Kitchen Tools

Healthy Recipes and Nutrition, Nutrition
on August 19, 2011

Whatever job you’re doing, having the right tools will ensure a good outcome. In cooking, the correct kitchen tools are essential to preparing healthy, accurate recipes that turn out the way you expect, every time. Visit the Culinary Institute of America and view the array of tools the pros use. You won't need a chef's arsenal to do most jobs, but you will require a few indispensable utensils. Make sure you have these essential kitchen tools on hand before you get cooking.

Accurate measuring tools are imperative. Precise measurement is important for accurate calorie count, portion size and recipe accuracy. In order to achieve the correct quantity of recipe components, you will need various tools. Be sure to have a digital scale for weight measurement, a set of measuring cups, measuring spoons and liquid measuring cups.

Proper temperature measurement cannot be overlooked. Thermometers assist in making candy, baked goods and cooking meat. A proper meat thermometer is invaluable in determining the correct doneness of meats. Undercooked food cannot only be a drag, it can also make you sick. Always know the safe temperature of meat and cook it thoroughly to prevent illness.

You can never have enough timers. Boiling pasta, baking filets of fish and steaming broccoli all call for an accurate measurement of time. You will need three timers for this meal. Digital timers with magnet backs are especially useful, as they handily stick to appliances for ease of use and excellent visibility.

Spoons, spatulas and whisks. You will need an assortment of tools that incorporate ingredients in a specific manner. Each tool has its own specialty. Ladles assist in serving liquids without spilling or falling into the hot pot. Tongs precisely turn meats and veggies for even cooking and are great for serving. Spatulas flip pancakes or move cookies from the cookie sheet without breakage. Whisks add air and a lofty fluff to egg whites and cream.

A sharp knife is your ally in the kitchen. You will need several knives for cutting, peeling, mincing and chopping. A serrated bread knife cuts bread without mashing it flat, and it can do the same for a ripe tomato. Meat carvers make short work of a London broil, and a paring knife deftly removes the peel from a potato.

Graters — box and plane. Tasks such as grating veggies for a salad, nutmeg for a batter and cheese for a taco is made simple with the correct tool. Select the right grater for the job. Box graters are perfect for cheese, cabbage and large root vegetables. Microplane graters are excellent on nutmeg or hard cheese like Parmesan and also double as a neat citrus zester.

Opening devices are a necessity. You will require a can opener and kitchen shears for opening canned goods and packages that are difficult to open. Manual can openers don’t require counter space or electricity and can be stashed in a drawer when not in use.

A colander is such a versatile utensil. A good wire mesh or stainless steel colander can be used to drain and rinse beans or other canned goods. Pasta can be drained in the same colander, and veggies such as lettuce and spinach can be cleaned, rinsed and dried via this handy kitchen tool.