The cooking process and experience does not only focus on the dish and ingredients used; having the right cooking tools can make or break the quality of the food produced. Many kitchen tools are used in different stages of cooking, from dicing and cutting in the preparation stage, when the meals are cooking on the stove or in the oven, and when you are sitting with your family and guests at the dinner table. Here are a few basic and essential cooking tools you need that can improve your culinary expertise.
Chef’s Knife
One of the most critical and foundational tools to have in your kitchen is a quality chef’s knife. For most culinary preparations, you will need a well-balanced and comfortable chef’s knife. If you are not sure which one to get, try a few of them to see which best suits you. A quality chef’s knife will make the whole experience fun and efficient, cutting through your ingredients with speed and precision. Keep a well-maintained knife set, and regularly sharpen them using a whetstone.
Mandolin
A great addition to your cooking tools in the kitchen is a Mandolin. The cutting accuracy and efficiency that a mandolin brings in the kitchen is unmatched, especially where lots of cutting and speed is needed. A majority of mandolins are French and made of stainless steel.
While a mandolin can be a bit pricey, it is worth every penny; it comes in several blade options for cutting through all sorts of vegetables to delicate portions. It has a few mechanism changes for different types of cuts like veggies and cutting French fry potatoes.
Pasta Strainer
Another must-have tool with many different uses in the kitchen is a pasta strainer, which strains pasta, spaghetti, and any foods that need staining if you were to improvise. A pasta strainer is generally made of stainless steel, bowl-shaped, and has two handles designed to make the staining process easy in reasonably large amounts.
The bottom of the filter has small perforations to release water while keeping the pasta from slipping through. Other uses for a pasta strainer are to remove boiled vegetables from the pot and as a blanket when cooking vegetables, allowing steam to escape through the holes.
Potato Ricer
One of the hardest things to do when you’re a big fan of mashed potatoes is creating a creamy, velvety, and soft dish without leaving a gooey texture. Overworking your potatoes can make them unpleasant and sticky. To achieve the perfect texture, cook your potatoes well and then press them through the potato ricer.
Kitchen Tongs
If you’ve ever had the chance to visit a restaurant kitchen, you would have seen the cooks holding kitchen tongs, and you may ask yourself why. A kitchen tong is essential when cooking, from removing burning hot pans from the oven, turning over foods in the oven, and generally used when coon pan-fried foods. When the food is cooked and ready to be dished, kitchen tongs come out again to place finished food on the plate. Many songs come with heat-resistant support, making this tool a workhorse in the kitchen.
