A few home gadget / appl questions

10 years ago

I'm wondering if any of you use one of those apple peelers I often see used on TV - that usually hooks to the counter edge and you turn the handle to get it to go around the apple taking off the peel.

I want to eat more apples but tire of peeling with a knife. Would it be worth buying one of these or will it be a pain in the neck also? If you use one and it's good, what brand name is it?

also, I need to buy an iron. Haven't had one in yrs but I need one on hand for fabric repairs. I've got a few things I need to repair and want to use the iron on stuff to do it. Don't want to spend a lot of money cause it may not be used again for years. I don't want to go out and just grab the cheapest either. I remember from decades ago that some of them would end up spitting icky water on the clothes. Any ideas of which to buy? What's a good brand these days? yrs ago I had a sunbeam... the last one I had was a rowenta (that one got stolen).

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Comments (17)

desertsteph
Original Author
10 years ago
I forgot to ask about a bread pan - I need one to bake nut bread. Is it ok to get a non stick surface or better not to?
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Iowacommute
10 years ago
Williams Sonoma gold loaf pan has the America's Test Kitchen recommendation, but it's pricey. I bought a Good Cook non-stick loaf pan from Walmart last month, and it's pretty good. I've made a couple of loaves of white and banana bread which browned and cooked evenly. I did spray the pan, and there was no sticking.

I have a Hamilton Beach iron, and it's fine. I do a lot of quilting so it gets a lot of use.
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mama goose_gw zn6OH
10 years ago
I have a crank-type apple peeler. It gets sticky from the juice of the apple, so you'd need to unscrew the clamp every time you wanted to rinse it. If that wouldn't bother you, and if you have the space to leave it out, then it's a handy tool. When I use mine it's for a large volume, and I've noticed that the harder, less ripe apples work better. The ones with a mealy texture seem to fall apart. The tool also works for potatoes, if that helps you decide. Mine is 'Back to Basics' from Sandy, Utah.

Iron? I don't believe I've heard of such an object. ;)
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desertsteph
Original Author
10 years ago
"Iron? I don't believe I've heard of such an object. ;)"

oh mama g, you're trying to pull my leg! I know about your past and what you used to do! You did (do) too good of work to do w/out one of those objects. It's my past too!

I'd only be doing 1 apple at a time a few times a week. Unless I felt energetic enough to try some applesauce. I won't hold my breath on doing that tho!
Do you think it'd be more hassle than it'd be worth getting out and setting up?

IC - I'll check out that pan on my next trip to W. maybe tomorrow.
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mama goose_gw zn6OH
10 years ago
Yes, maybe I do remember irons from my distant past, lol.

I think the apple peeler is too much trouble for just a few apples a week. Mine is over 30 years old--they now make a suction cup model with a lever. I think that would be quicker. Or, you could try the linked method:

Here is a link that might be useful: Peeling an apple.
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mama goose_gw zn6OH
10 years ago
After posting the link above, I watched several other apple peeler reviews, which ranged from the hilarious crazyrussianhacker, to crankygregandcrankycheryl, who appear totally inept. But I found this one:

Starfrit apple peeler review

And it's still available on Amazon for a decent price. Note that it's plastic compared to the cast iron peeler, but if you are using only once in a while, it would probably be sufficient. When I bought my Back to Basics peeler it was $25.00--I don't know what the current price is, but you might check eBay for a used one.

Here is a link that might be useful: Starfrit on the river
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User
10 years ago
Iron? Hey, I'm with Mama Goose....I'm still waiting for the wrinkled look to come back into fashion. I'll be so stylish! :)

But I know what you mean about the iron on patches or hemming tapes. Very convenient if you have poor eyesight. I'd look at a yard sale. If it isn't all scratched up and the cord frayed, it probably would work. Or, ask them to plug it in for you to see if it gets hot enough.

I might have an iron packed up somewhere, since I recall one in DH's basement up in MA. But Steph, you can do a quick google for iron reviews.
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bbstx
10 years ago
I have a Rowenta iron that I bought because it doubles as a steamer when held upright. At least, that is what the box said. I've never used the steam feature.

Can you not just peel your apple with a standard potato peeler?

My loaf pans are USA Pans that I got at W-S on sale several years ago. They work like they are supposed to (things come out loaf shaped). They have to be hand washed.

Here is a link that might be useful: OXO potato peeler
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desertsteph
Original Author
10 years ago
mama g - that first video looks great - I even have a drill! But I can't hold it with 1 hand so that wouldn't work for me... lol!

the other one has awesome reviews and it's now on my amazon list. It'll have to wait til I'm done w/my Christmas shopping tho.

ML - hey, I'll not be ironing my sweats anytime soon! I've lived fine for 20 yrs w/out one but a few things do need repaired around here. And I might do a few more things I've put off yr after yr because I didn't have an iron. I figured maybe it's time I break down and get one.

