Getting Married--seeking cookware/ktichen tools suggestions

[dearamy]

Hello All,

I am getting married & I will be registering for gifts soon. I would love to hear your suggestions for cookware & kitchen tools. What do you love & use often?

Thank you!

[dearamy]

Yes, that would be Kitchen tools. Editing would be a good thing...

[kwormann]

HOW FUN!

First of all, you are in Williams-Sonoma country, so I sugget seeing them. They will have suggestions based on what you do in the kitchen...for example, a bread machine will be of no use to you if you have a great bakery around the corner that you use!

Next, I would split my reigstry between W-S and Target (if they had had Target registery when I got married...only 7 years ago, but just a dream then). This way your guests dont feel they have to spend sooo much money (ps several of the items at W-S and Hold Everything are the same as sold at Target, just in different packaging!)

Know what your interests are and that will help you know what you need..I would recommend a food processor and a KitchenAid stand mixer...those are the two I would chose if only could have two large appliances! I dont keep either on the counter but find I use them frequently anyway! I also recommend an electric griddle! As for pots and pans, you will get differin opinions here...I LOVE my nonstick Calphalon! I got it when I worked for W-S and they are still wonderful (6 years old)

Little gadgets you might want are pepper grinder, box cheese grater, lemon zester and egg separator (to name but a few). Also ask for good knives!

Good luck!...When is the happy day? Will fiance help in the selections? DH was soooo excited about registering!

Kim

[This message has been edited by kwormann (edited 04-23-2001).]

[Tally]

Best wishes on your engagement!

I would suggest registering for a combination of kitchen basics and a few "splurge" items. If you're already into cooking, think about upgrading the items that you already have.


Speaking from experience, be careful about registering for items that you may only use a few times a year - it's better to register for a great chef's knife or saute pan than a waffle maker or pasta maker.

I like what kwormann suggested - registering at two different places so your guests have a wide variety of prices and items to choose from. My DH and I registered at Pier One and Service Merchandise.

Some of our most-used gifts are the more basic ones - a cooler with wheels for the beach, a giant stock pot, a coffee press, basic pieces from our china pattern, etc.

[Jessica]

dearamy--

Congrats Congrats Congrats!!!

Few suggestions:
•Consider getting an extra place setting or two of your dishes, so that you have pieces if something breaks.

•I second the tip about basics. Some of my most-used gifts are my cookie sheets and knives. Get the good knives. I have Wusthof-Trident and I use at least one nearly every day.

•Don't forget a few nice serving pieces and related utensils. You might not entertain a lot now, but my aunt always says to keep in mind the dinners or parties you might throw in 10 years.

•Definitely involve your fiance. My husband loves wine so he picked all our glasses--they are beautiful.

•We also did two stores, but even at a pricey store, you can choose some nice utensils or inexpensive items. Always have a broad price range.

•One thing to watch for--many stores have regular and seasonal items. If you register for a lot of the seasonal things, they might not be on the shelves when your guest shops two weeks before the wedding, and they certainly won't be there a year later if you want to replace them.

Have a fabulous time. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[pipely]

Congratulations and best wishes on your engagement! When I was engaged (30 years ago, I'm an old geezer now)the first thing you were expected to do, was to pick out your fine china, crystal and silver pattern, and I did that of course. These items are usually very costly. In addition, moving throughout the years (military wife)we often lived in a house without enough storage for fancy china and crystal, so for many years these items have been stored in boxes. To make a long story short, in a way I regretted "splurging" on items I've only used a few times. My advice to young brides is to weight out the benefits and establish your priorities and include items on your bridal registery that you can use. There's another side to this story also. If you wait until your family grows up to buy these precious items, it may be a long, long time, and there are always more important things to buy, like college, homes, vacations, etc. Best wishes!

[jmarie]

"The Complete 'COOKING LIGHT' Cookbook offers these suggestions:

10 ESSENTIAL Tools:

1. Whisks in assorted sizes

2. Colanders (large for draining pastas, salad greens and browned ground beef..A small strainer is great for seperating fruit juice from pulp or from seeds.)

