It’s true that you don’t need much more than a pot, a fry pan, a spatula, and a knife to make almost any meal. However, if you want to avoid major frustration while cooking, a few more items are essential. Even the most inept home cooks keep some basic tools on hand—cutting boards, serving spoons, tongs, and the like—but serious chefs know that more is needed. The kitchen tools listed below are indispensable in any gourmet kitchen.
1.) Single-hand citrus squeezer
Forget about squeezing that lemon by hand. With a citrus squeezer, you’ll get all the juice from any lemon, lime, or orange in no time flat. The handheld squeezer allows you to maximize the juice extracted from each fruit in minimal time. You’ll find plenty of uses for this tool, from coating fish in lemon juice to squeezing the perfect amount of lime into your margarita.
2.) Digital meat thermometer
A digital thermometer will let you know if your meat is done within a few seconds. Most thermometers consist of a probe that is attached to a small unit that gives a temperature readout. Some thermometers are also available as forks; with those kinds, you put the fork into the meat and wait for a reading on the handle. Either way, a thermometer will ensure that your meat is perfectly cooked every time.
3.) Mandolin
Nothing makes chopping easier than a mandolin. This tool is similar to a cross between a grater and a knife. It produces large, even slices of vegetables and cheese. Mandolins make julienne and wavy cuts easy, and they’re essential for making your fool look as good as it tastes.
4.) Meat mallet
You might not think a meat mallet is necessary, but you’d be surprised at the difference it can make in your food. Pounding out chicken or beef makes the meat much tenderer. Pounded meat is actually called for in many recipes, and having a mallet on hand makes fulfilling that step so much easier.
5.) Immersion blender
You have a regular blender already. So why do you need another kind? The truth is you don’t really need another one. However, having an immersion blender on hand will make your life much easier. This stick blender can be placed in soups and sauces to make them smooth without transferring containers. Also, its compact design won’t make a mess like some hand mixers.
6.) Over-the-pot strainer
This nifty little tool lets you drain boiling ingredients without pouring them out of the pot. The strainer fits over one edge of the pot, so you just hold it in place and pour. It’s incredibly convenient for pastas and potatoes.
7.) Dutch oven
Every good cook should have at least one Dutch oven among his collection of pots. You don’t have to shell out hundreds of dollars for the name-brand kind either. You can buy a simple, un-enameled cast iron oven for under $50. Dutch ovens are great because they can go from the stove to the oven to the freezer. They’re also incredibly durable.
Related Posts:
No related posts.