There are a number of tools you’ll need to mix, stir, flip, turn and move around food, both while cooking and before. These utensils can cover a wide variety of sizes, shapes, materials and uses from simple to multi-function.
Wooden tools are the oldest known to our civilization and they are still used and useful. One of the most useful are wooden spoons. They are non-reactive and can be used with all types of food. Metal spoons can react with some foods and lend it a metallic taste. Wood can be used with non-stick cookware and a useful insulator to heat, up to a point. There’s a wide variety of sizes, shapes and uses. Your typical wooden spoon will cost around $7. At first, the wood may feel a little rough in your hand, but that will go away with use. Other wooden tools are stir-fry paddles, spatulas, pasta forks and salad tongs.
Another useful material that’s come on the market in recent years is silicon. A silicone spatula is a great utensil. It’s heat-resistant and non-stick. It usually comes with a slightly bowled head making it sort of a combination between a spoon and scraper. Silicon can be used to cook with as well for mixing and off-the-heat functions. This also costs around $7 up to $15 for each piece depending on size and brand.
Other useful spatulas are models used for flipping pancakes and burgers, ones that help lift out a piece of pie, cake or lasagna, fish turners, scrapers, egg turners in heat-resistant plastic and metal, and more. If you can only have one, go for the silicon spoon spatula, it is the most versatile.
Most mixing jobs require a whisk, depending on the consistency of the mix. There are just as many different kinds of whisks as there are spoons and spatulas. The best ones are made of metal and have a metal handle. Avoid the plastic ones, they just collapse under the pressure. Also, avoid wooden handles that can’t go into the dishwasher. And stay away from the metal handles that look like springs, as they trap food particles and moisture. If a whisk develops rust, throw it away. Select a whisk of about medium size that will feel good in your hand. You can add to your collection later as needs arise.
There are lots of other kitchen tools that can be useful, but most of them aren’t needed as kitchen basics. They’re in the intermediate level that we’ll talk about later. Those are things that are good to have, but not part of the minimum needed to feed yourself, which is what we’re including in kitchen basics. We’re not finished with the basics. We still have to have some measuring tools and that’s what we’ll talk about next time.
