.

Breadmakers have built-in timers that may be set for easier baking. Other machines can be programmed to only prepare the dough and not to bake the bread later, in this case the dough is baked in an oven. Breadmakers have other uses as well. They may be set to make jams, pizza bases, wheat-free loaf, cakes, and pasta and in some instances, mochi- a Japanese rice bread.

Considerations in choosing a breadmaker:

- the over-all capacity of baking loafs

- the quality of bread produced

- the duration of time it takes to make one loaf

- the featured programs

- type: may either be single loaf breadmaker or multi loaf breadmaker

As with normal baking several problems may arise concerning the quality of the bread produced. Such problems may be caused either by the baking process or the quality of breadmaker itself.

Doughy loaf

This problem basically concerns the temperature of the breadmaker. The built-in thermometer must read 190 F. Once the baking is over and the loaf is still doughy, you may choose to continue baking it in a conventional oven or wait till the breadmaker cools down and start the whole process over.

Small bread

Lack of liquid added to the dough. The problem starts with the dissolving of the yeast. If too little liquid is used, the yeast may not be stimulated to produce the necessary carbon dioxide, which is instrumental in making the dough rise. Without this, the loaf may become dense and will be much smaller.

Collapsed or flat-topped bread

Collapsing is mainly due to too much addition of liquid to the dough. The yeast in this case is overly stimulated, producing more gluten than the dough may withhold. This leads to the collapsing of loaf structure.

Bread sticking in the breadmaker pan

This can be resolved by brushing the breadmaker pan with oil before adding the water into the dough. This works well in the majority of conventional ovens as well.

Too much rising of the loaf

This problem may be controlled with the use of salt. Adding one half teaspoon of salt may be sufficient to keep the rising of the bread in balance.

Always be sure to read the manual of your particular machine to get the best results.