Some thoughts and discussions from me.
Kitchen Uncertainties
You know, those facets of a kitchen that you just have no clue what to do with?
Please tell me I’m not alone here 
I like to think I know my way around a kitchen: I can navigate a coffee maker, microwave, and refrigerator like nobody’s business. Shoot, I can even work an oven, cook some mean 1 skillet-meals, and even man a (George Foreman) grill.
Taco salads (with my new absolute favorite gluten-free beer?) I can manage 
(I’ve also been managing to Instagram most of my meals lately. It’s a fun time!)
But then there’s those perplexing little gadget that I’ve just had no desire to even google how one would use it.
Like the warming drawer. I can count on exactly 0 hands how many times I’ve ever used a warming drawer.
I suppose I see it’s value, but I still don’t trust myself to use it!
Another one for me – although I use the microwave on the daily – is this button right here:
The chicken/fish one, specifically. I mean, who cooks raw chicken or fish…in the microwave?! And I, for one, can’t remember a time when I’ve changed my micro’s power setting. Less power = less time, right? OK, so perhaps my mad microwaving skillz aren’t quite up to par…
Oh, and forget any of the buttons on the dishwasher that aren’t “Normal Load.”
….am I the only one who find it disturbing that there needs to be an “anti bacteria” button?
It’s not that I don’t try new things in the kitchen. Yesterday morning I tried my hand at something I’d never guess I’d do…
make my own sauerkraut.
I currently have a mason jar of massaged cabbage, sea salt, and garlic hanging out in my pantry right now. (And seven cans of salmon, but that’s neither here nor there.) It’s going to stay there for about 2 weeks until it gets funky enough that I can eat it. Until it’s nice and ripe.
As Janeetha would say, hmmm.
I’ve been buying the stuff at $8+ a jar and I just got sick of paying that much for it. So when I went to the store on Friday, I picked up a head of cabbage for about $3. Hopefully it’s a winner! Now I just need to get on making my own kombucha, right, Lindsay? Baby steps…
This morning no newness was to be tried. In fact, I’m having some old-ness for breakfast, in the form of leftover quiche. Again.
Again, I’m so not crazy about this, but I have a thing for wasting food. And with the right amount of avocado smothered on top, it can be a tasty dish
Today I’m up super early – which is typical, since I don’t have to work until this evening. Luckily, I already thought of a bunch of other things I need to do while horizontal trying to fiend sleep at 5:30 a.m. this morning! Off to do them.
Your turn!
What facets of your kitchen do you just not understand – or not care to understand?
I’m with you on pretty much every gadget you just described. I think I know my way around the kitchen pretty well, but there are a few things that just puzzle me! And, yes, there is no reason to know how to work the Chicken/Fish button the microwave because you just never ever cook those things in there!
Natalie @ Free Range Human recently posted…Colorado 2013!
I have no idea how to work a coffee pot, and the only two buttons on the microwave that are use are “add time” and “popcorn.”
I’m reallllly good at using a crockpot though ;).
Carly @ Snack Therapy recently posted…Food Prep
Haha pretty much all the kitchen uncertainties you listed are mine as well! We just store our cookie sheets and pans in our warming drawer… And I have no interest in figuring out all the extra buttons on the microwave and dishwasher as long as they are doing their job!
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries recently posted…Detour
Ooh, good call on the storage! haha, maybe mine will get some use after all 😉
is the warming drawer the draw at the bottom of your stove? if so then yep it’s used for pots and pans… that’s what I thought it was for since growing up that’s where my mom stored her pots and pans as well.. Wow I regret having this out loud. I sound like a dumbass!!
I actually use the warming drawer in the oven every other day! I love it for toasting bread, wraps, or basically making my food crispy. One kitchen gadget I never use is my food steamer. I wanted one for years, but it’s such a process to get it out and put the water in. It reminds me of ironing, maybe that’s why I don’t like it haha.
Ashley @ Life and Fitness recently posted…Some Eye Candy For Your Tuesday
Haha what a creative post!! You’re 100% right– I haven’t used half of those gadgets you mentioned. Is the warming drawer for warming food?! I’ve always used it as storage! And if it’s not, forget I ever said that 😀
You seem to have the right idea by sticking away from that chicken/fish button. Gross.
Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance recently posted…A Birthday Of The Past
*raises hand* I have cooked fresh fish in the microwave when in a hurry to eat something healthy. Salmon and haddock. Honestly, it’s good. I like my seafood plain, just some seasoning. I cook it in a glass covered dish. It stays moist. I know it sounds so wrong, but it ain’t all bad. 🙂
Hey, good to know! Maybe I’ll try it. I’m all about cooking sweet potatoes in the micro 🙂
That taco salad looks amazing! I’m pretty clueless about so many things in my kitchen. I do have the stove, oven, and microwave down but only at their basic settings!
