There are so many utensils in the kitchen and having the right one for the task at hand is important. Here are some of my favourites.
Can Opener
A can opener is a device used to open steel cans. Most can openers press a cutting wheel into the edge of the lid while a rough support wheel presses up under the lip of the can
Citrus Squeezer
A citrus squeezer is a small kitchen utensil designed to extract juice from lemons or other citrus fruit such as oranges, grapefruit, or lime. It is designed to separate and crush the pulp of the fruit in a way that is easy to operate.
Coating Trays
Neatly and easily bread meat, fish and veggies with the Coating Trays & Tool. ... The trays lock together, which helps keep your counters clean. Use the tong end of the tool to hold meat, and the other end to dip sweets, and your hands will stay clean, too!
Colanders
For draining pasta or washing vegetables and salad greens, a colander is an essential piece for your minimalist kitchen
Cooking Brush
Artist-style brushes serve a multitude of purposes in the kitchen: you can use them to apply an egg wash or spread glaze on pastries before you bake them, coat a piece of bread with oil or melted butter for crostini-type items, or baste a piece of meat with pan sauces or a marinade.
Cutting Boards
One of the most basic tools you need in your kitchen is a good cutting board. You’ll be using it every time you cook so it’s important to choose one that’s durable and well designed. There are wooden and plastic ones.
Digital Scale
Using a kitchen scale eliminates the need for multiple measuring cups and spoons, meaning you spend less time cleaning up, and more time enjoying the fruits of your labor. ... Just place your bowl on the scale, zero it out (so you're measuring the weight of the contents and not the bowl) and add your ingredients!
Garlic Press
A garlic press, also known as a garlic crusher, is a kitchen utensil to crush garlic cloves efficiently by forcing them through a grid of small holes, usually with some type of piston.
Gnocchi Boards
The gnocchi board is an essential tool for preparing homemade gnocchi with ridged surfaces, which allows sauces, especially those based on tomatoes or cream and cheese, to adhere better.
Grater
Medium holes with a cutting edge on bottom (look like large raindrops) : used for shredding. Small holes with cutting edge on bottom : used for shredding when you want it finer than the larger size. Outward protruding holes with spiky edges on all sides : used for grating
Ground Meat Chopper
The good cook meat chopper makes it quicker and easier to chop up meat. Features a 5-blade head that's perfect for breaking up and mixing ground meat inside a cooking pan.
Mandoline Slicer The key benefits to using a mandoline are speed and uniformity in slicing, shredding and sometimes grating. Traditionally used to cut prep time to a minimum when making gratins, slaws and french fries, mandolines are tremendously versatile.
Measuring Cups A measuring cup or measuring jug is a kitchen utensil used primarily to measure the volume of liquid or bulk solid cooking ingredients such as flour and sugar, especially for volumes from about 50 mL (2 fl oz) upwards
Measuring Spoons Measuring spoons are used to precisely measure smaller amounts of liquid or solid cooking ingredients than measuring cups.
Meat Mallet or Pounder Typically, you'll use a mallet when you want flat cutlets for dredging and frying, like for saltimbocca, picatta, milanese, katsu, schnitzel, or when you're hammering tough cuts of meat, like flank or skirt steak, to make them more tender
Meat Thermometer Using a meat thermometer is the only way to accurately tell if your food is safe to eat. Not only does knowing how to use a meat thermometer ensure the meat is cooked to a safe internal temperature, but it also prevents you from overcooking the meat.
Microplane It’s a fine grater that’s perfect for adding thin sprinkles of Parmesan over a pasta dish or adding lemon zest to a flaky fish.
Mixing bowls For mixing together salad dressings, spice rubs, marinades, sauces, and even for storing leftovers, a set of high-quality mixing bowls is a must. Use metal or glass because they’re less porous than plastic. They won’t pick up stains or odors. Use the plastic ones for items such as cake mixes and pancakes. Have some with lids to easily store your food.
Peeler A peeler (vegetable scraper) is a kitchen tool consisting of a metal blade with a slot with a sharp edge attached to a handle, used to remove the outer layer (the "skin" or "peel") of some vegetables such as potatoes, broccoli stalks, and carrots, and fruits such as apples and pears.
Potato Masher A potato masher, bean masher, pea masher, masher, or crusher is a food preparation utensil used to crush soft food for such dishes as mashed potatoes, apple sauce, or refried beans.
Potato Ricer To achieve clump-free mashed potatoes, most experts recommend using a ricer. ... Forcing the cooked mealy potato through the ricer's small holes creates rice-sized pieces of potato (hence the name) and the air that is incorporated while pressing contributes to the light fluffiness.
Scoop Colander and Pasta Tong Scoop, drain, and serve food straight from a hot pan or baking tray Pan hooks on the underside of the tool allow you to conveniently rest it on the side of a pan as it drains Ideal for straining and serving vegetables, pasta, and fried food
Dough scrapper and cutter A dough scraper is a tool used by bakers to manipulate dough and to clean surfaces on which dough has been worked. ... Bakers and pastry chefs use this tool to help pick up, turn, and portion dough.
Sifter Putting your flour or icing sugar through a sifter will break up any lumps, which means you can get a more accurate measurement. Sifted flour and icing sugar is much lighter than unsifted flour and icing sugar and is easier to mix into other ingredients when making batters and doughs
Silicone Spatulas A silicone spatula is crucial for scraping out the food processor or the sides of the mixing bowl, swirling frosting onto a cake or folding egg whites into cake batter. Make sure your spatula is silicone and not rubber, or else it may risk melting under high heat. If you make lots of garlicky things, you may want to have a separate spatula for sweet baking only.
Slotted Spoons Whether it’s wooden or metal, a perforated (or slotted) spoon acts like a miniature strainer, removing solids from liquids—think pulling potatoes or small pasta noodles from boiling water.
Small Ice Cream Scoop The smallest scoop might not be used for ice cream, but you could use it for portioning sauces for your ice cream, or for making melon balls, scooping cookie dough, or portioning truffles
Soup Ladles A soup ladle is a specialized spoon which is designed for serving soups, gravies, punches, and other liquids.
Spatulas A sturdy spatula is vital for flipping, tossing, and serving all kinds of foods. Think eggs over easy, puffy pancakes, roasted veggies, sauteed meats, and fish
Squeeze Bottles Squeeze bottles have become increasingly common in home kitchens as well. They're handy for storing and dispensing oil, vinegar, and other condiments and sauces. They can be used to decorate cakes and make the perfect drizzle on a plate
Steamer This is my most used item in the kitchen. I steam all my veggies in the microwave instead of boiling them.
Tongs The tight grip of the tongs helps holding the foods tightly, which are too slippery to pick with a fork, spoon or even with your hands. But, that's not the only benefit you can get out of this kitchen tool. The can be used to turn meat in the oven or pan, mix a salad or serve pasta.
Whisks A whisk is a cooking utensil which can be used to blend ingredients smooth and to incorporate air into a mixture, in a process known as whisking or whipping. Whisks are commonly used to whip egg whites into a firm foam to make meringue, and to whip cream into whipped cream.
Wooden Spoons Wooden spoons give you a firm strong handle to hold, making stirring easier and more effective–and without any fear of the handle breaking. It also provides you with a solid tool for scraping things off the sides and bottom of your pan
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