Wednesday, 29 December 2010
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Must-Have Kitchen Gadgets
I recently read an article by Jamie Wheeler on Intent.com about the ten kitchen gadgets no one should live without.
Now, I'm definitely still a novice in the kitchen - I've only just started collecting my share of essential gadgets, appliances, and cookbooks. However, after reading that list, I couldn't help but feel as if it didn't cover everything. I do agree with a few of the essentials on her list: whisks and KitchenAid mixer (or a good hand mixer if you can't afford a KitchenAid just yet), but there are so many more kitchen tools I just couldn't live without!
Here are 5 more kitchen must-haves I think should be added to the list:
1. Sharp Knives: Do yourself a favor and invest in a good-quality set of knives and keep them sharp. Nothing is worse than trying to slice meat or dice vegetables with dull knives!
2. LOTS of Mixing Bowls: When you're making a complicated recipe or cooking a feast, these store different ingredients and you won't have to stop cooking to hand-wash a bowl. These can also double as serving bowls for entertaining!
3. A Good Cheese Grater: Get the kind with different sizes so you can use it for grating, slicing or even zesting fruit. Get a higher quality one and it will last you years (I learned my lesson: my dollar-store one broke in half while I was using it)!
4. Pyrex Measuring Cups: They come in lots of sizes, from small to huge and can hold a lot of liquid or dry ingredients. Also, since they're made of heavy-duty Pyrex, they can withstand high heat, so you can pour boiling liquid right into them.
5. Non-Stick Pan: This is another item if you invest well in and take extra-special care of, it will last for years. Plus, the non-stick coatings allow you to cook with less fat!
What are your kitchen must-haves?
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- From: laurak@lovelyish
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Comments (13)
I agree with absolutely everything on both lists. (I have a good hand mixer...but I <33333333 my Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer like a third child!) I would also add a good Mandolin & a food chopper. (Mine are from Pampered Chef-- I ADORE!)
@kristinabean@xanga - Mm! And a good food processor. Cuisinart ftw!
kitchen aid mixer, bamboo cutting board, sharp knives, cast iron skillets in a range of sizes,
A slicer! The flat ones =) Makes everything easier <3
Although it's not a "gadget," a must-have for me is lots of kitchen space. But maybe that's just because I'm slow and a bit unorganized when I'm in the kitchen... :P
multiple chopping boards. I keep one for meat, one for veg and then sometimes have one for bread too...
I also love my steamer... and my wok. I cook nearly everything in my wok, lol.
Christmas present was a bread maker, so we'll have to see if this becomes a firm favourite.
*Forces self to stop drooling over kitchen in picture*
Lately I've been cooking a lot of eggs, and I find that the only spatula that work is one of these puppies. And it whisks the egg too! I think mine is the cheap version and it sometimes pinches my hand, but it's so much easier than a regula spatula!
I use my blender and Bosch (basically a high-quality mixer) all the time. I'm obsessed with smoothies, so the blender gets lots of use, and I use the Bosch for baking.And for knives all you need is a high quality chef's knife and an equally high quality paring knife. I use Wusthof.
I love this list and completely agree!
@BebstersBlog2@xanga - oh my God I know. I definitely did a drooling jaw-drop over the picture. My dream kitchen <3
I'd add a silicone spatula to the list, they are invaluable tools for stirring, scraping, and whatever else you see fit to use them for.
Not so sure I agree with everything on the list in the original article, I could and do get by without a lot of those things.
Oh, one thing: A good can opener. Not just the kind that takes the whole top off, but one that punctures the lid so you can pour out of it. I just discovered I no longer know where mine is and opening a can with a screwdriver isn't nearly as good.
some storage unit like plastic containers or something. i like to prep my stuff before hand and store in fridge so they are handy
Pyrex has thought of everything needed to run a kitchen. Their products look normal but each of them has like 20 different functions...amazing.
I agree with your list, those are some very essential items. If you are a baker, I would recommend nonstick cookie sheets, three 8 or 9" round cake pans, 13x9" baking dish and yes, an electric mixer. I have both the hand one and KitchenAid (which took a long time for me to save up for!), I find that the hand mixer gets the job done nicely for nearly all my usual baking needs, like whipping up cookie dough and cake batters. The thing about the KitchenAid that is annoying is that the bowl has a groove on the bottom and needs to be constantly scraped. If you can afford, it get one of those fancy pan sets, has small, med, large saucepans, 3 sizes of frying pans and a stockpot. I bought a set and it's lasted for more than 5 years and I haven't needed to buy another size of pan/pot. So versatile. Also, wooden spoons, rubber scrapers, spatulas, tongs. The key to having a great, useful kitchen is never buy anything that only has one function.
@Quotabulous@xanga - I love Pyrex, too! It's especially bad when I go to the Pyrex/Corelle/Corningware outlet store near by...oh dear.
@Platypi007@xanga - Can opener, that's a good one!