15 KITCHEN TOOLS OF THE TRADE IN ANY TREND

JD

September 26, 2019

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cooking-tips

The items in this section will make your life much easier and more efficient. You should stock your kitchen so it works for you; choose the equipment that you find helpful and skip the rest, no matter the trends.

Balloon Whisk

A skinny balloon-style whisk with wires that curve out just a little bit is the best all-purpose tool; it can mix batters, beat eggs or cream, and make a pan sauce on the stove.

Citrus Juicer

While you can juice citrus without a tool (or with a fork), it’s much more efficient to use a juicer. Unless you’re juicing dozens of oranges every day, you probably only need a manual juicer, not an electric model.

Fat Separator

You can skim fat with a spoon, but a fat separator is more effective. We prefer models that drain from the bottom, since they make it easier to keep any fat from sneaking out with the liquid.

Fine-Mesh Strainer

A fine-mesh strainer is great for rinsing rice, washing vegetables, sifting flour or confectioners’ sugar, and straining sauces. Make sure the mesh really is fine, so nothing slips through the holes. You may also want a
colander for draining pasta.

Garlic Press

For most home cooks, a garlic press is a much easier way to get a fine, even mince or paste than using a knife. With a good press, you don’t even have to peel the cloves first.

Grater

A box grater with a variety of easy-to-use planes can handle almost any task. We also love rasp-style graters. These wand-like tools are ideal for finely grating Parmesan, garlic, nutmeg, chocolate, and citrus zest.

Kitchen Shears

A pair of kitchen shears is one of the best all-around tools, useful for butterflying chicken, trimming pie dough, shaping parchment paper, snipping herbs, and cutting kitchen twine.

Ladle

A long ladle makes it easier to scoop and serve soup. One with a shallow bowl is also helpful for scraping the bottom of the pot.

Oven Thermometer

We hate to break it to you, but your oven might not be as accurate as you think it is. For reliable, consistent results, a good oven thermometer is critical.

Pastry Brush

A sturdy pastry brush with silicone bristles can handle a range of tasks, from spreading thick barbecue sauce on meat to delicately painting egg wash on pastry. Silicone is easy to clean and doesn’t hold onto stains or
odors.

Potato Masher

While you’ll need a ricer or food mill for truly velvety mashed potatoes , a classic handheld masher is a solid backup choice.

Rolling Pin

We prefer the classic French-style handle-free wood rolling pins; they easily turn and pivot and allow you to feel the thickness of the dough and apply pressure as needed. Look for a pin that’s about 20 inches long.

Salad Spinner

This one-purpose gadget might seem like a waste, but it’s really the best way to get greens and other produce clean and dry. Choose one with a large basket and a pump mechanism.

Slotted Spoon

Use this for scooping and draining small or delicate foods from boiling water, hot oil, or sauce. We prefer a no-frills stainless-steel model. A spider skimmer, which is larger with more open area for drainage, can
also be useful when blanching and frying.

Vegetable Peeler

A good peeler should be fast and smooth, shaving off just enough of the skin to avoid the need for repeat trips over the same section but not so much that the blade digs deeply into the flesh and wastes food. Look for stainless- or carbon-steel blades.