I will pull 'em up on amazon and check reviews. I've been doing that with a number of things in the past day or so.

bbstx - I usually use a knife for potatoes and apples but I have 2 trigger thumbs plus 2 other trigger fingers on my right hand - and I'm right handed. With 3 on my R hand I have to conserve where I can - including typing. I've cut way back on that too.

my concern on the bread pan was about non stick vs not - for nice browning, even baking, ease of getting out of pan etc.

a friend has offered to give me a bread pan 'cause she has several and doesn't use them. Don't know if non stick or not - figured I'd see what she brings over and give it a test run in the oven!

thx for all the input!
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desertsteph
Original Author
10 years ago
amazon wasn't much help so I went to the W site. I think I've got it down to 2. a B & D old style iron for about 25.00 or a sunbeam newer style for 20.00.

I was so surprised that most of them looked like they belonged in the Jetson household! so many irons and only 1 looked like I remember irons looking!
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writersblock (9b/10a)
10 years ago
I have the B&D Classic and it works just fine. Nice and hefty, the way an iron should be.
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User
10 years ago
Steph, I was thinking just now I wish I had a folding iron ing board that goes in a drawer, but I could not because MY KITCHEN WAS TOO SMALL.....hahahaha.

I forgot it was being remodeled.
Anyway, since I don't own an ironing board any more, I sure don't need an iron. I have a small steamer that I bought to clean the birdcage with, and it has a flat brush attachment to steam wrinkles out of clothing. Imagine that.

That would be great way to freshen up my linen trousers next summer. The steamer wouldn't scorch the linen, which requires the hottest setting on an iron.
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desertsteph
Original Author
10 years ago
I still have my old big ironing board. It hasn't been used in over 20 yrs. Will probably keep it tho. Am thinking of buying a small one to use on the table for patching a few things.
I can't imagine doing a bunch of ironing again - tho, yrs ago I didn't mind it at all. I ironed tons of stuff (clothes).
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cearbhaill (zone 6b Eastern Kentucky)
10 years ago
Buy organic/eat the peel.
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Shades_of_idaho
10 years ago
I do iron. Several blouses and dresses are all cotton and if they do not get out of the washer and onto the line fast enough I need to iron them. I dought a 9 dollar iron when my old iron gave up and it is ok. I do not use it enough to make a big deal out of it. I also gave away my vintage wood ironing board and got a light weight metal board. It was actually a trade with a friend. At an estate sale we were both at she bought the metal one and I gave her my wood one for it. Both of us happy. I was always going to paint up the wood one and do some thing funky. Never got around to it.

Fall over deal I did buy another kitchen appliance. It is a small immersion blender. I use it quite a bit with the new things I am cooking now for my diet. It is quick to get out and use ad easy to clean. I will not be giving up my hand mixer though.
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User
10 years ago
I have an immersible blender thingy too, and I really like it. The hand mixer I had was about 30 years old, and the shell was cracking so I deep sixed it about a year ago. Space issues, of course. I might find DH's hand mixer packed up in the Teahouse, once we get to unpacking the things stored after his house sold. Actually not much (except BOOKS) from his house came down south, because the buyers wanted the furnishings left as they were. I did get my stainless flatware, but left the multi colored dishes and all his pots and pans. He had a roasting pan to fit his big oven, so that stayed up there--no need for a 20 pound turkey here. And our ovens would not hold such a big pan anyway.

I keep quarter sized cookie sheets. They fit the Breville toaster oven, the new gas range oven. The 9x13 Pirex baking dishes fit in the microwave. I am tired of cleaning the goop out of the turntable microwave/convection Sharp oven, so I sprung for the Sharp microwave drawer that will be below counter on my cooking side, with a narrow cabinet between it and the gas range. I am looking forward to it. I seldom use the m/w these days, since the turntable and hot pads make it hard to remove containers from the tight cabinet w/o spilling something or getting burned. I'll probably sell it at my yard sale in early spring....maybe early March.

The immersible mixer is very easy to hold if you have stiffness in your hands. I use it for stuff cooking on the stove, such as mashed taters and gravy and use the big blender for smoothies. I love my green smoothies. They beat cooking any day, but I could blend up cream soups in it, such like.
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idie2live
10 years ago
Desertsteph, I have a confession to make. When I bake bread (sweet or savory) I use the small aluminum disposable pans. since I do not have anyone here at home to share my breads with, it is a convenient way to have bread packaged for the freezer. But most of the time when I do bake some type of sweet bread I end up giving some of the small pans away. The breads come out easily so very often I will wash the pans out and use them for something else I'm baking and that I want to freeze.
I always eat the apple peel - for ruffage! Even my apple cake recipe calls for unpealed (so?) Apples.
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A few home gadget / appl questions

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desertsteph
Original Author

Iowacommute

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mama goose_gw zn6OH

desertsteph
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mama goose_gw zn6OH

mama goose_gw zn6OH

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bbstx

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desertsteph
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writersblock (9b/10a)

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desertsteph
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cearbhaill (zone 6b Eastern Kentucky)

Shades_of_idaho

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idie2live

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A few home gadget / appl questions

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desertstephOriginal Author

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