3. High quality chef's knives..blade ranges from 8 to 13 inches. choose a handle that is shaped to the hand so that the hand holding the knife doesn't hit cutting surface.

4. Heavy 10 inch non-stick skillet...most of these are made from aluminum---great heat conductor

5. Pepper Mill-- Pepper is an overlooked spice, so keep the mill handy!

6. Vegetable peeler...select one with a comfortable grip

7. Stainless steel box grater..box style gives you choice of hole sizes...Use smaller holes for grating hard cheese or chocolate. Large holes for shredding cheddar cheese or carrots.

8. Kitchen scissors...nice to mince small amounts of herbs...chop canned tomatoes(in the can), trim skin from poultry, trim fat from meat, make slits in bread dough and many more uses!

9. Oven thermometer-All ovens are equipped with these but over time, the actual temp. may vary. Use an oven thermometer to determine if you need to calibrate your oven's thermostat (follow the instructions in owners manual or call manufacturer.)

10. Cutting boards. Whether you choose wood or plastic, you need to wash either thoroughly to avoid food contamination. Use diluted bleach on wooden boards and wash thoroughly. Plastic ones can be sanitized in the dishwasher.

10 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU NEEDED!

1. Pizza Stone--also called a baking stone, this heavyround or rectangular stone duplicates the brick floor in pizza and bread ovens and creates a crisp brown crust. Place on the lowest shelf before preheating the oven. Then place the dough on the stone and bake.

2. Heat resistant spatulas-Choose an assortment of wide and narrow spatulas in nylon; they won't scratch the nonstick cookware.

3. Mortar and pestle- This pair is used for grinding spices, herbs and other foods. Press the pestle(the bat-like object) against the food and grind against the mortar(the bowl) until the desired consistency is reached.

4. Ice Cream Maker- there are two types, the manual(like a Donvier or hand crank) and the electric. Some manual types fit on a countertop and do not use salt or ice. Instead they use an aluminum tub you store in the freezer before using. For both types a clear lid lets you see how the mixture is freezing.

5. Garlic Press- Use this tool when a recipe calls for crushed garlic because you'll want both garlic and the juice.

6. Salad Spinner- Just a few turns of the handle and you'll remove excess water from the freshly washed salad greens.

7. Grill pan- Gone from being a gourmet item to an everyday must have. It gives the food a grilled appearance and flavor and provides a nice browning. Plus, the food is raised so that you get the tenderness of roasting as well.

8. Heavy duty Stand-up mixer- This will stand up to all of your baking needs, including stiff doughs or large amounts. It comes with attachments like a balloon whisk (for incorporating air with egg whites) a dough hook (for kneading the bread) and a paddle beater for mixing and combining ingredients.

9. food Processor- A full sized food processor makes quick work out of everyday food preperation. Usee the metal blade for chopping and pureeing. The slicing disc and the shredding disc let you slice or shred vegetables in a fraction of time.

10. Instant read thermometer--food safety should be a top concern in the kitchen. One key factor is cooking food to the proper temp. Use an instant read thermometer to check meringues, meat, poultry--just be sure NOT to leave in the over. It should be removed from the food after you read the temperature!

10 MUST HAVES FOR THE PANTRY!
1. Olive Oil
2. Canned diced tomatoes
3. Fresh Garlic
4. Low sodium soy sauce
5. Basmati Rice
6. Roasted red peppers
7. chickpeas
8. Fat-free less sodium Chicken Broth
9. Balsamic vinegar
10. Dried pasta

10 SPLURGE WORTHY INGREDIENTS:

1. DRIED MUSHROOMS. STORE IN A DRY COOL PLACE
2. A fine red wine such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, or Merlot
3. Pine Nuts
4. Good coffee
5. Vanilla beans as opposed to extract...these give a profound flavor
6. Parmigiano-Reggiano cheeseIt's grandular texture melts in your mouth with a rich flavor
7. Quality virgin extra virgin olive oil
8. the freshest seafood possible
9. Gourmet greens
10. Imported olives

