Had a lovely night and need a little snack before bed. The popcorn maker makes me perfect popcorn everytime no jhudgemnt no questions asked. I live in an otherwise-gizmo-free household, but I do genuinely use this things twice a week on average. What gizmo are you not ashamed of?
I also got an immersion blender for $20 a week ago and used it once to make squash soup. Perhaps that isa second gizmo… It’s gotten more use than my microave in the same timespan…
Rice cooker and dishwasher are the two huge ones that I didn’t use to have in childhood that have changed a lot for me. I am pretty good at cooking rice in a pot, but the constant anxiety that it will get burned and stink up the entire apartment gets to me, and the rice cooker is better at it than me anyway.
Otherwise (not really a gizmo but it was a huge change for me) I guess a stainless steel saute pan with a lid is my most used kitchen appliance. Cast iron is fine but heavier to handle, doesn’t fit as much and is harder to wash. Non-sticks just start peeling. My trusty stainless steel pan has lasted years and is still just as good.
Oddly I wouldn’t want a popcorn maker, was brought up making it on the stovetop, it took me a while to adjust to induction but I’ve managed. I get more unpopped kernels but they are ridiculously cheap anyway. When I am alone and get especially distracted I sometimes just have popcorn for dinner and then the leftovers for breakfast.
I do that too with the popcorn dinner. A technique I learned was heat the oil with 3-4 kernels in it. Wait for them to pop and turn off the heat. Then add all your kernels and preheat them in the oil for about 30 seconds before putting the heat back to high.