Danielle (@CleanFoodCreativeFitness) recently posted…Perfect Paleo Meatballs
I use the “warming drawer” to store my cookie sheets and broiler pan. So guess they get mighty warm every time I use the oven? Oops.
Kacy recently posted…Comment on Suck it February by Kelly
Wait a second, that shelf under the stove is a warming drawer?! I’ve just been using it to store my extra cookie sheets and pans! hahaha Oh my goodness.
Molly @ Just Your Average Athlete recently posted…Fight for Air Climb Recap
LOL! Well I didn’t even think of that. So now I have some extra cabinet space 😉
I laughed so hard while reading this post 🙂 I, too, am usually lost when it comes to weird buttons and functions of my kitchen appliances. And, don’t telly anyone, but that “warming drawer” below the stove…I thought it was a drawer to store pans. So that’s what mine is functioning as right now. Now THAT is embarrassing 🙂
Lindsay recently posted…monday, you were awesome, but i’m glad you’re over.
I just store cookie sheets and muffin tins under the oven in the warming drawer. I didn’t know that people actually used it to warm stuff up.
Lee recently posted…A New Farmers Market
I’ve used the warming drawer, but really don’t see the need for it. I now house my baking pans in it. The power level on the microwave, now that’s the secret to how I make the perfect cup of oatmeal. 😉 And YES, I’m deeply disturbed by the antibacterial button on the dishwasher. Seriously, shouldn’t it always kill bacteria? UGH!
Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) recently posted…Sadness…
ummm yeah…I don;t understand most of the buttons on my micro…my fave is the popcorn one lol I also have one of those really nice kitchen aid mixers…and I almost never use it! Shame on me!
What a fun post!!
I have a warmer too that I use to store my baking pans and trays 🙂
Smitha @ FauxRunner recently posted…Reflections on a Dark Run
I would love a warming drawer – but are you sure that’s what that one is (instead of a drawer for pans?). Usually the warming drawers I have seen aren’t on the floor, but maybe! 🙂
Heather @ Better With Veggies recently posted…Final Meatless Mondays from A-Z Reveal {Round 1}
maybe not? It’s under the oven, about 2 inches from the floor…and is warm when the oven is on. LOL, told you I’m clueless 😛
Paige, I have the same thing under our stove and it’s the broiler! This took me way too long to figure out. I too thought it was a drawer to store other pots and pans like the one I grew up with (my mom has an electric oven and so no broiler pan, the drawer is for storage). Until I moved into our condo and used our gas oven. My dad saw me taking pans out of it one day and he’s like “That’s the broiler honey, you shouldn’t have pans in there. It gets super hot when you turn the oven on.” Oops. I now use it for toasting things like bread. Super hot, but good if you want things nice and crispy.
Sarah @ Blonde Bostonian recently posted…Quiet
Really?! I thought broil was just a setting for the oven! lol so good to know 🙂
Wait, whaaaaat?!? I feel so dense right now…I never knew that was a warming drawer?! I just use it to hold all of my lids to my pots and pans LOL!! Mine has never gotten hot enough to make me think it could do any sort of cooking, haha.
Courtney @ Sweet Tooth, Sweet Life recently posted…Your Favorite Foundation?
I could eat a taco salad for dinner every single night. And if I was just cooking for one, I totally would! Actually, Greg probably wouldn’t complain (as long as I made them with beef once in a while) – and he’d put his over rice instead of lettuce and pile on the cheese… sigh.
I want to make my own sauerkrat!! I’ve brewed two batches of kombucha before- it’s easy!! I got a kit sent to me from Kombucha Brooklyn last fall, and it’s pretty much fool-proof. And SO MUCH cheaper than buying it all the time!
Lauren @ Oatmeal after Spinning recently posted…One More Week Of 32
I so need to get on it! Thanks for the brand rec – I’ll look them up 🙂
I don’t think I’ve ever changed the power on my microwave setting once. It seems to work fine with pretty much everything I cook in there, so why bother?
And microwaved chicken? That does not sounds appealing in the least.
Sam @ Better With Sprinkles recently posted…Rebellious.
I can’t picture it tasting any other way than rubbery!
haha after reading through the comments.. I’m so glad to know that I’m not a dumb ass after all and that quite a few peeps use the warming drawer for pots and pans!! YAY
Dude, thats called a warming drawer? I always just thought it was a storage drawer. Off to google….
omg.. i can’t take this. that is a warming drawer!?!?! you are kidding, right? i use that for storage and thought everyone did. hahha!