Kitchen Klutter

Let's face it, when you live in Western Washington and want to use your outdoor barbecue or gas grill you either have to wait until late June/Early July or have a good sized covered area!

Sure....there may be random days in April and May that feel like summer and make you yearn for hotdogs, hamburgers and steaks or salmon grilled over an open flame but you really have to be on the ball and ready to go because the weather can change in a heartbeat.

This is when the Farberware Rotisserie can be the best and sometimes most unused kitchen appliance you will ever own! The beauty of it is you can use it indoors as it is designed to be smoke free and it really is if it's used right.

They come in a few different sizes and varieties. There is a very small one with a completely collapsible plastic base that makes it super easy to store and is great for apartments or college dorms. The full size one's are smaller than a modern microwave oven. 

These were really popular in the 70's and 80's and are no longer made by Farberware but can always be found on ebay. The best time to get one is in the spring or summer because the price dramatically increases around the holidays when most people have no desire to be outside tending a grill.

If you are going to get one make sure you find out if it is complete. If you don't know what one should have, do some research and find out before shopping around. Generally they are comprised of a frame, drip pan, grill rack, support arm for grill rack (very often missing but a wire hanger can be adapted for use), broiler element and electrical cord, rotisserie spit, motor and support arms. Some motors have an additional outlet which can come in handy if you are limited in that area. These are all made of stainless steel so even if they have been used a lot they almost always come clean very easily and everything but the motor can be put in the dishwasher.

Normally the only important question to ask is if the motor works. Most of the time they do but some have simply been used up. Also find out if the cord has any burn marks or is melted anywhere. Sometimes they get too close to the rotisserie and are damaged. If you do happen to get one and something is missing, most of the parts are readily available right here on ebay and are reasonably priced.

When these came out in the 70's they were priced at around $40 to $50 and you can still get them for around that price if you are lucky or persistant. I bought one on ebay about 4 years ago and paid around $40 for one complete, in the original box with the instruction manual. Now, they can go for much more depending on the time of year.

They are great for slow roasting chickens, ducks, cornish game hens and roasts. And you really can do them indoors without smoke. As an added bonus, when the weather starts to get cold they will really help cut down the chill in the kitchen and fill your home with the wonderful aroma with no smoky odor!

Farberware Rotisserie