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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wonder which of your appliances are really worth it?

66 replies

Eeksteek · 25/09/2022 17:40

Just got given an air fryer from a friend who didn’t get on with it.

Which of your small appliances would you definitely replace if it broke, and which would you not bother? (or have given away?)

I love my…

Soda-stream - my little luxury. I love sparkling water and don’t want to drag it home or use the plastic.

Halogen oven/air fryer (seem the same to me so far) for cooking small portions quickly and cheaply as we are such a small household.

Microwave. Use it all the time. Porridge, milk for lattes, reheating soup, defrosting bread rolls, heating up batch cooks and leftovers. Do almost all my daily cooking in it.

Bread maker. I make pizza dough every Friday. I don’t make much bread all the way in it, because children don’t chew, but I would for just me.

Boiling water tap. Love it. Had it off for the summer, and really missed it, even though I don’t use if for tea or coffee! Would never bought one (was here when we moved) but wouldn’t like to be without it now.

I worship my dishwasher. Worship it. If it breaks the kitchen is closed until it’s fixed.

I love my side and hide oven. I’m short so reaching over the oven door is awkward and theres a constant risk of nipple-burns.

Meh….

Instant pot. Dunno why I bought it really. Use it for dog food or stock, but I don’t much bother with them these days. Does do nice porridge overnight, the occasional steamed pudding or Dulce du leche. Relegated to the garage. No time for a slow cooker either. Everything tastes weird from them. Gave it away.

Toaster. Useful for my kid, but I hardly ever eat toast and can do it under the grill if I do. They make such a mess!

Tassimo. Love my coffee, but the pods are SO expensive, unnecessary plastic and you’re very restricted on coffee brands. Will replace with bean-to-cup or nespresso with refillable pods (or generic ones. Nespresso pods seem so much more widely made) when I can.

Soup-maker. I like it, and I make a lot of soup, at least twice a week, but the convenience of making it in one step doesn’t outweigh the faff of getting it out, and cleaning and putting it away after, or the space it takes up (it seems huge for it’s capacity) over a pan and a stick blender. Toying with giving it away anyway.

Kenwood chef Not sure here. The mixer is RUBBISH and the food processor isn’t great either. But the attachments like the mincer, sieve and juicer are brilliant. I only use them for huge jobs a few times a year, though.

Hob. Dunno about doing without, but a single ring would do me nowadays. I don’t use it more than a couple of times a week. My kid does, for pasta, fried eggs and pancakes. I wouldn’t rush to replace it if it broke.

American fridge freezer. Big for just two us, although the space is nice, I think it’s really expensive to run. I love the ice/water dispenser and you can’t get them in single fridges. It’s quite a lot of space and cost for nice water, though. I’d look for a stand alone water dispenser first, I think.

OP posts:
NeverDropYourMooncup · 25/09/2022 18:47

Would absolutely be replaced if they went wrong;

Airfryer (expensive)
Stick blender (cheap)
Rice cooker (midrange)
Dishwasher (midrange)
Vacuum Cleaner (expensive, but not that expensive)
system

Would probably be replaced quite soon as the alternative is less convenient;

Microwave (cheap - I just need full power and a timer)
Tiered steamer (frees off hob space - and very cheap)
Slow cooker (very cheap - would replace with a more expensive combined pressure cooker + timer, though - if they come with rice cooker settings, that would save on replacing that as well)
Steam mop

Thinking of buying if they're a good deal;

Bullet blender (mid range)

Will get if I become rich;

Automatic pasta maker (have you seen the price of gluten free pasta?)
Vitamix
Robot hoover
Robot mop
Food processor (mid range, pref with other attachments, mainly for bulk processing of cheap veg to freeze)
Pressure washer and pressurised steam cleaner system
Floor scrubber (although hopefully it wouldn't be necessary with a robot mop going round every day)
Airconditioning and filter system
Mattress cleaner

Not worth it or not needed;

Full size oven
Mini deep fat fryer
Health grill
Sandwich maker
Bread maker
Coffee maker
Kitchenaid
Smoothie maker
Soupmaker
Panini press
Pie maker
Egg boiler
Toaster with egg poaching section
Waffle maker
Cupcake maker
Remoska
Electric carving knife
Electric tin opener
Electric grater
Electric spiraliser
Electric peeler
Window vacuum
Velvetiser
Milk steamer
Mini milk whisk
Carpet shampooer (although it would have been useful when the washing machine seal went)
Sous vide machine
Vacuum sealer
99% of the electrical tut that fills my mother's kitchen and shed

I've spent my childhood seeing all of the fancy gadgets being bought and then abandoned after a short time. The only thing that was used for years was the electric tin opener, but that also happened to be because ring pull cans didn't exist at the time and by the time they did, she didn't have the handstrength to pull them.

