Cooking Stack Exchange
Cooking Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [equipment]

Questions on selecting, maintaining, and using cooking tools and equipment.

Any piece of equipment typically found in a kitchen and/or used in the preparation of food should be given this tag. Both utensils and appliances are considered equipment.

Not all equipment questions are on topic for this site. Please refer to the categories and examples below:

On Topic

  • Operation

    • How important is it to preheat my oven?
    • How can I safely use a blender with hot liquids?
    • Is it safe to make tomato- or wine-based sauce in a cast iron pan?

  • Evaluation and Selection

    • What should I look for when purchasing a blender?
    • What are the practical differences between a gas vs. induction range?
    • Is there a tool/appliance available that can help me grate onions faster?

  • Care and Maintenance

    • How do I clean a wooden cutting board?
    • How do I season a cast-iron pan?
    • Why shouldn't I put knives in the dishwasher?

Off Topic

  • Installation and Repair

    • Where can I find a replacement gasket for my blender?
    • How do I fix my broken ice maker?
    • Can I install a 40 amp oven/range in a 50 amp receptacle?

  • General Recommendations/Reviews

    • Any experiences with the Acme X-Slice 4000?
    • Which microwave should I buy?
      Note that exceptions may occasionally be made for product searches fitting a very narrow criteria. Ask these only if you have already attempted to locate a specific type of product via normal channels (Google, Amazon, etc.)

Additional Guidelines

  • Questions about equipment should not be considered off-topic based solely on the specific type of equipment being discussed. If it is typically found in the kitchen and used to prepare food, it is eligible.

  • Questions about specific models may be too localized, if very few people own that model or it's sold only in a very small geographic area. But questions about specific manufacturers or models which are widely sold and known are fine. For example, asking about a detail of KitchenAid mixers, which are extremely common in the US, is not much more localized than asking about stand mixers. But asking about your custom-commissioned RoboJetWhizzer 9X47J food processor/spray applicator is too localized.

See here for a more detailed explanation of these points.

1266 questions
2
votes
3 answers

Texture issue in homemade powdered sugar

The other day I was making marshmallows and ran into a multitude of problems -- broken candy thermometers, overheated mixers, syrup spill, you name it. I thought I'd escaped the clutches of fate and made decent marshmallows until I realized I ran…
TheSpatulaQueen
  • 151
  • 1
  • 1
  • 5
2
votes
3 answers

Do the cup cakes bake faster in a 24 hole cup cake tray rather than a 12 hole cup cake tray?

The cupcakes cook faster than the big one piece cakes, so does it make sense to assume that the cup cakes bake faster in a 24 hole cup cake tray rather than a 12 hole cup cake tray? My oven has a convection fan.
Aquarius_Girl
  • 7,275
  • 60
  • 155
  • 206
2
votes
4 answers

What can I use to strain gritty bloody mary mix?

I like Zing Zang bloody mary mix, but it's very gritty with seasoning. I like to pour it into a strainer to filter out the grit, but the mix is so thick that it takes forever to strain. Not only that, it doesn't get all the grit. A strainer with…
oscilatingcretin
  • 151
  • 1
  • 7
2
votes
1 answer

Why did this brown rice recipe fail?

I just tried to bake some brown rice (350 degrees in a convection oven) in a white casserole dish that looks kind of like this. Anyway, after 30 minutes (what the recipe called for) it didn't work. The rice just sat there uncooked. So I dumped…
Rhea
  • 391
  • 2
  • 4
  • 12
2
votes
2 answers

Gas or electric for rack oven in a bakery?

I plan to purchase a rotating rack oven for my bakery. What type (gas or electric) would achieve the best result for pastries and small breads?
Pierre
  • 51
  • 2
  • 3
2
votes
3 answers

Is it bad to cut onions and other vegetables on the same cutting board?

Is it bad to cut onions and other vegetables on the same cutting board? Does the type of cutting board matter? For example, do wooden cutting boards that are regularly used to cut onions (or other potent veggies, garlic, etc.) start to smell…
Andy B.
  • 121
  • 1
  • 3
2
votes
1 answer

What's the functional different between a skillet and a saute pan?

I see that a skillet or a fry pan has sloped sides...for easy tossing. A saute pan has straight sides. I see that a skillet/fry pan as more of a all-round pan to have...and if I complement it with a lid, I don't see why I would ever need a saute…
milesmeow
  • 4,244
  • 15
  • 40
  • 66
2
votes
2 answers

Is it wise to use vinegar to handle rust for cooking utensils?

Sometime, the cooking utensils can be damaged by minerals in the food and cause some rust. Would it be wise to use vinegar to remove rust for cooking utensils or are there are better methods?
Anderson Karu
  • 389
  • 1
  • 8
  • 17
2
votes
2 answers

Where can I get Chocolate Bar shaped silicone molds from in the UK?

I need to find some chocolate bar shaped silicone molds, ideally about 100 grams in each bar, although I could go for smaller bars but not much. Could you please let me know where I can get some from in the UK as I could do with ordering them by…
lardymonkey
  • 143
  • 4
2
votes
2 answers

Should I buy a mechanical chopper?

A popular example of this device is the heavily-advertised Slap Chop tool. Is there any advantage to buying one of these? Do they tend to be as effective as advertised, and if so, what features should I look for, and how long can I expect it to…
Mary
  • 31
  • 2
2
votes
1 answer

Frying pan width - from base or rim?

I have a recipe that calls for a frying pan about 20cm across - should I measure from the base, or the top rim?
Kevin
  • 123
  • 1
  • 6
2
votes
3 answers

Caffettiera (Moka Pot) is not making coffee properly

I have fairly large Italian Caffettiera used for making coffee. I think it makes about 8 cups. The thing is it sits on my lit gas stove for at least 15 minutes and nothing comes out. Any ideas? PS. Yes, I put water in it ;)
Eric Brotto
  • 199
  • 2
  • 2
  • 7
2
votes
2 answers

Small portable grill for a studio flat?

I'm about to move into a rather small studio flat, with a pretty tiny kitchen. I'm wondering if there's a small grill (about the size of a small gas stove, i.e, you could hold it between your hands easily) that runs from electricity or gas. The kind…
Click Upvote
  • 575
  • 4
  • 9
  • 14
2
votes
3 answers

Is it possible to use a commercial oven range in the home?

I'm moving house soon, and the kitchen needs a complete re-fit. I've always been disappointed with the power of my current gas hob, where even the 'fast' ring is only 3kW, and while looking for a more powerful hob noticed that you can get commercial…
Greg Beech
  • 121
  • 1
  • 4
2
votes
3 answers

Does garbage disposal horse power matter that much?

I am in the last leg of a kitchen remodel and need to purchase a garbage disposal. And I am wondering how much of a difference horse power makes in the day to day operation of the kitchen? Has anyone here experienced the pros and cons to disposal…
jessegavin
  • 305
  • 1
  • 2
  • 8
1 2 3
…
84 85