10 ESSENTIAL HERBS!
1. Cilantro
2. Basil
3. Parsley
4. Tarragon
5. Rosemary
6. Mint
7. Dill
8. Sage
9. Oregano
10. Thyme

10 Top Healthy foods
1. Broccoli
2. Milk
3. Beans
4. Tomatoes
5. Citrus Fruit
6. Sweet Potatoes
7. Garlic
8. Soy
9. Carrots
10. Strawberries

Sorry this was so long...but I found it interesting when I read it today! What do you guys think? Does one really need all this apparatus? How much of this do you 'seasoned' cooks think we beginners need to buy, as I prepare to rush off to the mall to make my purchases?
Thanks
Joyce
PS I really want a mixer...like the one described...have wanted one most of my life! I am 50 now, and think I am going to splurge!



[This message has been edited by jmarie (edited 04-24-2001).]

[patsyk]

Congratulations!

Here are some of my favorite wedding/engagement/shower gifts 4 1/2 years after the big day!

Kitchen Aid Mixer - the one where the top lifts, not the one where the bowl lifts... too messy
Kitchen Aid Food Processor - the heavy duty one - won't move when processing because it is made of metal
Henckel and Sabatier knives - the buther knife, paring knife, filet knife and bread knife
Oster double decker steamer - really just a regular one is fine - we never use both tiers at once
Good cookware - we got T-Fal... not the best, perhaps one of the other brands is better


Things I wish I had asked for...
Pasta serving bowl and dish set
Salad serving set (bowl and utensils)
Blender - ours went out last year so we had to buy a new one - got the Kitchen Aid and love it!
Toaster Oven - ours was old at the time, but figured we could live with it... now, I wish I had a new one!

I could go on, but from the looks of things, you have quite a lot of suggestions already!

GOOD LUCK! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[SusieO]

I would also recommend a stand mixer and food processor. Take your time when you register, and ask for anything you think you might use. As for china and serving pieces, register for them now, even if you don't think you'll use them, because they will not be a priority later.

Have a great time choosing your wish list. Best wishes to you!

[CheerLiz]

Speaking of engagements and gifts, I've got a funny one for you...

A very good business friend and business partner of my DH invented a (very expensive) electric knife sharpener and gave us one for our engagement...along with a set of beautiful (and very sharp!) kitchen knives. He enclosed a box of bandaids as a joke, warning me that the knives were very sharp and to be careful with them, as he knew I was a kitchen novice.

Being the good fiancee that I was at the time, I resolved to learn to cook, and grabbed the knives one day to slice grapefruit. (Yes, this was the closest I ever got to cooking back then.) Ten minutes later, I was in the emergency room getting TWELVE stitches in my thumb. I nearly cut it off! I was SO mortified!! Of course, I have never lived it down, and we keep a box of bandaids in the kitchen now as a reminder to me to BE CAREFUL WITH THE KNIVES!!

Teehee!!

--Liz

[gertdog]

Congrats dearamy!

I second (third?) the idea of getting a food processor. I have an older Cuisinart one... nice and heavy, has held up beautifully. I used it lots with just the stainless blade and slicing disk... then I learned you could buy other disks too! Now I have a super-thin slicing disk, a julienne disk, and an extra work bowl with a cover. My food processor gets used more than ever now. I think I use the julienne disk more than any others, except maybe the basic blade.

Good knives are a must, and I'd register for a knife sharpener too. I have two very good chef's knives but no sharpener, and I've let them get way too dull. Had an incident similar to CheerLiz's recently, although it didn't result in stitches, just lots of blood. That convinced me to go get my knives sharpened professionally, and to purchase a knife sharpener so they stay sharp!

[Gina O]

I agree about the knives, food processer (I love both my mini and full size cuisinart), and the stand-up mixer, among many other of the items mentioned. I use those items nearly every day.

One of my favorite little kitchen gadgets is a garlic peeler (basically a little rubber tube). It works like magic!!!