Urrgggghhhhhhh · 25/09/2022 18:50

Velvetiser. It was a gift that I never would've purchased myself but it makes the most wonderful hot chocolates and is super easy to clean. It's the kind of appliance where you don't think it serves any purpose until you get one - and then you realise nothing else would do the trick.

Bearsan · 25/09/2022 19:02

Couldn't live without:
Washing machine, massive fridge freezer, drinks fridge, Shark vacuum cleaner, Tumble dryer, dishwasher, Kenwood chef, kettle, toaster, microwave, Karcher, tin opener that works.

Love and use daily/weekly:
Velvitiser, coffee machine, George foreman grill, flash speed mop.

Barely use: Iron, coffee percolator.

Hated: Henry hoover got rid,

OldTinHat · 25/09/2022 19:08

My Ninja 56324-in-1. Happy to dispense of all other gadgets, even my toaster because I can toast in the Ninja!

And I have a lot of gadgets...!

Thewayshetalks · 25/09/2022 19:10

Wouldn’t wanna live without my hotel chocolat machine, I mean yeah I could live without it but I really don’t want to

JustAJokeLikeOnTopGear · 25/09/2022 19:18

Infrared heater. Looks like a mirror on the wall but heats the room in the same lovely way as sun through the window does.

TeaAndStrumpets · 25/09/2022 19:21

Would keep:
Sage Smart Oven Pro. We hardly use our big oven now. (Only two of us at home)
Magimix stainless steamer. We use it every day for veg, rice, fish etc.
Stick blender.
Robot vacuum cleaner.
Steam mop.
Slow cooker, but only use it for cooking gammon.
Manual meat slicer - brilliant for leftover cold meat.

Would happily get rid of:
My iron! But I keep it for the odd task, like pressing hems.
An electric citrus juicer which was hard work.
I have given away my rice maker because the steamer cooks rice beautifully.
I have given away my microwave oven, it took up too much room.

ARoyalSubject · 25/09/2022 19:28

You have a lot of appliances!

I use toaster, kettle and microwave daily and would replace them immediately if they broke.

I would also replace my food processor, stick blender and sandwich press, each of which I probably use once a week.

Never use the ice cream maker, waffle machine, juicer or bread maker. Should probably get rid of them or lend them out to friends to try. Like all these things, they are fun to use a few times when you first get them but the novelty quickly wears off.

Crikeyalmighty · 25/09/2022 19:41

Stove top steamer - do all vegetables that way

Air fryer
Microwave
Dishwasher
Cuisineart - tiny counter top food processor that chops or grinds small amounts of things- great for chopping herbs, grinding spices , chopping onions, making breadcrumbs etc

whoruntheworldgirls · 25/09/2022 19:49

Keepers:
Hotel Chocolat velvetiser
Toaster
Microwave
Warming drawer
Slow cooker
Boiling water tap
Dishwasher
Aircraft powerglide floor cleaner
Tineco cordless hoover

Meh:
Dolce gusto pod machine, mainly use it for hot chocolate for my 6yr old
Mini chopper - the hand blender is much better

sageandbasil · 25/09/2022 19:49

My mini chopper and blender are my life savers

Got rid of my soup maker and acti fry!

Menora · 25/09/2022 19:50

My absolute favourite thing is my dishwasher
I bought it for my DC for Xmas 2 years ago, they were over the moon 😁

whoruntheworldgirls · 25/09/2022 19:52

Obviously keep the washing machine and heat pump tumbler dryer

stickystick · 25/09/2022 19:55

My best best best appliance ever is my Dyson Animal. I actually like hoovering now.

Second best is the dishwasher, not because it’s a particularly good one but I hate washing up so it gets used a LOT

I recently bought a Siemens coffee machine because everyone said I made crap coffee, but sadly I am not in love with it - the coffee isn’t really hot enough and just doesn’t taste all that great.

