What appliances do you own? Want?

[Holli]

I'm just curious what appliances and brands you each have in your raw kitchens and if there is anything lacking, what would you buy? I have no blender right now :( since mine just died, but will remedy that VERY soon with hopefully a Vitamix. I have a food processor made by a QVC brand- it works pretty good (I saw Rachel Ray using the same one on her show and I thought that was impressive!), and a 9 tray excalibur I got from Alissa's store (mine does not have a timer...not sure if she sells ones that do, but I haven't found this to be much of a problem)

My wish list besides my Vitamix is a Sprial Slicer, a set of GOOD knives.

[ManyLittles]

I have a Vita-Mix, which I think is invaluable, and an Excalibur, which I have not used yet (plan to tonight). I also have a Champion Juicer, the kind that does wheatgrass too. I actually prefer my other juicer (can't remember the brand) it's a fairly inexpensive citrus juicer, and I think it gets more juice out of the citrus fruit. If/when I ever start growing wheatgrass, though, the Champion will come in handy. I also have a really good mandoline slicer that I got from Target. I think it's a Kitchen Aid brand. It comes with multiple blade attachments, is pretty sturdy, and is great for slicing and julienning veggies. The food processor I have is from Black and Decker. I wish I'd held out til we had enough money to get a better processor with more attachments and a wide mouth opening, but I really needed it, and it does a good job.

What I don't have is sharp, good knives and a Saladacco. Which is funny, because I have all these pricey machines, but the cheapest gadget I haven't gotten around to ordering. I'd like to get a set of sprouting trays, a mango corer, and a reverse osmosis filter so I can have pure water for my recipes, without buying water jugs and bottles. I would buy a nutmilk bag, but I think charging ten dollars for some sheer fabric is ridiculous, to me. I have the material at home to make one, and a serger. I've heard some people use the foot off of a clean pair of pantyhose.

I was very blessed that we happened to get a very large tax return just when I really needed some raw kitchen equipment, and that I had a wonderful husband who was willing to drop a big chunk of it on appliances, even though he was pretty sure they'd just gather dust, lol. Otherwise, I'd still have nothing but the $40 smoothie maker I bought at Target, that got dull blades two weeks later when I tried to make a green smoothie!

If I had to choose my most useful items, the Vita-Mix I just couldn't live without, now that I've had it. I think the food processor is fairly necessary for me, too. The dehydrator I'm sure will be useful, but I could probably live without the juicer. I'd use it more if I didn't have my Vita-Mix, but I usually just end up using whole fruit in a smoothie rather than having juice. Since we're frequently broke, I hate wasting the pulp. Well, that's about it!

[raweater]

I have:
-Excalibur dehydrator, 9 trays with timer (http://www.excaliburdehydrator.com/9-Tray-Large-Excalibur-with-26-hour-Timer-3926T-28-37-regular-prod.htm)
-Green Star 3000 juicer (http://www.greenstar.com/star.asp)
-Breville BBL600XL blender (http://www.brevilleusa.com/products/bbl600xl/index.jsp?sku=bbl600xl&cID=103&pID=21&pvID=21)
-Cuisinart MP-14 food processor (http://www.cuisinart.com/catalog/product.php?product_id=301&item_id=406&cat_id=7)
-Cuisinart ICE-30BC ice cream maker (http://www.cuisinart.com/catalog/product.php?product_id=314&item_id=423&cat_id=10)
-Keurig B70 hot beverage brewer (http://www.keurig.com/B70.asp) [Not raw, used to make iced or hot herbal teas and herbal coffees]

I'm not looking for anything else in the Kitchen now, I think I have mostly everything I need. I was considering getting a nut milk maker but then decided to get the Green Star instead oif a cheaper juicer (Omega 8005). I also think the juicer should be able to make nut milks anyway, haven't tried yet but will soon, I'd much rather prefer cleaning the Green Star than a nut milk bag, I hate cleaning nut milk bags and never managed to actually get one clean, I just dehydrate them full of nut milk pulp so it doesn't mold.

[MiahTay]

I have:

A champion juicer (use almost every day)
VitaMix (use more than once a day, can't imagine life without it)
Kitchen Aid FP (use this probably every other day)
Saladacco (I barely use this, but for the price it's nice to have around)

I am going to get an Excalibur 9 tray when my BMI enters the "normal" range. I know that if I have a dehydrator I will be eating more dense foods and am just not ready yet. So, 20 more lbs. to go!

