Your kitchen is primitive. Really.

[trof]

Tonight, at a college culinary institute near us I got a tour of their state-of-the-art kitchen.
Ho-Lee Krep!
We might as well be using charcoal braziers compared to what they have.
I'm still cooking in the dark ages.

A $3,500 electric smoker that is smoke, temp, and HUMIDITY controlled electronically.
A $5,000 convection oven that will cook and hold food at a preselected temp and moisture content for...HOURS.
All the info about cooking progress and readiness is sent to your smart phone.

A gas fired wok about the size of a washtub that sounds like a blast furnace.

Lots more.
It was fascinating.

We had a cooking demonstration and were then served what the chef had prepared during the demonstration.

Menu

Appetizer: Butternut squash and Pancetta Risotto in mini pumpkin shell

Main Dish Turkey Tenderloin with Dried Fruit Dressing (cranberries, apricots, & walnuts or pecans)

Side Dish: Caramelized Carrots and Parsnips

Dessert: Tarte Tatin

[elleng]

1. Sure is!

This house was a farm house when built, 100+ years ago!!! Renovated??? years ago, but oven + fridge may be ? 40 years old!!!

DO have a toaster oven + micro, OLD sink, but view of river + creek from kitchen windows, and couldn't be happier!!!

[trof]

3. Yep, there's more to cookin' than gadgets.

[hobbit709]

2. It may be primitive but it's affordable. And it cooks anything I want.

[Warpy]

4. About the only avanced gadget I've lusted after is the steam injected oven

Other than that, I have found workarounds for most things.

That pan of hot water under the bread just doesn't do it.

[Major Nikon]

5. The workaround is to bake in cast iron dutch ovens

It creates a high humidity environment inside that duplicates the effects of a steam oven.

There are consumer grade steam ovens available, but they tend to have a small interior space and are expensive. So if you get one, you really need another traditional oven to cook larger items.

[Warpy]

9. Been there, done that

but they don't make long, skinny ones to fit baguettes.

[Major Nikon]

12. There's a couple of other methods you can try

You can drill one or more holes in a water pan. This allows the water to drip onto the oven floor and create steam. Also spray the oven walls with water right before you close the door.

[Major Nikon]

6. There's really nothing you can't do in a home kitchen that these things do

Such gadgets just make things more reliable and efficient which is a boon to commercial operations.

[Phentex]

7. I rarely meet people who actually cook...

Oh, many have the fancy kitchens with a brazillion burner stove and all but none of them cook.

The only thing I covet for my kitchen is a well designed pantry. I've got lots of cabinet space but it's chopped up.

But with just two of us here, how much do I need?

[Galileo126]

8. I'm not so sure...

What "you have" in the kitchen is predicated on "what you can utilize".

Got a cool stove? Learn how to use it!

Got no gas stove-top? Adapt! (I have electric, and I hate it.)

re: "A gas fired wok about the size of a washtub that sounds like a blast furnace."
Personally, I would LOVE a 80,000 BTU wok station, but it's totally impractical in my house.

My culinary skills are based on adaptation. I can deal.... but I still want that wok station!

[dem in texas]

10. I have a "one butt" Kitchen

Long and narrow, that is the main thing I don't like. Wish I could afford a kitchen makeover. I'd love to have a new oven with all the fancy options.

[Texasgal]

11. I'm with ya!

Me too! Small but it works! More room would be great, but honestly I am cool with the basics!

My Dad made me a "camp cook kit" when I was a young girl scout. It has basic cooking utensils with pots, pans and a dutch oven. I swear I could make a gourmet meal anywhere on this earth with that kit!

Size and fancy appliances don't matter, love of cooking and basic cooking skills do.