Tools of the Trade: Some Commonly Needed Kitchen Tools

By: Richard Jordan

Although the information given here is not too cumbersome for those who have cooked, there are many who have not set foot in the kitchen due to the vast majority of places to eat in the United States. For the beginning chef aspiring to make great culinary dishes that are served in local restaurants, you will need to start somewhere. If not first with what to eat, perhaps starting off with what to use to make well cooked food is a good idea? For this I am going to give you a rundown of some commonly used kitchen tools detailing which of these you may need in the kitchen while the others may be better off sitting at the store for a while longer.

What to purchase?

There are many tools to use to get the job done, but do you really need to purchase them all? Of course not, some of the most basic tools will get the job done just the same and not too much longer than some of the high grade appliances you can buy. However, depending on what you intend to make and the quantity you plan to make, it may be wise to purchase some useful electric appliances such as the handy little hand mixer. This tool is a must for baking recipes that you make from scratch and can be used in other areas of the kitchen as well to thoroughly blend foods together. For most of the beginning chefs, going out of your way to spend your money on appliances like this is unneeded. For that purpose, most of the tools listed here will be more of a traditional type.

Traditional Tools Used

What tools would you need other than electric appliances and larger appliances such as the stove and refrigerator? Well, many people on their first outing through their kitchen may forget some of the most basic tools they may need when preparing food for themselves and others. That's where this guide comes into play and points out some of the most inexpensive, overlooked, and used tools in the kitchen. While there are many tools for different areas of cooking, some tools are widely used and should try to be included in every kitchen for that occasion when you make something.

Here's a small list of essentials for you to keep in mind:

Cutting Board - Unless you wish to cut on the table or countertop, you're going to need something durable to cut your food on. It would be wise to have more than one cutting board as well for meats and vegetables (Diets In Review.) There is a debate over cutting boards that should be used in the kitchen. The two types are plastic and wooden (WiseGeek.) I personally use a bamboo board, but the choice is up to you (so long as they are kept clean, neither makes a huge difference.)

Knives - If there is one thing you definitely need in the kitchen, it would be a knife. It is a good idea to stock up on more than one knife as well. Some steak knives, a paring knife, and a chef's knife or a butcher knife would be good to have in the kitchen (WiseGeek.) Having sharp knives is also a good idea. Invest in a sharpener if you cut often.

Measuring Cups/Spoons - Although you could do everything without measuring, why do it when you can be exact? To get the best consistency every time you cook make sure to use something to measure your food. Having both dry and wet measuring cups is invaluable for multiple purposes. Make sure you at least have a 1-cup and 2-cup liquid cups (WiseGeek.) You can find some nice dry measuring sets at even the dollar stores in the area and work just as great as some expensive ones(Diets In Review.)

Spatulas/Scrapers - These can be great to have in your kitchen. The scraper is useful for a few things and the spatulas are good for flipping food items on the stove.

Wooden Spoons - Most of your serving spoons can be used the same way especially if you use silicon ones, but I personally like the use of wooden spoons. They can be used for practically any cooking endeavor and can be used to stir anything.

Can Opener - You never know what you may need to open when you purchase goods at a grocery store. Having a can opener can save you a lot of hassle of getting those cans and bottles open.

Serving Spoons - Having a set of serving spoons is a good idea. They make silicon spoons now that are great for cooking. A beginner would much appreciate those types of spoons. Make sure you also equip yourself with a slotted spoon as well for certain dishes.

Timer - While not 100% needed for your kitchen, a timer can be very useful for someone just starting out. I personally just use a clock as my timer.

Eating Utensils - Many of the base kitchen items you have already can be doubled up and used for other purposes. Your eating utensils are just one of those items you can use to help preparing foods. The good old spoon and fork can do a lot more than just shoveling food into your mouth.

Ladle - Not the most essential but if you plan to make soup you will be grateful you placed one in the kitchen.

Who can cook without a pot or pan?

While there are many different methods for cooking, most likely you are going to cook something on the stove or in the oven, and do you know what that requires with the stove? You guessed it: pots, skillets, baking sheets, and some other inexpensive items. For starters, I would recommend going to your local store (ex.Walmart) and purchasing a fairly cheap set of pots, pans, maybe a baking sheet or two, and perhaps a casserole pan or a lasagna pan. There is no reason to go out and purchase a high quality pan if you just might end up ruining it, so, go cheap for starters. Other additional items you may find useful for the stove are: aluminum foil, pot covers, oven mitts, and a strainer(colander) for food such as pasta.

Some of the pots, pans, and bake ware you probably should have are listed here:

Stock Pot (Ranging in size from 6 to 12 qt. Shown Above)
Small and Medium Saucepan (Shown Above)
Two Skillets(Pans Shown in bottom left)
Cookie Sheet or Sheet Pan (Shown Below) - I use a 15x10 Sheet Pan
Square Casserole Pan (8x8 or 9x9)
Lasagna Pan (9x13 baking dish)



Other Tools In the Kitchen

My list is not all inclusive nor did I design it to be the best guideline ever. It is just meant to be a rough guideline for the beginning cook who needs a push in the direction of better cooking. While the tools that have been listed are often used, they are open for discussion as to being the most essential tools that one could buy. For that reason, this small list is provided to help those who wish to look for other useful kitchen items or maybe to give them an idea as to what they might want to buy in the near future:


Meat Thermometer, Scale, Grater, Salad Spinner, Loaf Pan,
Vegetable Peeler, Glass Baking Dish, Swiss Peeler, Whisk, Colanders of Other Sizes and Screens, Wok, Stand Mixer, Food Processor, Tupperware/Containers, Steel Bowls for Mixing, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Heavy Whisk, Tongs, Mallet,
Parchment, Cheese Shredder, Round Cake Pans, Cupcake Pan, Round Cookie Sheet


About the Author

Richard Jordan is a college student attending Westmoreland County Community College. This article was provided as a requirement for the Advanced Composition course.

"An avid cook, I decided to join this blog out of curiosity. I love food and thought that expressing that love in my writing is something I can do in this class."

Currently seeking a degree in Computer Programming, expecting to graduate with it in the end of the summer 2011 semester.

Bibliography

Alexander, Devin. "Essential Kitchen Tools For Healthy Cooking." Diets In Review.com. 10 Feb 2010. 25 Feb 2011 http://www.dietsinreview.com/diet_column/02/essential-kitchen-tools-for-healthy-cooking/.

Anonymous. "Kitchen Basics ." Cheap Cooking .com.
6 Feb 2011 http://www.cheapcooking.com/kitchen-basics.htm.

Kaminsky, A. "What Basic Kitchen Tools Should I Have?" WiseGeek. Ed. Niki Foster. 30 Jan 2011. 25 Feb 2011 http://www.wisegeek.com/what-basic-kitchen-tools-should-i-have.htm.

Parker-Pope, Tara. "12 Essential Tools For Small Kitchens." The New York Times. 13 May 2009. 25 Feb 2011 http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/12-essential-tools-for-small-kitchens/.

Pellegrinelli, Carroll. "Top 10 Favorite Tools." About.com. 25 Feb 2011 http://baking.about.com/cs/toppicks/tp/favoritetools.htm.




Images courtesy of:

Microsoft Clip Art

http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-illustration-6766397-kitchen-tools.php

http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-illustration-6766397-kitchen-tools.php

http://kitchencookwar-e.com/cooking-pans