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You know the basics. You’ve stocked your kitchen with pots, pans, casseroles, strainers, knives, stirring spoons, and all the other staples you’d expect to find in a regular kitchen. But what about the less-expected things? We’re talking about the ones that will make basic food prep so much simpler. You could live without at least some of them, but would you want to? Wondering what on earth these things might be? Perhaps it’s time to give you some examples.
1. A Whetstone
You were happy with your kitchen knives when you bought them, but now, you’re bludgeoning your food into bits rather than easily slicing and dicing. Blunt knives are annoying, and they’re actually more dangerous than sharp ones because there’s more brute force than control involved in using them. Get a whetstone. Learn how to use it. Sharp knives turn food preparation into a smooth and easy process that just glides along.
2. A Potato Ricer
This may surprise you. Making mashed potatoes is something of an art. It’s no joke! Have you ever made mash that turned out sticky and stodgy instead of light and fluffy? The potatoes may be partly to blame, but overmashing can turn even the best ones into a pile of sludge textured goop. Plus, there’s the effort – it could certainly be a quicker and easier job if you have a potato ricer.
3. A High-Quality Pair of Kitchen Shears
No, a big pair of scissors is not the right tool. You want real kitchen shears: the kind that’s actually made for snipping up bacon or chicken breasts. Regular scissors get blunt way too quickly when confronted with the demands of kitchen use. After all, they weren’t made for the tasks you’ll want them to perform. Choose a tool that’s made for the task – it’s the smart thing to do!
4. A Rolling Pin
There was a time when no kitchen would have been considered complete without a rolling pin. Nowadays, a surprising amount of people overlook this ‘old-fashioned’ kitchen tool. After all, one can use a wine bottle, can’t one? Well, you can – but a rolling pin is still first prize. If you’re into making pizzas and pastries, and pre-prepared bases and shells aren’t delivering what you had in mind, your rolling pin will see a lot of use.
5. A Magnetic Knife Rack
Sick of scratching through drawers just to find the right knife? I never realized just how much I needed a magnetic knife rack until I got one. It makes finding the right knife for the job a snip, and since it’s wall-mounted, storing knives takes up no space at all. Packing away dishes? There’s no need to repack the knife drawer every time. Just stick them up and go.
5. A Digital Scale
A lot of people will tell you that measuring cups and spoons work just as well, but a digital scale is more accurate and does it all in one, saving you storage space. If you’re already cooking by gut-feel, it may be less necessary, but for those of us who are still using recipes and don’t have an eye for quantities yet, it’s a must. Keep it handy on the countertop and never flop a recipe again!
Enough But Not Too Much
There are a few items that could be added to the list, for example, a stick blender. Think about the types of food you like to make and where the hassle lies. There’s a very good chance that someone has already solved the problem, and if so, you should go for it! However, do be careful of stocking up on nifty goodies you rarely use. Choose kitchen items based on utility first and try to keep things uncluttered.