Perhaps this is just my obsession, but I also love beautiful placemats and napkins. If you enjoy them, I would suggest picking out a couple sets.

And, if you do register at WS, stick the high end fondue pot with the ceramic insert on the list. If you ever in your life think you might want to fix fondue, this is the pot to have.

Just a thought on registering at Target.... I have heard about and witnessed people having difficulty returning items there. I would find out as much as possible about their return policy before registering (although, I guess that advice would go for anywhere you register).

[MrsReber]

I registered at JC Penny and at Target. I think most people bought from JC Penny, though. You can register with them on line, as well, which is awfully convenient if you don't have lots of time. I made an appointment and went into the store to meet with their salesperson. She was really helpful and they give you a list of suggestions. They also told me that it's like a "wish list" so don't worry that something is too expensive to put on your list- you just never know! My husband and I lived together for 2 years before we got married, so we had alot of things to start with. Hubby, of course, didn't want to go to the store to register so I picked everything out. But then again, I spend the most time in the kitchen.

I did not register for china. We'd never use it and we don't have the room for it. It wasn't practical for us. I did register for the following:

sheets and bedspread
bakers rack (and I got it!!)
pilsner glasses (for hubby)
dip and chip set
glass pitcher
some dish towels and potholders
some utensils: new wooden spoons, stainless steel slotted spoon, spatula, ice cream scoop
cherry wood salad bowl with serving bowls and utensils (it's so pretty!)
new cookie sheets
stir fry pan
bread machine
9x13 pyrex dish that has the cold and heat pads so you can bring food to events (hubby has a big family with many gatherings)
springform pan

pasta dishes are fun, too, since we eat lots of pasta, but I already had a set.

I registered for some other things at Target. They have calphalon bakewear there, which I love. I also registered for the black and decker mini chopper, a belgian waffle iron (yes, I actually use it!!). I think that's all that was purchased off the Target registry, but I wanted to give people a choice. I didn't realize you could register at W-S at the time.

I have a friend who registered at JC Penny and they were so incredibly helpful when I bought stuff there. I was working a horrible job that left me no time to shop. I called the store, they faxed me the registry list and I picked the items I wanted to buy and called them back. Then they wrapped everything and had it waiting with my total- all I had to do was pay! They changed things a bit so you can register and buy items on line- even change your registry if you want.

Good luck with your wedding planning!

[mb]

we registered at Macy's and Crate & Barrel. I agree that you should pick out china/crystal/silver, as they won't be a priority later... we have made it a point to use our china & crystal as often as possible, even if it's just the two of us for a special dinner (i.e. anniversary, valentines, b-day). we chose service for 12 with the china, and only chose crystal wine glasses (no double old fashions, highballs, water glasses, champagne flutes, etc. - we're not big drinkers). our china is white, black, and silver, so any white, black, or crystal serving pieces can be used. also choose every day dishes (much cheaper!), some basic serving dishes, and every day silverware & glasses.

as far as kitchen electrics, we picked the kitchenaid standmixer, 11 c food processor, and blender. a good knife set is also good to choose. i also use a hand-held mixer, and my braun handblender (w/ chopping attachment) fairly often. i would say to stick to basics and not pick too much stuff 'just for the heck of it'... people might get you all of that stuff, and then you'll still won't have the stuff you really want or need! (but that also isn't to say you shouldn't pick anything 'for fun'!)

and do that also for the benefit of people who will be using your registry...we recently saw another couple's registry, and there was all kinds of stuff on there - like they walked through the aisles and just picked one of everything. i wanted to get them something they'd need/use, not some appliance that would probably just sit in their cabinet forever. also, everything was either out of our price range, or way too cheap to give as the only gift.

when you go to the store, they will try to convince you 1) that you need anything & everything, and that somehow, your entire family/friends will buy you all this stuff no matter the price and 2) get the most expensive stuff because it's 'better'. this is where you have to do your own research - maybe all-clad is the best cookware, but maybe it's not the best for you...

