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.

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How much overrun do I get with a compressorless home ice cream machine?

I started making my own ice cream this year. While the French type works quite well, I've been having trouble with American and Gelato types. I don't have an ice cream machine. I freeze small portions of icecream on a prefrozen wide porcelain…
rumtscho
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Why does a portafilter machine take so long to warm up and a modern machine doesn't?

I was wondering why a portafilter coffee machine takes up to 15 minutes to warm up in order to make an espresso. On the other side, a modern Nespresso Citiz doesn't even take a minute to warm up. What makes the difference here?
Johannes Schaub - litb
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Are there any 27" residential ovens that can accomodate a 3/4 sheet pan?

I am moving into a house that needs a new oven. We aren't going to renovate the entire kitchen; we just want to swap out the oven. The current cabinet space for the oven can hold at most a 27 inch oven. I know that most modern 30"+ ovens are big…
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how should I cook the steak at home

Possible Duplicate: How do you cook a steak like those found in fine steakhouses? hi, I have tried several times to cook steak at home but they were not as delicious and good as they were at restaurants. I used pan to cook that and just a little…
tugberk
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Alternatives to acetate?

What are some alternatives to using acetate strips? I'm not interested in a specific application here, so feel free to give ideas for all types of techniques. Under what culinary circumstances, if any, can they be substituted with a silpat? …
ESultanik
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White stains & muddy deposits in stainless steel pots

I use stainless steel pots on an induction cooker for boiling water for preparing food for an infant. I use bottled and supposedly clear and soft water. When I pour the water into the pot it is crystal clear. I noticed that after boiling it's not…
Konrad Garus
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Why do I need to cook milk in a cast iron pan before first usage?

I bought a cast iron grill pan from a famous Swedish four-letter store. They suggested boiling milk with some vegetable oil before starting to use the grill. Why is this necessary, and what's the difference from just washing it with water?
HeDinges
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Open-Source Stand Mixer (Kitchen Equipment)?

Where can I find designs for an open-source stand mixer? I'm generally looking for small-scale, industrial-quality kitchen equipment that's open-source. I'd prefer a set of machines that share the same motor (the most expensive component) in some…
Michael Altfield
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How tight should a vacuum sealed bag be?

From what I remember from new, my vacuum sealer doesn't seem to suck air out of the bag as well as it used to. While the bag does "Crinkle up", there seems to be more air inside the bag than I remember when the device was brand new. I have used the…
Greybeard
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Can a tool for cracking macadamia nuts be used for cracking hickory nuts?

Chinese hickory nuts (山核桃), or Carya cathayensis, are related to American pecans. Both are species of hickory, Carya illinoinensis. Here is an example of Chinese hickory nuts from Changbai Mountain (长白山). What tools can I use to crack Chinese…
Tim
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What would cause a temperature limit of 220 °C for a frying pan in the oven?

There is a frying pan advertised as "Oven safe to 220c". Teflon is safe to 260 °C, and if other surfaces are less temperature stable than teflon the fact is not well advertised. On the image there is no obvious non-metallic components, but there…
User65535
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Can I use a mason jar or an empty tin can as a DIY cooking pot over an open flame stove?

I'm talking about a small gas or alcohol stove, for example like this: Images from: https://www.rei.com/blog/camp/diy-how-to-make-an-alcohol-stove-from-soda-cans If I'd use a glass mason jar instead of a cooking pot - would the glass shatter? What…
Canned Meat Lover
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Type of silk to use for making tea bags

I am investigating the possibility of making my own reusable tea bags. There are several types of textiles to choose from, each with their own pros and cons: Paper tea bags are cheap and common, but tend to impart a bleach-like flavor onto the…
Andrew Jackson
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What to look for in an air fryer

I'm looking to get an air fryer to make stuff that is usually deep-fried, like falafel, chicken nuggets or spring rolls, hopefully with less oily taste and without having to buy and dispose of considerable amounts of oil. Prices vary wildly, here's…
AndreKR
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Is it ever safe to use a non-stick pan under the broiler (e.g. frittatas)?

I see a lot of frittata recipes call for using a non-stick pan, and for finishing under the broiler (or "grill" in UK-speak). However, I have also read that non-stick pans in general are not broiler-safe. Can anyone clarify the science on this? Are…
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