Explore The Seemingly Endless Array Of Kitchen Appliances

If you're one who enjoys working in the kitchen, you are familiar with the temptations offered in the form of small kitchen appliances. Cooks can be somewhat childish when it comes to their 'toys'. Like children, they never met a kitchen toy they didn't like. In short order, if you indulge yourself sufficiently in these time-saving devices, the question soon becomes, “Where on earth am I going to put all this?” At this point the devoted cook prevails upon a willing spouse, friend or cabinet maker to build a custom cupboard, with pull-out shelves in which to conveniently store their gallery of small kitchen appliances.

Like sewing enthusiasts, you're into the mindset of 'She with the most fabric wins!' Just as the seamstress ends up with closet shelves overflowing with fabric scraps, cutting tools, buttons and so on, the cook can build a sizable inventory of small kitchen appliances. Sure, there are some basic small kitchen appliances we all own. There's the can opener, coffeemaker, toaster, blender and electric frying pan. Oh yes, and most households have a microwave, for sure.

However, when you look over that list, those few essential small appliances are already hogging valuable counter space. Pretty soon, your prep area shrinks. You rearrange cupboards to gain a little more space. This opens up the counter space to your next temptation.

A visit to the kitchen store reveals an Italian pasta machine. You love Italian food. It doesn't require much of a pep talk with yourself to convince you that this kitchen appliance will have you serving homemade raviolis and freshly made pasta to your family on a weekly basis. You come home with the pasta machine, shove the toaster under the counter and set to work on making pasta. You get the picture.

Once you've mastered pasta in all its forms, you're ready to move on to a new skill.

Lately, you've noticed all those bits of leftovers going to waste. The marvelous electric food bag sealer hits your consciousness. Aha! This kitchen appliance will stop the waste. You can mark the bags and freeze them, to be used in other dishes later. Yes, it does take up that counter space, but it's going to save you money.

You read an article on the health benefits provided with a juicer. Unexplored territory. You watch an infomercial and are filled with visions of healthy kids downing cups of freshly juiced carrots. It comes with dozens of recipes. You buy it.

By the time you get to the bread machine, coffee grinder, espresso machine and toaster convection oven, you're in a pickle over storage space. “Let's see, I'll hang the electric wok from my new baker's rack. Wow, that mixer has a big footprint. I'll put up a shelf for the griddle, food processor and slow cooker.”

When you bring in an electric teapot, you're screaming, 'Uncle!' begging for the cabinet maker. Such is the allure of kitchen appliances.