Heather

[RawSweetie]

I have a blender, a food processor, a potato peeler. I'd LIKE to have a dehydrator, a Vitamix, a saladacco, a set of good knives, a heavy no-slip cutting board, good knives, a cute apron from Alissa's store, a sexy man to uncook for--oh! sorry! :D

[CrazyDelicious]

Well I don't own any high-end "premium" appliances, but you can easily go raw without them!
I have a kitchen aid blender (would like a vitamix though, but my blender does the job) which I use every day. A really REALLY cheap food processor which I use 3-4 times a week at least. A mini food processor (also uber cheap) for salad dressing/pesto. I have a cheap-o dehydrator (with temp guage) which I use 2-3x a week. Also have small things like a manual citrus cone juicer thing (??) for lemons and limes, a benriner mandoline (japanese brand - really good but watch those fingers!!), and a saladacco (which I don't use since I got the mandoline). I also have a 2nd hand champion juicer, which I use 4-5x a week.
My wish list is a really good chef knife and a vitamix.
And if I was REALLY wishing, I guess I would get a 9-tray excalibur, since my small round 4-tray - though it has served me well - is too small and I would be able to put 2x the stuff in the excalibur.
I always put off buying the expensive items though, since I figure I don't REALLY need them!!! (done well so far without)

[Conscious Midwife]

I have Gaia my Vitamixer
and Zeus my beloved Dehydrator

neither get as much use as I thought they would but they are mine for the keeping and I will do better.

Would love some quality knives

Enjoying a few pampered chef kitchen gadgets on occassion\

Seldom use my Kmart vaiiety juicer...thinks it's a black and decker or something. But I like pulp in my smoothies so I really don't have a need for juicing

A large Bamboo board to cover my stove top would be cool. I was gonna remove the insert and put in a counter top herb garden but the whoel is a bit to deep.

Recently got a new crock pot:eek: for my lentil soups and maintaining warmth :o for the veggie soups I make in my vitamixer when I have company

[subbacultcha]

I have a Vitamix 5000, Excalibur 4-tray, 'HealthySprouter' Sprouting trays, an old but sturdy food processor and a useless centrifugical juicer.

My next realistic purchase will be an Oscar Vitalmax/Omega juicer.

My wish list:
Yaoh hemp milk maker
Multi-function food processor
Spiralizer (I know its cheap but its not a priority)

[oai]

I have a chopping board & knives. :D

Wish List:
Sharper Knives :cool:
Vitamix (been wanting to try out a smoothie from one) :o

[maui_butterfly]

i have:


a refurbished vitamix 4500
good knives
a machete (for those hawaiian coconuts baby!)
a benriner cook help slicer (does "noodles" among other things)
an old cheepie dehydrator (donated by a friend)


the dehydrator is the only thing that i don't use every day... maybe like twice a month to make onion rings for my salad toppers and sometimes some nori crackers (since you don't need the teflex sheets for those)

i would like:


an omega 8003 juicer
sprouting stuff
a food processor
this crazy thing: http://www.bakedeco.com/detail.asp?id=3872&trng=fgle


i don't think i would use a fancy dehydrator anymore than i do my little cheepie, so the excalibur is off my list.

[raweater]

Not to hijack this thread, but for those with an Omega 8000 series in your wish list, I got a hair away from buying one when I realized they almost all suffer from the plastic auger chipping and powdering itself into the juice and/or pulp. Well over 9 out of 10 people I ask say they have this problem with theirs. This made me decide on the Green Star, if it's too expensive, I think a hand crank metal auger juicer ($40-80) is the only choice worth getting. In any case I don't think grounded plastic should be acceptable, especially on raw, and I think a company with such gross disregard for their customer's health should not be supported, but rather taken to justice for ignoring this problem they are well aware of.

I will be writing them saying why I avoided their broken out of the box product and got a product by a company that cares about it's customers.

I did it: I did email them saying I decided to get a Green Star due to their gross disregard for this health concern, I also informed them that as long as they insist on selling broken products out of the box, I will keep informing the public of their product's dangers.

[rawererin]

I own:
Blendtec (the absolute best)
Saladacco
Nicer Dicer (love this)
Cusinart 11 cup FP
Vacuum Sealer (indispensible for freezing bananas and prepackaging smoothie supplies)
Excalibur Dehydrator 5 Tray
Iced Tea Maker
Jack LaLane Blender (Just like a Vitamix, works real well)
Breville Juicer

and all sorts of little stuff...

