There is more to cooking than just the recipes. You have to understand the tools you are using also to be a successful cook.
The first is a colander. A colander allows you to separate solids from liquids, such as pasta from water. It is helpful anytime you need to boil something. Make sure it has a study base to avoid getting burned by hot water when straining things. A bigger colander is always better; it makes it easier to pour.
The next is a box grater that has four different surfaces. Each of the different surfaces grates to a different level of coarseness. You can use it to grate almost anything, from vegetables to cheese. (picture above)
Measuring cups are essential to cooking. They allow you to know how much of something you are adding. Without measuring cups it makes following recipes hard to follow. I suggest you have both a Pyrex measuring cup, the glass measuring cups, and individual measuring cups in increments of 1/8, 1/4, ½, and 1 cup.
It is good to have a good set of knives and a sharpening stone. If you use dull knives you are at as much of a risk of injury than if they are sharp, it makes it harder to cut and may cause you to struggle which can potentially result in injury.
An eight-quart stock pot is another important kitchen tool. It is helpful when making stus, soups, and etc. It makes it easier to keep what you want in the pot and reduces the mess you make.
A two-quart sauce pan. This is good for making gravies. It is also important to have another sauce pan; this is helpful when cooking vegetables or pasta.
I suggest a frying pan. They are universal; you can cook so many different things in them, from eggs to chicken. A good frying pan has a sturdy flat bottom. A deep pan can help prevent splattering from occurring.
A cookie sheet is essential. Make sure the cookie sheet you by will fit your oven. I suggest ones that specify non-stick. This allows you to skip the step of greasing the pan. It also prevents sticking and burning from occurring.
There are many other interesting tools out there for cooking, from steamers to electric frying pans. The more you cook, the more you discover the magical tools. I personally want a wok; I heard they are wonderful to cook in. Although you can cook without these other things, it makes cooking easier. If you do not have something, be creative; find a way to get what you want with what you have!
Bridges, Shelia. "A Guide to Basic Cooking Tools." HGTV. 2007. 25 Nov. 2007 http://design.hgtv.com/kitchen/article_detail.aspx?id=67.
The first is a colander. A colander allows you to separate solids from liquids, such as pasta from water. It is helpful anytime you need to boil something. Make sure it has a study base to avoid getting burned by hot water when straining things. A bigger colander is always better; it makes it easier to pour.
The next is a box grater that has four different surfaces. Each of the different surfaces grates to a different level of coarseness. You can use it to grate almost anything, from vegetables to cheese. (picture above)
Measuring cups are essential to cooking. They allow you to know how much of something you are adding. Without measuring cups it makes following recipes hard to follow. I suggest you have both a Pyrex measuring cup, the glass measuring cups, and individual measuring cups in increments of 1/8, 1/4, ½, and 1 cup.
It is good to have a good set of knives and a sharpening stone. If you use dull knives you are at as much of a risk of injury than if they are sharp, it makes it harder to cut and may cause you to struggle which can potentially result in injury.
An eight-quart stock pot is another important kitchen tool. It is helpful when making stus, soups, and etc. It makes it easier to keep what you want in the pot and reduces the mess you make.
A two-quart sauce pan. This is good for making gravies. It is also important to have another sauce pan; this is helpful when cooking vegetables or pasta.
I suggest a frying pan. They are universal; you can cook so many different things in them, from eggs to chicken. A good frying pan has a sturdy flat bottom. A deep pan can help prevent splattering from occurring.
A cookie sheet is essential. Make sure the cookie sheet you by will fit your oven. I suggest ones that specify non-stick. This allows you to skip the step of greasing the pan. It also prevents sticking and burning from occurring.
There are many other interesting tools out there for cooking, from steamers to electric frying pans. The more you cook, the more you discover the magical tools. I personally want a wok; I heard they are wonderful to cook in. Although you can cook without these other things, it makes cooking easier. If you do not have something, be creative; find a way to get what you want with what you have!
Bridges, Shelia. "A Guide to Basic Cooking Tools." HGTV. 2007. 25 Nov. 2007 http://design.hgtv.com/kitchen/article_detail.aspx?id=67.
2 comments:
You provide a great list of items we all need in our kitchen cupboards. My suggestion on an elaboration of some of your items: when buying pans, what types of surfaces should one get? I always get confused. Cast-iron, celaphon? Which ones are best suited for randomly cooking cooks?
Thanks for providing us (especially me) about the different kind of tools used for cooking. To be honest, I cook almost everyday (whenever I have the free time), but I never really look at what tool I am using. My mom always yells at me, "You are using the wrong tool." Honestly, I have never cared about what tool I am using or even what the name of that specific tool is. My deal is, "If you can cook, that's all that matters!" But after reading your blog entry, I realized that I use most of these tools and it is shameful to say that I just learned the names of most of them. Along with that, I learned what type of tools to use when making certain things. Now I know why my mom is always so specific about what tool she uses when cooking. Now, I know what tools to use and when to use them. Thank you!!
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