If you're like most people, your kitchen is the heart of your home. It's where you cook meals and gather with family and friends. That's why it's important to have the right kitchen tools to make cooking easier and more enjoyable. In this blog post, we will discuss 10 must-have kitchen tools that every cook should have in their arsenal!
1. Kitchen Knives
A good set of kitchen knives is essential for any cook. They can make prep work easier and help you create beautiful dishes. For us, kitchen knives are one of the things we will invest more money in. A good knife can last you a lifetime. We also think they make a great wedding gift for a young couple.
One of our favorite knives is made by Wustof. The Classic 15-piece set can be on the high side, but we find that it has almost everything we need to cook for the whole family. We say almost because it is missing our favorite knife, the 5-inch serrated utility knife. This knife can cut the ripest tomatoes without bruising. For this tomato-loving family, that’s a big deal.
2. Cutting boards
A cutting board is a necessary tool for food preparation. It provides a clean, safe surface to chop vegetables, meat, and more. We like to have several cutting boards. You can buy a set of different size boards or buy some that are different materials or serve different purposes.
One of the best reasons to have multiple boards is that it allows you to bring the whole family into the food prep process.
Here's a little mom trick - Set your teen up with a cutting board and some veggies. While you are both chopping away, you will find the teen will chat more than ever. We learned this trick years ago and it has worked wonders for all of our children.
3. Pots and Pans
Pots and pans are essential for cooking on the stovetop or in the oven. They come in a variety of sizes and materials to suit your needs. They also come in a variety of different qualities. Like the knives, we believe this is an area where you can splurge a little. We love anything from All-Clad or Le Creuset but if we are honest we are always on the lookout for our next favorite pan.
4. Baking Dishes
For a busy family, a baking dish can be your best friend, If you meal-prep, they are even more important. A baking dish is a must-have for making casseroles, roasted vegetables, pies, and more. Choose one that is oven-safe and has a removable lid for easy cleanup. The cast-iron ones from Pampered Chef have become our most recent favorite.
5. Measuring Cups and Spoons
Measuring cups and spoons are essential for baking and cooking. They help you ensure that you are using the right amount of ingredients. But let's be honest, one set of each will never do. We have glass ones and plastic ones. We have cups for liquid measuring and cups for dry-goods measuring. And still, out of each set, one is always missing. Maybe this is just us though.
6. Spatula
A spatula is a kitchen tool that can be used for a variety of tasks, such as flipping pancakes or burgers, stirring a pot of soup, or scraping batter from a bowl. We are currently on a pretty spatula kick. These beauties from Williams Sonomas are almost too pretty to use.
7. Tongs
It took us a long time to realize why hand tongs are in the kitchen. Tongs are a kitchen tool that can be used to grab food from the grill, turn chicken breasts on a pan, or serve the salad. In our house, they are also used for getting items that are on the top shelf of the cabinets. They come in various sizes and styles to suit your needs.
8. Whisk
A whisk is a kitchen tool that is used to mix ingredients. It is especially useful for making sauces, dressings, and batters. Ever wondered why some people have lumpy gravy and others don't? The secret is a good whisk.
9. Ladle
A ladle is a kitchen tool that is used to scoop and pour soup, chili, and other liquids. It is also helpful for serving food at potlucks and parties. Ladles are another one of those tools that beg us to buy different sizes and shapes. Our favorites have a hook on the end so they don't fall into the pot when we are serving our favorite chili.
10. Food processor
A food processor is a kitchen appliance that can be used to chop vegetables, shred cheese, and make sauces and doughs. It is a versatile tool that can save you time in the kitchen. It took us years to buy our first food processor. We just weren't sure we would need it. But once our kids were old enough to have us hopping from field to field all season long, we caved. And oh my goodness, do we love it! There’s a lot to choose from, but our favorite food processor by far is Cuisinart.
If you’re thinking about remodeling your kitchen, these are some amazing products to add to your lineup of tools or make sure you have! Happy Cooking!
AS ALWAYS, IF REMODELING AND YOU WOULD LIKE INSIGHT FROM A PROFESSIONAL, OUR TEAM HERE AT LINTHICUM PLUMBING IS READY TO SERVE YOU AND UPGRADE YOUR KITCHEN NEEDS. CALL US TODAY AT 410-768-5350.