[subbacultcha]

Not to hijack this thread, but for those with an Omega 8000 series in your wish list, I got a hair away from buying one when I realized they almost all suffer from the plastic auger chipping and powdering itself into the juice and/or pulp. Well over 9 out of 10 people I ask say they have this problem with theirs. This made me decide on the Green Star, if it's too expensive, I think a hand crank metal auger juicer ($40-80) is the only choice worth getting. In any case I don't think grounded plastic should be acceptable, especially on raw, and I think a company with such gross disregard for their customer's health should not be supported, but rather taken to justice for ignoring this problem they are well aware of.

I will be writing them saying why I avoided their broken out of the box product and got a product by a company that cares about it's customers.

I did it: I did email them saying I decided to get a Green Star due to their gross disregard for this health concern, I also informed them that as long as they insist on selling broken products out of the box, I will keep informing the public of their product's dangers.

Yeah, but as there seems to be a product fault I'm sure they will try to rectify it, and by the time I get mine, they probably will have. Other than the chipping auger it seems like a great product. Also from what I have heard they have good customer service and replace any chipped augers free of charge.

[raweater]

They do replace chipped augers, but the replacement will chip as well, so you're probably better keeping the pre chipped one which may eventually stop chipping, by replacing it each time it would cause a continuous supply of plastic powder in your juice and/or pulp.

They are also well aware of the problem since a very long time and don't care at all, so I don't expect any change to occur until/unless enough complaints or the law force them to.

[VeggieMel]

I have a Vitamix, Cuisinart 12 cup food processor, Saldacco, Spirooli, Coffee grinder for grinding seeds, 9 tray Excaliber and a 4 tray Excaliber; I often use them simultaneously, SoyQuick milk maker (I use for almond milk). I have a Magic Bullet, too, but it just bit the dust. I only had it a month. A butcher knife for opening young coconuts, and I have lots of sprouting jars. Edit: Oh... and a Champion juicer!

[shashibala]

I have a Champion Juicer that i bought used about 15 years ago that still works great ,a cheap food processor, a spiralizer, an Oster blender, and a coffee grinder for flax seeds. I use all of them almost every day.
I'm saving my pennies for a dehydrator.:rolleyes:

[buffalogal]

I saw that you bought a new crock pot. Did you find one that has a temperature control that goes down to about 110 degrees? I really don't like things too cold (like soup!!) I just bought an excalibur (used it for the first time yesterday). I made Alissa's broccoli soup to take to a pot-luck tomorrow night, but I would like the soup to be a LITTLE warm. Right now it is in the refrigerator. I would like to be able to warm it up somewhat before I serve it.:( I think a crockpot that can keep it at 110 degrees would be great!! I put a small bowl of it in the excalibur yesterday, but I don't think it got very warm. (Am a little confused about the excalibur - I'll have to play around with it a bit, I guess.) Thanks for any help you can give regarding a crockpot. (I do have one, but it just has a "high" and "low" setting, so I'm sure the low setting is probably hotter than 110 degrees.)

[bfllover]

I googled crockpots and could not find one with specific temp controls unless one of the ones that have a keep warm or warming feature and the manufacturer would email us with what temp the keep warm temp was but nesco has small roasters----I looked at walmarts website and the silver 6 qt says in descrip that it goes from 125 degrees up.

[jacsam]

I have:
-Vitamix - favorite
-Cuisinart food processor - favorite
-Champion juicer - love it but only pull it out on occassion
-citrus juicer - love it and use it daily when citrus is in season (winter)
-juilien (sp?) slicer - love it and use it often
-spiral slicer - rarely use it but when I need it (noodles) I love it
-granite cutting boards - I love these cutting boards, they are beautiful and I've been cutting on mine for a couple years and there isn't even a scratch. They wipe up so nicely. I have a large one and a small one for cutting an apple etc. Someone who made these was selling them at a craft sale. They are very heavy but they are beautiful.
-dehydrator-excalibar - love it but I can't say that I even use it weekly but then some weeks If I'm making cookies or crackers I'll use it several times.
-coffee grinder - I love this for grinding flax and making fine almond flour - I do this by first grinding the almonds in my fp and then doing it in the coffee grinder, which I use to make the macaroons in Matt Kenney's book.
-citrus reamer - I use this traveling and when I only need to juice one orange or add a little lemon or lime to a recipe. Mine is wood and was only a couple dollars. I really love it.

