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Amaranth
7-19-12, 9:17am
For the 100 Item Living project, what do you see as the essential minimal kitchen equipment?

Some of the choices are easy for me to decide, and some I can't figure out the best choice.

One of the easy ones is that I would choose a good paring knife over a food processor. With the paring knife I have more choice over the size and shape of the foods and can also peel with it. What's given up is making smooth creamy foods.

If people are counting sets of things as 1 item, I'd go with a set of dishes and utensils per person. But if it were more of a minimalist Zen sort of counting, I'd probably choose the CorningWare soup mug and a set of chop sticks.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002KZMCO/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=10610881357&hvpos=1t3&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1108820381952103854&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&ref=pd_sl_9hppyp316p_b
or
http://tinyurl.com/8a5dfjr

The soup mug can be frozen and microwaved. Pretty much anything can be eaten or drunk out of it. If I didn't have access to high tech ceramics, the next best thing would be a good quality rice bowl type shape as it has much the same versatility for eating as the soup mug.

So far the most difficult challenge is figuring out what would be the most versatile cooking pot. An enameled iron pot of medium size would be extremely versatile. A dutch oven could work better being used for the kitchen and for car camping since it can be used for baking with the coals on the top of the pot. But for both the kitchen and backpacking a 1-2 quart titanium cookpot would work better due to lighter weight. For versatility of cooking methods, a wok set is even more versatile than any of the others.

What would you choose for this kitchen/Dining component of your 100 items?

Gardenarian
7-19-12, 4:39pm
I like to buy handcrafted pottery when I can - so a mug, bowl, and plate for each person. Fork and spoon for each (table knives don't seem to get much use at our house.)
I would insist on a food processor/chopper/blender of some sort. We make a lot of smoothies and soup. Also use for blending baked goods.
Not great for backpacking, but a cast iron skillet (for frying, sauteing) and a stainless steel stockpot (for everything else.) I don't think I could manage with just one pot.
A multi-purpose pan lid (http://www.amazon.com/RSVP-Stainless-Steel-Universal-Lid/dp/B000GHKIDG/ref=pd_sim_k_1).
A 9x13 baking pan.
Pie dish.
Two cookie sheets.
A medium sized serrated knife.
Cutting board.
Stainless colander.
Some large bowls for salad, serving, and food prep.
A spatula and a large spoon.
Several glass storage containers for leftovers.

That's all for now!

try2bfrugal
7-19-12, 6:38pm
I would want my wok, crock pot, cast iron grill pan, stock pot and rice cooker plus some basic things like plates and storage containers. I guess I'd use sporks to cut down on the items. :)

I have already been getting rid of kitchen items I seldom use as a part of decluttering, like the food processor and juicer.

Sissy
7-20-12, 4:04pm
2 bowls
2 spoons
2 glasses (optional)
1 dust cloth for the stove.

ApatheticNoMore
7-20-12, 4:39pm
I thought: salad spinner (I'm sorry very very sorry ....)

Ok at least a stove pot, and a good baking dish, and a blender (I use it for salad dressings and sauces - A LOT), some utensils, a plate and a bowl and a cup, knife for slicing, some glass jars to store things in (like the salad dressing), and maybe a few other storage containers.

happystuff
7-21-12, 6:45am
I have a bil who used to get me hand-made pottery pieces for the holidays. The last several years, however, he has gifted me with small kitchen appliances... sandwich maker, egg cooker, etc. While I am grateful for the thoughtfulness of a gift - I have been working to reduce these kinds of kitchen items. Sigh...