Ah, Minimalism.....it sounds so pretty! Clean, streamlined, functional.
My goal, all mine! [insert maniacal laugh here]
But I jest. Or maybe not?
Back to the story of "Downsizing My Life", and I don't mean that evil 4-letter word d*et!
In October of 2014, I went from living in a 1250 square foot beach front condo to a 360 square foot 1 room condotel.
I donated the following to charity and friends, prior to the move: 2 large skillets, 1 smaller skillet, cake pans, sheet pans, a blender, my microwave (there was already a smaller one where I was going), toaster oven (I was planning a on a new one, later I'll review it for you), mounds of utensils, hot pads, mitts, kitchen towels, a growing pile of plastic storage ware (both the bought kind and recycled tubs, etc.), mixing bowls, tins, you name it. I also gave, to a close friend, my prize Farberware double boiler! Not a mistake, but intentional. I was going to buy a couple of those PIC Induction Burners they keep advertising on TV. I love to cook and could think of no better new "toy !" than a couple of those sleek digital thermostat display thingies! I did get 2 of those cookers and I'll review them here at a later date.
Guess what I learned next? You need special "Induction Cookware" for those burners. They can't use what I already had, they won't work, they won't heat up at all! Any cookware that is magnetic, for example cast iron, will work on induction burners. I tested all my cookware with a strong magnet. There was not one, not one, pot or pan I could keep that would work.
So, I gave up my beloved 2 Quart Farberware double boiler. Since I hadn't bought new cookware in forever, I decided maybe there was something better out there than what I had.
I was trying to stay compact and minimal in kitchen storage space, but still highly functional and affordable. My long, long search was in vain.
Since when did having a double boiler in your cache of cookware become unfashionable? I'm in my late 40's. Am I that "unfashionable" already?
Lol! I hope not!
Not only were they difficult to find, they were too big when I did find them. Or way, way too expensive. Like $200 too expensive!
Back to my trusty Farberware! It turns out that old 2 Quart Double Boiler now was now available in Induction, and Farberware was closing out the non-induction cookware in their Farberware Classic line. When I arrived at Bed, Bath & Beyond with my 20% off coupon (always be frugal!) the Induction Classic was full price, the old model was on sale. I now have my double boiler back, induction style!
Farberware Classic 2 Quart Double Boiler Review
It takes up less space and gives you 2 pots to work with. The insert top pot also has a magnetic base, although it visually doesn't look like it. You can store the lid in the top insert pot either right-side up, or upside-down to put the top knob inside the insert pot, thereby taking up even less space. Both pots heat up quickly and evenly without any "hot spots". Both handles and lid knob stay cool. The set is incredibly durable. In 20+ years of my mom, my grandmother and myself using these the handles never cracked chipped or broke. As many times as we dropped all the pieces, they never dented. The lid fits either pot perfectly, and is contoured to force condensate not steam out the sides, but run down back onto the food below, thus keeping cooking food from drying out. They're easy to clean - even burned on rice! Let to soak a few and the burned rice easily comes off - no elbow grease needed. (I have a tendency to scorch rice, oops...) They keep food in the fridge without adding a metal taste to the food. (Am I the only one in a hurry who has been forced to do this?) They are aluminum free, made of solid stainless steel. They are priced just right at $39.99 the set. (I used a 20% off coupon in store at Bed, Bath & Beyond and saved $7.99, paying only $32 for the set.)
Drawbacks: 1--The exterior mirror finish and hard durable plastic handles and knob stay bright and dark when hand washed. My mother used hers for a number of years before she passed away, then I used it for another 10 years before I left it behind. A dishwasher will dull the mirror shine quickly and eventually, given enough years, the handles on my momma's double boiler "whited out". It looked terrible, but it worked fine, didn't get brittle or crack. It just looked odd.
Thick Magnetic Induction bottom on lower pot.
I hope this helps in your decision making process, if you are indeed shopping for new cookware. Otherwise, I hope you found it an entertaining read. :)
Please feel free to leave a comment below. What is your fave compact cookware? What one pot or skillet can you not do without? Let me know if you've found "the perfect compact cookware"!
This is truly a great read for me. I have bookmarked it and I am looking forward to reading new articles. Keep up the good work!.
Reply
Leave a Reply.
Author
Rose Marie is an urban apartment dweller, seeking a simpler & more affordable life, through minimalism, frugality & urban homesteading, all while living in a 360 square foot apartment home with her trained cat companion, the ever affectionate Valentino.