It's taken years to collect these things but my 3 favorites are the Vitamix, food processor and the cutting boards. My wish list is to have 2 or 3 really good knives.

[maui_butterfly]

I really don't like things too cold (like soup!!) I just bought an excalibur (used it for the first time yesterday). I made Alissa's broccoli soup to take to a pot-luck tomorrow night, but I would like the soup to be a LITTLE warm. Right now it is in the refrigerator. I would like to be able to warm it up somewhat before I serve it.:( I think a crockpot that can keep it at 110 degrees would be great!!

the vitamix will heat things, so sometimes i make warm soups and check it often while blending with a manual thermometer.

i think there was another thread discussing this issue, and it was determined that no crockpot will go that low, but a yogurtmaker will keep things at 100 degrees.

here's an idea for you budding entrepreneurs: create a crock pot type appliance with a temperature controller that will keep things within the raw limits and market it to all of these fine people! :)

[Vivafree2]

I have cuisinart blender - i had it before went raw. Unkillable so far - untill it wil die naturally or become too dull i will have it. I blend for 3 years almost everyday.
Small 3 cups cuisinart processor - only use for patte, pie crust or rum balls - not very useful.
Mandoline slicer - almost never use.
I have two juicers: - unkillble braun - i have it for years - good for root veggies!and sampson - very good juicer and does the wheat grass, veggies, makes nut butters etc. I just rarely use it - i have a thing for blending!
I absolutely love to have glass jars to store things and glass spoons!
One day i would like to have Vitamix and small dehydrator.

[RawSinger]

In my kitchen there is:

A 5-tray Excalibur dehydrator (the one sold on Alissa's site-I think everyone would agree that Excalibur is the best)

Hamilton Beach 12-speed blender (not a Vitamix of course but hasn't failed me yet and was about $30)

Hamilton Beach 10-cup food processor (works just fine and was about $30 as well)

Saladacco

Jack Lalanne's Power Juicer (my dad bought me this for my birthday before I had even thought about going raw, otherwise I would have asked for one with a homogenizer-still a very good product)

[Dirtymick]

Own:
- Vitamix 5000 Dry and Wet Containers
- Excalibur 9 Tray
- Juiceman II Juicer
- The Chopper
- Benriner Spiral Slicer
- Lello Automatic Ice Cream Maker
- KitchenAid Food Processor
- Cutco Knives (Chef's knife and 4" Pairing Knife)

Want:
- Mandoline Slicer
- Wellness MG-III Water Purifier (does anyone know how to get this for less?)


I love all the tools I presently have except the food processor (lid does not seal well so when I am making sauces it is real messy.) I use my Vitamix about twice a day to make smoothies and/or nut milk. I also use my Excalibur serveral times a week to make different treats and raw cereal for in the mornings. I love Lello my ice cream maker. It is so easy to use and makes awesome raw ice cream. I got several nice recipes and some great ideas from this site. I am now starting to make things for other people I know in hopes of introducing them to a more natural diet. Many thanks out to everyone who has posted things. It is very helpful.

[MrsJohnnyG]

Here's what I have:

- Cuisinart Duet blender/food processor combo, which according to the Amazon reviews, is a piece of crap, but I absolutely love it... liquefies my greens like a champ. If it ever fails, I will invest in a Vitamix, but until then, I am happy!
- Flax seed grinder (really a coffee grinder)
- Omega 8005, which I adored until 5 seconds ago when I read what raweater said! :eek: I'm still within my 30-day return period so maybe I should return it. I only plan to use it for wheatgrass anyway.
- Sprouting trays and jars
- Some fabulous knives and chopping boards -- I LOVE chopping veggies!!

I have an ice cream maker too that I'm itching to dig out and try some of these great raw recipes I've been seeing!

For some reason, using a dehydrator doesn't appeal to me. I may research sun-drying, but I'm not sold on something electric to artificially heat foods. Sorry! :o

[Bethanie]

Well, the one thing i really want is a dehydrater so i can make breads, crackers and other things.
I use to love bread and would eat it 3 to 4 times a day, i couldn't see eating a meal without bread:) i've come a long way.
B.

[Raw Yogini]

I have a Vitamix, food processor, blender, dehydrator, many small helpful gadgets..........what I REALLY want is at least one really good knife! I guess I will put that on my priority list since I've wanted one for years. Isn't funny how that happens?