I use a double boiler, but mine wore out so I had to buy a new one.  In my search for a new one, I  found they are not common in shops.

A double boiler is an essential kitchen tool for me. How about you?

FWIW...I do not have a microwave.  They are very popular, but the way the cook leaves much to be desired in my opinion.

I never cook.

I´ve never used it, I´m a regular pot type of a girl Never had enough patience for steamers either. Oh, and I use microwave just for warming up already cooked meals

Interesting....how do you cook? No steamer, no double boiler....what do you cook in? You say regular pot, what is a regular pot? What materials are your regular pots made out of?

The beauty of a double boiler is that things don´t burn or get scorched in them. The heat is even and things cook slowly and evenly. Of course, it is possible to boil all the water out of the bottom pot, which is a good way to ruin the pot.

Do you have any favorite kitchen cooking tools?  You know, things you have to have?

Well, when I cook something, I use regular pots like these:

and I cook veggies/rice/pasta in water so they don´t get burned. I know it´s not the best way as I lose a lot of vitamins but that´s the way it is...My pots are made of stainless steel and frying pans are teflon. I must say I use the oven pretty often as I´m not too fond of deep fried things so oven is where most of the meat ends up.

And I can´t imagine a kitchen without a whisk (the one looking like a balloon)

Not sure if you are a fan of online shopping, but since I am NOT a fan of shopping at stores, I do most of mine online......here are a bunch of double boilers on Amazon.....I buy from them A LOT and I have never had a problem.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Double+Boiler&x=11&y=19

Well that was certainly a nice diversion....they sure have a lot of double boilers!......but do you use them?

I like to support local economy, so I try to make my purchases from local merchants.  I am not adverse to online shopping if things I want or need are not available locally.  I dd find one in a local shop, but now I have to bring it back because it has a serious dent in the bottom part....sigh....should have opened it before leaving the shop.

Hmmm.....interesting.  You really should try a steamer. They say it´s one of the healthiest cooking methods.  As for your boiling veggies...don´t you use the water left over from cooking? It is great for making broths.

I never deep fry anything, but I do stir fry often.  Stir frying is sort of a combination of sauteing and steaming.  The fire is only on under the food for a minute or so.  The rest of cooking is done by steam.

FWIW.....my frying pans are cast iron...and one is stainless steel.  I avoid teflon as I have read it leaks into the food.  If one seasons cast iron properly, they are the perfect none stick cooking pans. I have the one stainless steel for foods that are acidic and not to be cooked in cast iron.

I have one stainless steel pressure cooker,  a combination steamer sauce pan..(sort of like a double boiler but one pan has holes in it)a few staineless steel pans and the rest cast iron.  My favorite is my cast iron Dutch Oven  (I have two, one small for grains like barley or rice, and a large one). Sometimes I steam someting then glaze it in a frying pan.

I hardly ever use the oven as it heats up the kitchen too much.  The Dutch Ovens  function like an oven.  I also have a nice tajine to cook in, but only use it a few times a month as the cooking time is long............but so tasty!

No insult to Trudy in calling them Dutch Ovens, but that is what they are called here.

 I actually don´t care for double boilers but I do have one.  I use a rice cooker for rice and don´t eat very much pasta (please don´t tell my Italian family...OK?), I just boil it in water if I do.  As for veggies, they are usually cooked in something else (I am the cassarole Queen...as my family loves to tease me about) or I grill or sautee them. 

Oatmeal?  ummm....I boil water and add it to the instant kind  Not much of an oatmeal lover I guess.

Aenigma´s nightmare is coming true!!