{"id":11604,"date":"2021-10-08T18:40:11","date_gmt":"2021-10-08T18:40:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/?p=11604"},"modified":"2021-10-27T15:46:00","modified_gmt":"2021-10-27T15:46:00","slug":"a-look-back-and-a-look-forward-at-small-kitchen-appliances","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/fall-2021\/a-look-back-and-a-look-forward-at-small-kitchen-appliances\/","title":{"rendered":"A Look Back and A Look Forward at Small Kitchen Appliances"},"content":{"rendered":"

R<\/span>emember back in the 50s, 60s, and 70s when the big kitchen appliance choices were simply refrigerators, ranges, ovens, and cooktops? Should I get a wall oven or freestanding? Which small appliances should I choose? An electric mixer, a blender, and, in the 70s and beyond, a countertop microwave?<\/p>\n

Since you first set up a kitchen, appliances have evolved.<\/p>\n

The Introduction of the Mighty Food Processor<\/h3>\n

You might remember the introduction of the food processors \u2026 the star of the 70s. Chopping, pureeing, mixing became a breeze.<\/p>\n

Although food processors were introduced in 1946 with the Starmix by the German company Electrostar, it was really in the early 70s the use of the machine we know today that chops, shreds, slices, and liquifies exploded. In 1973, Carl Sontheimer, a retired MIT-trained physicist and accomplished cook, revolutionized food preparation by introducing the Cuisinart Food Processor<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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(Left to right) Presto\u00ae Pressure Cookers 1960 sporting the colors of that time period (harvest gold and avocado green). By the 1970s, the harvest gold still remained, but would soon be switching to the \u201calmond\u201d years: 1939 Presto Cooker introduced at the 1939 New York World’s Fair. Photos used with permission of National Presto Industries, Inc.<\/p><\/div>\n

Pressure Cookers \u2026 A Kitchen Workhorse<\/h3>\n

The pressure cooker had its roots in France circa 1679 when Denis Papin, also a physicist, introduced his \u201csteam digestor.\u201d Almost 300 years later, in 1939, the National Pressure Cooker Company (now Presto\u00ae) brought the first commercial saucepan-style pressure cooker to the New York World\u2019s Fair.<\/p>\n

There were, however, a few years where pressure cookers got a bad wrap. Perhaps, the hissing noise, the steam, and the unfounded fear of an explosion made this mighty kitchen tool not for everyone.<\/p>\n

In 1978, Presto\u00ae<\/a> came to the rescue and helped dispel fears by introducing a redesigned and re-engineered line of pressure cookers. A new feature was what they called \u201can exclusive interlock system that prevented the cover from being opened while there was pressure in the unit.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Instant Pot Pro Crisp 11-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker with Air Fryer Combo, 8 Quart, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate, Slow Cook, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Saut\u00e9, 14 One-Touch Programs.<\/p><\/div>\n

Enter the Electric Multi-Cooker<\/h3>\n

Slow cookers, electrical countertop appliances, have been around since the 1940s, but it wasn\u2019t until 1971 with Rival\u2019s famed Crock-Pot that slow cookers seemed to be on many kitchen countertops as well as dorm rooms.<\/p>\n

Many electric multi-cookers today have added pressure cooking to the slow cooker. Some, like Instant Pot\u00ae, feature such functions as pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, saut\u00e9 pan, food warmer, sous vide, air fryer, roaster, mini-oven, broiler, and dehydrator.<\/p>\n

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Instant Pot Duo Crisp 11-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker with Air Fryer Lid, 8 Quart Stainless Steel\/Black, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate, Slow Cook, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Saut\u00e9 Photo: C. Worthington<\/p><\/div>\n

I had the opportunity to test the Instant Pot\u00ae Pro Crisp™ + Air Fryer,<\/a> the dual function appliance that doubles as a multi-cooker and an air fryer by a change of lids.<\/p>\n

The unit has a stainless-steel inner pot, boasts 11 customizable programs with a cooking progress bar that shows step-by-step progress.<\/p>\n

Units like these do require counter space, an easy-access shelf in your kitchen cupboard or closet. The 8-quart Instant Pot\u00ae Pro Crisp™ + Air Fryer measures almost 15\u201d long, about 14\u201d wide, and 14\u201d high.<\/p>\n

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Short ribs adapted from “I Love My Instant Pot Cooking for One.” Photo: CWorthington<\/p><\/div>\n

I was impressed with how easy the Instant Pot is to use. I tested beef short ribs adapted from “I Love My Instant Pot Cooking for One.”<\/em> Browning the ribs first in the inner pot without grease splattering all over was a plus. In less than one hour, the result was tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs with a thick sauce.<\/p>\n

Other tests were beef brisket, beef stew with red wine and pulled pork. Not only does the Instant Pot\u00ae make these normally long-cook recipes faster, they taste better!<\/p>\n

Cleanup was a breeze.<\/p>\n

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(Clockwise from top left) “I Love My Instant Pot Cooking for One Recipe Book” cover; Herby Chicken Noodle Soup; Quick and Easy Shrimp Boil; Cowboy Caviar for One<\/p><\/div>\n

What to Make with Your Multi-Cooker?<\/h3>\n

The Lisa Childs new cookbook, \u201cThe I Love My Instant Pot\u201d Cooking for One Recipe Book,<\/em><\/a> has terrific ideas for what to do with multi-cookers. The Herby Chicken Noodle Soup<\/a> as Childs describes might be one of the best you’ve ever had. The recipe calls for diced chicken breast, carrots, celery and flavored with herbs like tarragon, basil, oregano and parsley.<\/p>\n

