Store It Foods

Whether it’s a wheat grinder, a sauce maker, a pressure cooker, or whatever, your new kitchen appliance is likely to come with a manual of some sort.  Please.  Be aware that this is not just a collection of waste paper.

That manual does have a purpose.  In fact, it has several purposes.

1. Instructions. You might assume that you know how to use this new addition to your collection of small appliances, and you might be assuming correctly, but, just in case, you should probably take at least a glance through the instructions.  Who knows, you may pick up on some handy hint that will make life easier for you.  It’s even possible that you may pick up on something that you had planned on doing with it that you should NOT do with it.
2. Recipes. Some of those manuals may incorporate a few (or even several) time tested recipes.  The manufacturer would not have included them if they hadn’t proved themselves.  Check through them.  You may find something that will later prove to be a family favorite.
3. Warranty and Contact Information. Your warranty is likely to be itemized in this little book.  What do you do if you discover somewhere down the line that there is a manufacturing defect?  Who do you contact?  What do you do?  All of this sort of information is likely to be contained in the manual.
4. Parts and Pieces. Someday you may misplace the pressure valve that comes with your pressure cooker.  The cutting blade on your apple peeler might wear out.  You may, at some point, need a new gasket, spring, or hose (depending upon what appliance you’ve got).  There’s a very good chance that the parts, parts numbers, and ordering information is included in the manual.  Keep it on hand.

So, yes, the owner’s manual can prove to be very useful.  Don’t throw it out.  More than that, know where it is.  Having it somewhere in the house, in some drawer somewhere can make that usefulness useless if you can’t find it when needed.