also look in consumer reports for ratings on different kitchen appliances. you will probably see that cuisinart & kitchenaid are tops for food processors, kitchenaid for the standmixer, ??? for the blender (it wasn't kitchenaid! but mine is ok), henckels/wusthof for knives, etc.

for kitchen gadgets, our favorites are the good grips/OXO - very easy to hold and use. we have the basics like a vegetable peeler, grater, can opener, etc. as your cooking skills develop, you can buy fancier gadgets as you go...

hope this helps. oh, and definitely bring your fiance with you - you both should pick out things for your new home together!

good luck - when's the wedding?

mb http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Leanne]

I just got married last summer. Our mindset was to register at stores we like - WS & Crate & Barrell - not to mention Macy's, etc. We just walked through the stores & picked out a variety of things we liked. Afterward, if we got something we had registered for, but decided we didn't like it or need it, we traded it in for something we decided we really did want.

Things I love & use alot -

meat mallet
good cookies sheets
kitchen scissors (didn't register for these - but got them anyway - they're great)
All Clad pots & pans
waffle iron - (my DH makes us waffles almost every Sat morning!)
fondue pots
wine glasses
regular glasses
various serving pieces
good wine bottle opener
ice bucket
folding chairs (not really kitchen - but very handy)
trays that you can have dinner on

Something I already have, but is great - immersion blender. I use it all the time.

Things I haven't used yet - but hopefully will:

martini glasses
margarita glasses
good china
bread machine
ice cream machine

Another thing I wish I had figured out beforehand:

If your mom had good crystal or china - maybe get the same pattern or something that matches - b/c you might inherit it one day. I also have some friends who are sisters & they registered for the same patterns so that if they ever needed to give a big party/family function - they have enough of everything.

[SusanMac]

I have a bit different view than some folks here so far. I'd rather register for things I know I'm not going to buy. For example, the baking sheets and colanders are something I could easily pick out myself.

One of my favorite wedding gifts was an ice cream maker. We didn't register for it because it seemed like a splurge item that we'd never use.

We absolutely love it. It's so fun to make homemade ice cream, esp. on a summer evening or when we have guests. It's something I never would have gone out and selected myself.

Stirfry wok is another favorite. We use it much, much more often than we thought we would.

This is a bit off-topic...but we also registered at Home Depot. My husband wasn't much of a cook then, and we had just bought a house, so it seemed like a good balance to the kitchen stuff. We use our Dry Vac every week and think of our friends :-)

[dearamy]

What great suggestions! Thank you all so much! I am definitely registering for a food processor, everyday dishes (I have china from my great grandmother), and serving pieces. Kim, you mentioned that you have Calphalon non-stick cookware. I want these as well--someone told me though that there are health risks with non-stick surfaces?? I currently use Le Crueset pots & pans, which I love, but they are so heavy & hard to store.

My fiancee is involved, though he can only take small increments of shopping. This is going to be a month long process at this rate!

The wedding is at the end of September, so we have some time, but my parents recently hosted an engagement party for us & everyone was saying that they wished we had already registered (I had insisted on putting "no gifts, please" on the invitations, but our family & friends are so generous.)

Thank you again!

[Wendy w]

I'm not married and have no plans to do so in the near future, but I would like to suggest Crate n' Barrel if you have one near you. I have purchased wedding gifts there in the past and they have great things, a comprehensive registry and excellent service. No, I don't work for them.

[DmOrtega]

One thing I use alot, is a rice steamer.

[goldilocks]

dearamy, congrats...got to add my 2 cents here since i was just married last year. i see you are in SF, so am i (although i was married in LA). we registered at crate & barrel and macys (both in walnut creek). the c&b in SF is huge though and i am sure they will give you great service. we did c&b for the everyday needs and fun items and macys for crystal/china/pots and pans.

first off, i have to say that my husband did the bulk of our registering, he has excellent taste and when you go they give you a scanner to simplify the process. you scan the sku of the item and it goes directly on your registry. this might help to motivate your fiance to do this with you.

a couple general things: have lots of variety on the registry, including some things you think are nice, but pricey. guests like to give nice things, and it does not hurt to put it on there.

