Published by Programme B
If you’re looking to cook more, you need the right utensils for the job. But what exactly are kitchen utensils, and what do they do?
A kitchen utensil is any tool that helps you to prepare and cook food. You might use some of these tools on their own or combine them with different cooking methods.
The best kitchen utensils are functional, as well as beautiful. For example, you’ll use a whisk to combine ingredients in a bowl, while a spatula helps to scrape the mixture from the sides of the bowl.
By finding the right combination of products, you will turn cooking from a chore into a joy!
Instant Pot
They are essentially multi-cookers that are electric, coupled with electronic timers, slow cookers, and extra hot mixers.
The popularity of these products has stemmed from the fact that they require less preparation time than conventional cooking methods and are easier to prepare meals with. They are as easy to use as microwaves, and the learning curve is incredibly shallow.
You can use them to make soups and stews and even using Instant Pot as slow cooker to set and forget. This is ideal if you live a busy life or have many work and family commitments.
In terms of the benefits of an instant pot, the first one that comes to mind is that it’s much easier to clean.
The inner pot doesn’t require a separate rack or shelf to keep your used cooking vessels safely. This means that your pots and pans will be kept clean of any dirt, which means that your inner pot will last longer than traditional cooking vessels.
Another great benefit of these appliances is that they are great for families with young children and young adults. Because it uses very little heat, these appliances can be placed in the kitchen’s central location, where the family spends most of its time. This means that families save money on electricity and space, leaving more room for everyone in the home. This also allows parents to control the amount of cooking in the household since there is little or no fluctuation in temperature.
Set of Kitchen Knives
It’s been said that the most critical tool in your kitchen is the knife. This might seem like an overstatement, but the truth is, the right kitchen knife can make your life much more comfortable.
You use it to cut, slice, dice, mince, chop, and prepare all sorts of foods. Without a good knife, you have to use much more force to get the same job done.
Kitchen knives are vital because they are used in the food preparation process.
A sharp knife will make food preparation much more straightforward. For example, a sharp knife will cut some foods, such as tomatoes, more effortlessly than a dull knife. A dull knife is more likely to make the tomato squish and make a mess.
The chef can also make food preparation much easier by using a sharp knife.
By finding a high-quality set of kitchen knives, you will make cooking a far more straightforward affair.
You will want to find knives that remain sharp for as long as possible and also invest in an excellent whetstone to resharpen them with.
The essential knives you will need include:
Chef’s Knife
First and foremost, a chef’s knife is one of the larger blades. It’s probably the largest knife you will use in the kitchen.
If you’re going to be cooking food, you want to get comfortable with handling your chef’s knife. Why? Because it is the most versatile and useful knife for the main methods of food prep.
Paring Knife
Paring knives are small cooking knives designed explicitly for peeling, coring, and other precise jobs. They have short blades and handles, which makes them very easy to handle.
However, they are also beneficial for cutting and slicing fruits, vegetables, and other kitchen items. It is a small knife meant for smaller jobs, such as peeling, coring, and slicing. It is a good idea to have a few sizes to use, depending on your doing.
Serrated Knife
A serrated knife does precisely what it sounds like; it cuts and slices foods with a rind or skin that you need to cut through, such as some vegetables, fruits, and meats.
It also cuts things that have a hard outside and soft inside that may need more than just a regular knife to get through it, such as loaves of bread.
The serrations on the blade of a serrated knife allow you to cut through rigid material, such as bread, that would typically tear or rip with a smooth-edged knife.
Boning Knife
The boning knife, also known as a fillet knife, is a short knife with a flexible, sharp blade, used for the task of removing (or “boning”) the bones from a fish or meat carcass.
Boning knives are usually around 6 inches long and have a thin, flexible blade ideal for removing unwanted bones from fish and meat without damaging the flesh. The sharp tip of a boning knife is also useful for getting into small spaces.
Microwave
The good old microwave is perhaps one of the most used and most derided tools in the kitchen.
When you use a microwave, you get to enjoy a variety of meals without having to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Microwaves are useful appliances that help you accomplish a goal without getting in the way.
They don’t usually take up much space and are extremely simple to operate. You can even get models that double up like a convection cooker; in fact, you can even bake in some of them.
The possibilities are endless with a microwave, and for those looking to cook simple food quickly, these items can be handy.
Cutting Board
This may sound like an obvious choice, but too many people out there don’t own one of these.
You can get different types in different materials such as bamboo, wood, or plastic, but whichever you decide to get, make sure that it is solidly built and hard-wearing.
Box Grater
The humble box grater found at the back of so many people’s cupboards. If you have one, you should attempt to use it to add an extra kick to your cooking.
I bet most of you who are reading this will use these tools to grate cheese, and that’s it. However, you can use them for:
- Zesting lemons and limes
- Making breadcrumbs
- Creating cauliflower rice
- Grating chocolate over desserts or for melting
- Pureeing garlic and ginger
- Potato ricing (to make super fluffy mashed potatoes)
- Pulping tomatoes
The list goes on, and these examples are just a brief overview of how this simple tool can make your life easier without expensive tools.
Digital Scales
Are you the kind of cook that throws their ingredients into a bowl and hopes for the best? Well, if this is you, then stop and get yourself a standard digital scale.
Your food will come out of the oven tasting far better than you could have ever imagined by merely measuring out the ingredients correctly.
Oven Thermometer
Everyone who owns an oven should own one of these. Modern ovens have them built-in, which is very useful, but if you are operating a gas one or an older electric model, you might not know what the temperature is inside.
To cook food correctly, it is vital that you know how hot your oven is; otherwise, you will under or overcook your food.
Summary
Cooking doesn’t need to be complicated or time-consuming. By finding the correct tools for the job, you will cut down on complications when creating a culinary masterpiece.
Whether cooking for yourself or a large group of people, the tools on this list should make your life more manageable in the kitchen.
Photo by Lukas from Pexels