Most people aren’t aware of the significant benefits cooking can have. So, if you’re a keen cook wanting to improve your skills and enhance the benefits cooking can provide, it’s essential you have the right equipment in your kitchen!
It’s no secret that a job is only as good as its tools, and the same applies to cooking. If you’re still using the same equipment you were using twenty years ago, it’s likely to be outdated and not as good as other tools you could be using. In addition to the actual cooking process, using good equipment has plenty of benefits too. Whilst a skilled chef will be able to make the best out of virtually any kitchen utensil, why make things harder for yourself?
So, if your kitchen is in desperate need of a modern equipment upgrade, here are some of today’s top must-have tools every home cook should own!
Slow cooker
An absolute essential if you work full-time and find it difficult to cook proper meals every night, a slow cooker is guaranteed to solve your problems as it will slowly cook a delicious meal throughout the day.
Simply decide on a recipe, prepare the ingredients, put them in and select the appropriate temperature before you leave the house and you’ll return to a home-cooked meal ready and waiting for you when you get home. From casseroles to curries to entire chickens, slow cookers offer a huge degree of versatility with minimal work for you.
Better still, most slow cookers will come with an accompanying recipe book offering both dinner and overnight breakfast recipes too! And, if the model you choose doesn’t, you can always take a look online for some recipe inspiration.
Food processor
Most people assume food processors are simply there to cut up vegetables which is why so many kitchens still don’t have one. Food processors can mix ingredients to make delicious dips or even mix dough if baking is your area of expertise, making them an essential component of almost every recipe.
If you’ve never even used a food processor let alone owned one, here’s a list of the best food processors available on the market so far this year.
A reliable thermometer
It’s no secret that if food, especially meat, isn’t cooked properly, it could cause serious illness to whoever eats it. So, to ensure everything you cook is perfect every time, having a good thermometer on hand is essential.
A lot of cooks simply reply on prodding food with their fingers or judging whether it’s cooked or not based on appearance which, as this isn’t an accurate method of measurement at all, can be extremely dangerous.
Instead, to ensure optimum safety and taste in every dish you make, buying a cooking thermometer for your kitchen will be an essential new addition. Plus, they’re generally cheap so definitely won’t break the bank!
A good set of knives
When we think of essential kitchen utensils, a knife is likely to be top of the list. But despite the fact knives are used on a daily basis by many, most people don’t realize the importance of investing in good knives with optimum sharpness.
Having good knives with solid blades will make a huge difference to your cooking. Not only will you no longer struggle to chop through tough vegetables but will get all your chopping done much quicker than if you were using a blunt alternative.
Yes, good quality knives are often more expensive than their flimsy counterparts but will be 100% worth it as soon as you start using them.
Non-stick pots and pans
Having an array of different-sized pots and pans is crucial for almost any kitchen as, dependent on which meal you cook, different ingredients and processes will often require a specific sized pot or pan to be cooked with.
Opting for a non-stick variety is almost guaranteed to save you time when cleaning up, as like the name suggests, their surface prevents any food from sticking to the bottom! So, next time you cook something like a stir fry, try a non-stick pan and you’ll certainly notice the difference.
Whilst you may think your kitchen has everything it would ever need, if you haven’t upgraded your kitchen tools in years it’s likely you’re missing out on some key components. But if you start with the above equipment and slowly work your way to revamping your kitchen equipment, you’re guaranteed to notice a difference in both the cooking process and quality of the meals you produce!
