If you’re like me, there’s nothing better than enjoying an amazing meal and experience at a restaurant. But we can’t dine out EVERY night. That’s why it’s important to have a kitchen stocked with the essentials. And believe it or not, the essentials don’t have to break the bank or clutter up your space. Don’t believe me? Ask a professional chef!
Actually … you don’t have to ask a professional chef because I asked one for you. Here are Shannon McKinney’s top five favorite kitchen tools:
- A GOOD Chef Knife
- A Pair of Tongs
- An Aluminum Saute Pan
- A Heat Proof Rubber Spatula
- A Regular Dinner Fork
Did any of that surprise you the way it surprised me? Thankfully, I got us some more answers.
A Good Chef Knife:
A high quality 10” Chef Knife with a thick back comes in handy for more than the obvious slice, chop & dice that we know it can be used for. The thick back can be used for cracking shells (I’m talking seafood, not egg). And honestly, a high quality knife just makes your prep time go much smoother. There’s nothing worse than a dull knife.
A Pair of Tongs:
Ideally, 12” tongs with flat jaws, not pointed ones. This will help make sure you don’t tear the meat or fish or whatever you’re cooking. I’m almost embarrassed to admit how many times I burned my fingers trying to pick up and maneuver a piece of salmon before I bought a pair of tongs. There is no reason to wait like that. At all. Get the tongs.
An Aluminum Saute Pan:
Go with one that’s about 10” or so and NOT Teflon coated. Nothing against the non stick stuff, but a good home cook will have an aluminum pan as well because they can be used on top of the stove AND in the oven (you don’t want to bake your Teflon, believe me).
A Heat Proof Rubber Spatula:
Use it to stir, flip, scrape, smooth and plate. I’ll admit, I used to think of rubber spatulas as a baking tool only. I guess I was wrong!
A Regular Dinner Fork:
We’re just talking about something lighter than a meat fork that you can use to flip, test for done-ness, whip and emulsify.
That’s a wrap! Five simple tools to keep in your kitchen that will take you a long way. If they’re good enough for a pro, they’re more than enough for us at home, don’t you think?!
Were you surprised by anything on this list? What is YOUR favorite kitchen tool?
Rebecca McKinney
I wanted to create this blog for a few reasons. First and foremost, to share tips, tricks, and knowledge about the food and beverage industry in general but also to help people see a different side of the restaurant world. Every restaurant has a totally unique culture and world within it. I want to help open people’s eyes to more than how fast the service is or how easy or hard it is to secure a reservation.
So, thanks for stopping by! I welcome your ideas, input, and feedback and hope you enjoy!
Eat well & travel often,
Becky McKinney
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