Quick and Easy Shrimp Boil<\/a> is just like its title … quick, easy plus at much less the price at a restaurant. Childs notes you can add other types of seafood like crab at the same time as the shrimp and the cook time will stay the same.<\/p>\n

Cowboy Caviar<\/a>, a delicious medley of corn, black beans, red bell pepper, avocado, flavored with a cilantro\/lemony vinaigrette is one of Childs most popular summertime recipes on her website. She offers a scaled-down version, Cowboy Caviar for One, that you can scale up if you need a larger quantity.<\/p>\n

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Presto\u00ae 6-quart Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker. Photo:\u00a0used with permission of National Presto Industries, Inc.<\/p><\/div>\n

Keeping the Pressure On<\/h3>\n

Keeping up with the times, Presto\u00ae<\/a> offers the Presto\u00ae 6-quart Programmable Electric Pressure Cooker Plus<\/a>, and for those that want to use their cooktop and save counter space, the Presto\u00ae 6-quart Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The programmable cooker offers nineteen settings, including high pressure, low pressure, slow cook, brown, saut\u00e9, and \u201ckeep warm.\u201d There are twelve pressure cooking presets for meats, fish, poultry, vegetables, rice, beans, soup, stew, and desserts. It has a unique rack so you can cook several foods at the same time.<\/p>\n

When you want to tenderize tougher cuts of meat, the pressure cooker is for you. And, it is fast \u2026 cooking up to 70% faster than other cooking methods.<\/p>\n

The timer lets you know when the cooking time has been reached. The unit switches over to warm and lets the pressure drop gradually.<\/p>\n

Easy to clean, the cooker has a nonstick, dishwasher-safe removable pot.<\/p>\n

There are eight built-in safety features, including a cover locking system that allows pressure to build only when the cover is securely closed and prevents the cover from being opened until the pressure is reduced.<\/p>\n

The Presto\u00ae 6-quart Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker<\/a> eliminates the need to store a unit on your countertop. This one is used directly on your cooktop. It has a \u201ctri-clad\u201d base, with a layer of aluminum sandwiched between two layers of stainless steel for even heating.<\/p>\n

A cover lock indicator shows you if there is pressure inside the cooker. The unit also includes a rack for cooking several foods at a time.<\/p>\n

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Ninja\u00ae\u202fFoodi\u00ae\u202f2-Basket Air Fryer\u202ffrom SharkNinja.\u00a0 Photos: SharkNinja<\/p><\/div>\n

Air Fryers<\/h3>\n

Have you tried an air fryer yet?<\/p>\n

Air fryers operate similar to convection ovens by circulating hot air around the food. The result is baked food without cooking in a vat of oil. The appeal of air fryers is very little cooking oil is needed; they are fast and easy to use. The downside is they do take up counter space.<\/p>\n

We tested the Ninja\u00ae\u202fFoodi\u00ae\u202f2-Basket Air Fryer<\/a>\u202ffrom SharkNinja<\/a>, a pioneer in small household appliances. This 8-quart model has two independent 4-quart cooking baskets, so you can cook two quantities at once.<\/p>\n

Each basket holds up to four pounds of wings or French Fries. The DualZone™ timer system helps you cook and finish in sync. Not only can you use it to air fry, but you can air broil, roast, bake, reheat, and dehydrate.<\/p>\n

What we like about this air fryer is the easy to use, ample-sized baskets that slid in and out like small drawers. You can either air fry large quantities of one recipe or prepare two at once, timing them to finish at the same time.\u00a0 We tested zucchini fries, dipping them in egg and panko, seasoned with salt and pepper and lightly sprayed with olive oil (just a little!) Crispy and delicious!<\/p>\n

Circling back to the Instant Pot\u00ae Pro Crisp™ + Air Fryer, the unit transforms into an air fryer by simply switching the lid. The airflow results in crispy yet tender food with hardly any oil.<\/p>\n

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(Clockwise from top left) The \u201cI Love My Air Fryer\u201d 5-Ingredient Recipe Book; <\/em>Korean-Style Wings; Lemon Butter-Dill Salmon; Coconut Shrimp<\/p><\/div>\n

Not sure where to begin with an air fryer? You might check out Robin Fields\u2019, The \u201cI Love My Air Fryer\u201d 5-Ingredient Recipe Book.<\/a> “<\/em>You don’t need a pantry full of hard to find — or hard to pronounce — expensive ingredients in order to make quality meals,” Fields said. “The same delicious flavors you love can be achieved with just five main ingredients (or less) and a handful of pantry staples.”<\/p>\n

Fields describes The Korean-Style Wings<\/a> as “deep brown red wings are packed with spices, savory elements, and a great crunch. This sauce is made with gochujang, which is a Korean chili sauce. It has a sweet heat and lots of flavor. You can find this in the international foods section at the grocery store. If you\u2019d like, garnish these with a sprinkle of parsley for a fancy presentation.”<\/p>\n

The Lemon Butter-Dill Salmon<\/a> is a classic combo of lemon and butter and is the perfect complement to simple side dishes like steamed broccoli or roasted potatoes.<\/p>\n

Another easy and delicious recipe is Coconut Shrimp<\/a>, golden, crunchy juicy and perfect as a main dish or instant appetizer.<\/p>\n

If you are downsizing, multi-cookers, air fryers, and pressure cookers like these might be an excellent choice to replace various appliances scattered on your kitchen counter or add to your culinary appliance collection.<\/p>\n

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