When it comes to finding the best cooking tools, there are a few questions you need to ask yourself: Do I prefer convenience or quality? Will this be used often or just now and then? What is my budget? This article will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of some common kitchen utensils experts like Javier Burillo use, as well as what makes them worthy (.or unworthy) of a spot in your kitchen.
Blender Or Food Processor?
A blender is good for baking soft things like cakes or quick bread, pureeing soups, sauces, dressings, making smoothies, crushing ice to making frozen drinks. However, it won’t chop vegetables well, nor will it knead dough well. If you plan on doing that type of work, go with a food processor instead.
Pasta Maker Or Stand Mixer?
A pasta maker is hand-operated and comes with various attachments to make spaghetti, fettuccini, linguine, angel hair pasta. The stand mixer has attachments called “dough hooks” and kneads bread, pizza, and other dough. A pasta maker will only work well if you’re making a large batch of dough and know how to work it properly; otherwise, the mixer is better. The downside to both is that they are very time-consuming and laborious if you’re planning on making just enough pasta or bread for one.
Coffee Grinder Or Blender?
There’s a lot of controversy around this question. The answer is that it depends on what you’re grinding. If you only need to grind spices, then the blender will work just fine, but if you want to grind coffee, then go with the grinder instead. However, if you plan on grinding herbs and spices often, perhaps it would be more worth your while to get a second-hand coffee grinder for $5.00 on eBay rather than spending $50 on a fancy electric blade blander.
Kitchen Scale Or Measuring Cups?
If you bake frequently, then kitchen scale will make things way easier. If you’ve never baked, though, then measuring cups will work just fine until you get into the habit of proper proportions.
Which Pot Should I Use?
When cooking pasta or large batches of vegetables for stews and soups, go with a stockpot (the biggest pot you can fit in your stove). It is deep enough to prevent splashing and big enough to hold what you need. A large pot is also great for boiling crab, lobster, and crawfish. Bring the water to a boil first before adding the crab/lobster/crawfish so that it doesn’t toughen before it cooks.
What Size Skillet Should I Get?
Smaller skillets are good for cooking one-two things. If you want to make a stir-fry, get a small skillet and cook everything in batches, if you have a large family or frequently cook for company, then go with the medium skillet, which is big enough to cook four servings comfortably. Large skillets are usually reserved for boiling large batches of vegetables or frying turkeys.
Which Spoons Should I Use?
A slotted spoon is good for fishing small food out of a large pot or wok without losing all the sauce or broth. A regular spoon is good for cooking and serving soups, stews, and sauces as it allows you to move things around without losing a ton of liquid. A ladle is good for serving soups and stews, helping take food out of a stockpot, or filling up small bowls with broth.