Kitchen Utensils – Chris' Cooking Blog

What Do You Really Need When Buying Cookware

Cookware is constantly a rather controversial topic. I have seen chefs turn up to even the simplest of cooking jobs carrying more than it would take to preserve your average oil tanker (though perhaps this is not the very best usage for your pots and pans), when all that was really required was a knife and something to sharpen it with.

So what are the genuine “cookware basics”, the important things that you actually can’t do without? Well remarkably you in fact need only an extremely small amount of things to get you going. Probably considerably less than you have already.

Cookware And Other Kitchen Needs

For most recipes all you really need is a great knife, a way of sharpening it, a chopping board and a couple of pans. You may prefer a bit more pots and pans however you can prepare with simply that.
Do not get me wrong, I’m as partial to a kitchen area loaded with mixers, electric griddles, electrical appliances and assorted beneficial, and otherwise, devices as the next person.

However although great quality cheap cookware (yes it is possible )like blenders and grinders provide you a lot more scope there are a lot of things that you can cook without them, but a good knife, or three, is definitely important.

The very first and most essential kitchen utensil you need is a cook’s knife, that’s as big as you feel comfortable with, an 8 inch knife with a blade that curves slightly to permit a rocking motion is a great start, then a smaller knife, about 4 inches, for cutting little veggies and a sculpting knife.

If you purchase one about 10 inches long it can also double as a bread knife. A set can really be rather great value and offer you more for a similar amount of money.

Invest In A Good Set Of Knives

If you can not find a set with what you think will work to you, don’t buy it. Many sets included items like a case or wooden knife block but try to see past the free presents. It’s better to have a couple of good knives in your drawer than an expensive polished beech wood block with fifteen designer knives, fourteen of which you never utilize, and one that is not the right shape for your hand and provides you blisters.

If you find out how to utilize them properly then steel or grinding stone is a good way to keep your knives sharp otherwise there are an excellent choice of exclusive sharpeners that keep the knife at the best angle while you pull it through the sharpener. Pans also require to be great quality, absolutely nothing over the top, no need to invest a fortune. Simply make certain they are of a good strong building.

An excellent wok on the other hand need to be made of a thin light steel and cost very little, but constantly examine that it has a great well-fixed wooden deal with. A great slicing board is another requirement though 2 are much better than one as this assists to avoid cross contamination if you designate one for uncooked meats/fish and so on and another for things like fruit and salads.

Keep Your Workspace Clean

No matter how much you believe you will always take care and clean them in between uses this is the very best single method to avoid contamination in between foods. If you plan doing a lot of baking, mixers can be helpful. Unless you make bread on a regular basis (always a good idea), then purchasing a basic, good quality hand held mixer rather than a heavy standalone version could save you a couple of hundred dollars in as well as a lot of area on your worktop.

A mixer is constantly beneficial for soups and the periodic shake, and a mill will give you a lot more choices in your usage of nuts and so on and will also supply a consistent supply of fresh coffee for the more manic cook. A good way to combine the functions of all 3 is to buy a food mill.

A great quality stand mixer will conserve space and enable you add attachments. This can be cheaper than if these items were purchased separately. There is a practically unending list of kitchen area devices that you might purchase (if in doubt walk into your regional culinary store and ask the owner what he thinks you require!), however make sure you get the essential excellent quality pots and pans right and it will make your cooking simpler and more satisfying.

If you are simply starting to cook, or are moving in on your own, opportunities are, you don’t have much in terms of cooking utensils and tools. Here is what we recommend for you to get, as you are beginning. As times goes by, you will, obviously, get more kitchen gadgets. Here are 5 that we recommend beginning out with:

Cutting Board

This is something extremely fundamental, but there are quite a few options when it comes to cutting boards. It’s a basic utensil as you can’t slice anything without having one, but you need to make sure you have the kind you will want to use.

A good cutting board is extremely versatile, as you can chop practically anything on it. Almost every recipe calls for something to be cut, sliced, trimmed or chopped and you don’t want to do this on a counter top.

Some people prefer to get separate slicing boards to meat, dairy products, vegetables or fruits. This is a good idea as some cutting boards are softer than others. You don’t want meat juices getting deep into a board, they can be very difficult to clean. Many experienced cooks will get differently sized boards. They may like to use them depending on the volume of things they need to chop. Start out with a basic wooden cutting board, they are the most versatile. As you become more experienced you can look at plastic and stone.

This may seem silly but you will not be able to slice or chop anything on your cutting board unless you have a good quality knife. A good quality knife goes a long way to help you prepare food and will last you for years. This is one place you probably don’t want to be cutting costs in.

Get A Big Pot

You will need a big pot often. While it may sound basic, it is one thing you will constantly be reaching for. Starting with basics like boiling pastas to making soups and stews, you will always be using some type of pot for cooking. Some pots include straining inserts, that makes it much easier to prepare pasta. Others have steamer attachments for corn or lobsters.

Along with a good big pot, you will need a sturdy frying pan. We like saute pans, and use them all the time. They are smaller than a typical frying pan and are really versatile. Look for pans with a non-stick coating and without wooden handles. Often you will put the frying pan in the oven to finish off a dish, make sure it is ovenproof.

You will find that you use one frying pan more than others. It may be a saute pan, it may be a big multi purpose frying pan.

– Roasting Pan. These are ideal for preparing things in the oven. From roast to roasted chicken to roasted veggies, a roasted pan can assist you prepare your preferred dishes in the oven.

Do not be frightened – cooking is enjoyable. Start getting a couple of things that we recommended, and contribute to your collection of kitchen area devices as time goes.

Tag: Kitchen Utensils

Choosing The Best Cookware