Top 11 Kitchen Tools plus some!

"Kitchen Tools" by ME

Hey Friends!

I want to start sharing kitchen recipes, tricks, trades, and tidbits again. I really enjoyed doing it in the past. I of course, will always give credit to where credit is do! I found this article waaay back in my cooking files from March 2009 in the "Relish" newspaper magazine insert. It was written by Chef Jon Ashton. Their website is now the blog.relish.com. I do not own this article! BUT... I will add my favorites and two cents where I see fit! LOL 

Chef Aston gives his take on what you should have in a well equipped kitchen. Check out below for my additions! 

TOOL BOX by Chef Jon Ashton

1. Cutting Board:  I use a wooden Boos Board (go to Johnboos.com to order). Stay away from glass. Corian and acrylic boards actually dull your knives.

2. Meat Thermometer. A digital thermometer gives the quickest read, but the point is to use any thermometer to make sure you don't undercook or overcook your food. 

3. Mandolin. To get perfectly sliced vegetables, I use a mandolin. Simple ones cost under $20 at most stores. 

4. Nonstick tongs. Foods won't stick or get torn by the nonstick tips. Look for ones that lock for easy storage, such as OXO.

5. Vegetable Peeler. A must have. There are so many out there but I prefer OXO for it's nice grip. 

6. Microplane. I use a microplane to grate hard cheese, chocolate, and ginger. Microplanes cost about $15. Grating lemon rind will never be the same. 

7. Digital Kitchen Timer. I use a programmable timer at home. It's handy when multi-tasking.

8. Cast Iron Skillet. Season it with some oil, and it will be just as resistant to sticking as it's nonstick counterparts. 

9. Silicone Spatulas. Silicone spatulas withstand heat up to 800F and never lose their shape, chip or crack.

10. Serrated Bread Knife. A good chef's knife is a must, but so is a bread knife. It's great for slicing tomatoes, too.

11. Whisks. A whisk is essential for making any smooth sauce or batter. A good investment is a medium-size balloon whisk. 

7 EDITORS' HONORABLE MENTIONS:  butter bell, rotary grater, garlic press, scraper, kitchen scissors, pasta fork, laptop computer. 

BLOGGER'S (ME!) HONORABLE MENTIONS:  

1. Grill Scraper. My grill scraper is by Rachel Ray. I love it. Makes cleaning up the griddle so easy and quick!

2. Fork Whisk. The Norpro Grip EZ Fiskie fork whisk is superior to a regular whisk for whisking eggs. Not to mention, you won't have that grating metal sound to deal with of the fork tines on the metal or ceramic bowl! 

3. Different Sized Bowls. From large mixing blows to small prep bowls for herbs. Get many sizes and use the right one for the job. Prep your recipe before you start cooking. Have small bowls handy for spices and chopped veggies, garlic and onions.

4. Different Sized Colanders. I love different sized colanders as well. You wouldn't use the huge one for rinsing berries or capers. You would use a small one. Same with draining pasta, you need the right sized colander!

5. Different Sized Whisks. Same deal. Different sized whisks for different sized jobs. 

6. Oven Gloves. Anything like the "As Seen On TV" Ove Gloves are great to use. They also work well to protect that hand when holding down a cat and giving them their medicine. 

7. Silicone Basting Brush. Just make sure it's silicone. It cleans up so much easier than the old nylon basting brushes of our Moms!

8. Good Knives. Make sure you keep them sharpened! Good quality knives are a must in the kitchen. They will make prep far easier, and believe it or not, SAFER! 

9. Pan Scraper by Joie. I love my pan scraper. It makes cleanup so much quicker. Just scrape those dinner remains right in the garbage! 

10. Baggies, Tin Foil, and Cling Wrap. After all these years, I have learned that the cheaper tin foil SUCKS. You end up using waaay more than you need to because it's so thin. Same with the baggies and cling wrap. If you can afford it, invest a little more and buy heavy duty tin foil or higher end baggies and cling wrap. Look for those coupons to help save money! And it will save a lot of frustration in the long run. 

As just an FYI, I scour yard sales, resale shops and flea markets for second hand kitchen items. You don't need the equipment to match. You just need good quality equipment! Most of us spend so much time in our kitchens. You might as well make it easier, more fun and enjoyable.