Duchess379 · 25/09/2022 19:56

Non negotiable must haves:
Kettle
Tassimo
Dishwasher
Hinari nutriblend

Not fussed:
Toaster
Microwave
Food processor

Absolutely MUST have tea. I will not do anything without tea. If the kettle is broken, it's a mini pandemic in my house.
Tassimo- same as tea! If I can't have a latte I will have a break down.
Nutriblend - love making fruit smoothies & Slim Fast milkshakes daily.
Dishwasher - self explanatory really 😆

dementedma · 25/09/2022 19:57

I use most,and would keep my
Stick blender
Hand held beater
Soda stream
Slow cooker
Cafetière

I would ditch
Microwave..takes up space and rarely use
Steam mop. Useless
Fancy chopper/slicer/juicer thing. Never used

TooMuchToDoTooLittleInclination · 25/09/2022 20:01

Philips Senseo coffee machine (pads - like tea bags not pods) I would replace it the same day if it stopped working BUT I'd like to get a bean to cup, but no idea what to buy 🤯

STILL Undecided about an air fryer

cansu · 25/09/2022 20:16

Actually have very few gadgets. I have a small electric hand whisk.
Hardly use
dishwasher

Occasionally use
Microwave

Use all the time
oven
hob
kettle
washing machine

I am amazed at the number of small appliances people have tbh.

Duchess379 · 25/09/2022 20:24

dementedma · 25/09/2022 19:57

I use most,and would keep my
Stick blender
Hand held beater
Soda stream
Slow cooker
Cafetière

I would ditch
Microwave..takes up space and rarely use
Steam mop. Useless
Fancy chopper/slicer/juicer thing. Never used

Totally agree with steam mop - mine keep leaking after a year, just out of warranty. So I end up with puddles of water all over the place & have to get the vileda mop out 🙄

TooMuchToDoTooLittleInclination · 25/09/2022 20:28

Oops cut my previous post off!

1.Richardson Sheffield Knife 17.5cm Santoku
£9.99 TK MAX (currently £22 on Amazon)

I've had chefs knifes ex BIL chef chose them from my behalf, didn't get on with them. This knife I LOVE.

  1. Any Sharp knife sharpener £7.00 (ish on many sites). THE BEST knife sharpener EVER! Effective & easy to use!!

kettle
stick blender

I used to have others but when I moved back to the U.K. I gave them away, I did use them, but none so much I wanted to re buy them here & have them taking up space. 💁🏻‍♀️

TooMuchToDoTooLittleInclination · 25/09/2022 20:33

@Duchess379
@dementedma

i do love my steam mop. I've had it 12 years, not a moments grief since I bought it, until recently. It's on its way out 🥲and they don't make this one anymore. I'm gutted. I just know I'm going to struggle to get another one as good 🙇🏻‍♀️

mamaduckbone · 25/09/2022 20:57

Keep:
Dishwasher - we did without one for years but I wouldn't be without it now
Slow cooker - especially in the winter, we use it all the time
Hand blender - for whizzing curry base, soups, even whipping cream

Do without;
Magimix - can very rarely be bothered to get it all out and clean it
Nutribullet style blender - ds makes smoothies sometimes but could do without

Eeksteek · 25/09/2022 22:08

@ARoyalSubject a couple of people said that. Yet I don’t (or wouldn’t myself. We were given or a toaster) have two of your top three! I used to cook a LOT pre kids. Still make all my own jam, pastry and sausages and stuff.

I forgot the roomba. Love that. Stupid dyson handheld is shit, never having another. Iron I do use, but only for sewing. I I did have a steam mop somewhere, but I don’t know if I can use it in the flooring here, as it’s lvt stuff. Someone mentioned a washing machine. I wouldn’t like to live without it, but it’s quite a way behind other things!

OP posts:
RosesAndHellebores · 25/09/2022 22:20

An awful lot of the things mentioned I regard as essential and non negotiable:

Washing machine
Tumble dryer
Dishwasher
Vacuum cleaner (upright and cylinder)
Microwave
Kettle
Toaster
Coffee maker
Liquidiser
Electric whisk

Optional but wouldn't be without:
Boiling water tap
Fish kettle
Steam generator iron
Meat thermometer
Old fashioned egg timer
Blow torch

Frippery:
Stick blenders
Toastie makers
Slow cookers
Air fryers
Food processor
Bread makers
Ice cream makers

HairyMothballs · 25/09/2022 22:23

I love my -
waste disposal system
halogen hob
omelette maker
slow cooker

Not bothered about -
microwave
blender
mixer
sandwich toaster

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