at macys, there are several things they offer. 1) as for pots and pans, you will register for individual pieces and perhaps the whole set. chances are you'll get pieces. you can then take back the individual pieces and purchase the set at 10% off. 2) additionally, anything that is not purchased off your registery, you and your new hubby can purchase for 10% off. for this reason, as you are going through the process, put on your registry everything you may want, if you don't get it, you can purchase it yourself for a discount. this is how we could get our new sheets and towels.

i registered for calphalon pots since that's what everyone else was doing, and i thought i liked them. i was wrong. they are HEAVY. i also did not like the metallic odor they gave off when i washed them. i also thought they were difficult to clean. i make acidic foods (tomato sauces, curries) and it did not react well to the pan. i went back to macys and exchanged these for ALL CLAD - which i now love. this is just my preference. i know that several BB users love calphalon.

ditto on the all the kitchen aid items, love them all, esp. the FP. and the OXO tools, and Henkels knives. also have a krups toaster oven, love it and a krups coffee/expresso machine. this is the time to upgrade and you can have a garage sale with your older items.

other items:

towels
linens: sheets/duvet cover/down comforter
Luggage!!

Good luck and have fun!

[dearamy]

Thanks again, everybody. You've certainly given me some food for thought. I am going to take your suggestions & add a Kitchen Aid mixer to my list. I probably wouldn't buy it for myself, but I think I will get a lot of use out of it. I still can't decide on pots & pans--I think a bit more research is in order.

I didn't properly introduce myself, either. This was first posting (although I've been reading a bit) & I really appreciate your responses & all of the congratulations!

[Julia1Pin]

I'm getting married in 4 days, and so this topic is fresh on my mind. I registered at Macy's and BBB. One of the things I received at my shower was a set of 3 stainless steel bowls I registered for at Macys. I found out that I could get those bowls for half the price at Costco. So I returned the registered ones. don't be afraid to continue comparison shopping. You'll find that items may be cheaper elsewhere. If so, return and save.

Have fun planning your wedding http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[kwormann]

Julia1pin....CONGRATS!!!! I envy you....I'd love to marry DH all over again!

As for non-stick, Ive never had a problem, but I only use plastic-like utensils!

Kim

[schuh]

I think the postings above have covered most of the kitchen stuff. My only things to add are:
- Look at Armetale for serving pieces. You can put them in the oven so that your food stays warm. It's also beautiful. It would be at better department stores. I got some for my wedding, when I didn't know what it was, and love it -- I wish I had registered for some.
- Make sure you call Ross-Simons if you are registering for crystal, china, and/or silver. The prices are much cheaper than department stores, so you'd conceivably get more. It has a toll-free number and I think it's on-line -- just do a search. You can do a bridal registry through them (which I did).
I like having nice china and crystal and make it a point of using them.
- I registered at several places (as we had family divided between various parts of the country that didn't have the same stores). I loved everything I received from Crate & Barrel except for a line of glasses -- they have thick bases with a bubble on the bottom. They break very easily so don't get those.
- If you have rich friends, do get a KitchenAid mixer and All-Clad pots and pans (another thing I didn't know about when I was engaged).
I could go on & on...
Have fun.

[Searcher]

DearAmy, I don't want to get into an argument about cookware but I bought the Calpheon non stick twice. I didn't have any metal utensils, only their plastic ones and the coating came away in less than three years. After the third time it began to wear I took it back and bought stainless. I still have one non stick skillet, a non stick omlette pan and a cast iron skillet for special things but nothing sticks to my stainless that adding a bit of hot water to and scraping (not very hard either, more of a stirring than a scraping) with a woodem spatula and it's free of any litte brown bits. Those brown bits, by the way, don't often happen in a nonstick skillet and they're wonderful for making a sauce taste fuller and more flavorful.

If I were to start all over I'd find a brand of cookware I liked and ask for separate pieces instead of a set. I'd also not mind a piece or two from one set and other pieces from another set, as long as they were similar.

Good luck and congratulations!