Probably one of the most appreciated skills a person can have as an adult is being a good cook. Whether it’s for a special occasion or everyday for the ones in your life, we pride ourselves on our ability to cook an appetizing, visually appealing meal. The time and effort put into just a half hour, daily event can show a lot about the person preparing it.
But like everything else worth undertaking, cooking has its own set of tools. You wouldn’t expect a surgeon to operate with a blow torch or an artist to paint with a flounder, so why expect to be able to prepare a meal that would be the envy of all of Paris with a pan and a fork? No, cooking has its own special toolset. To be successful as a suburban gourmet, you should make sure you have everything you need.
The first thing you should do is; think about what kind of food you normally eat. Like any other job, if the task is one you enjoy, the work will be enjoyable. When the task is more enjoyable then the outcome will be more favorable. If you are a staunch vegetarian, maybe a BBQ set isn’t for you, however nice grilled carrots might sound. Really brainstorm over the type of cooking you are predisposed towards. Don’t put yourself through a meat grinder, but do a little soul searching.
If establishing what type of food you are going to cook on a regular basis is the first step, the second step would be to locate where to purchase the needed tools. There are a lot of deals to be had on the internet on specialized kitchen tools. I don’t think your local, big box retailer will carry that grinder, but cutting boards and wooden spatulas are generally easier to come by there. Pasta makers, revolutionary bread makers and the next big wiz-bang can be found cheaper on the internet. Provided you don’t need something in 10 minutes, shopping on the net gives you more options.
There are however, several must haves in the specialty department. A good, solid peeler/corer is a great addition-especially if it has a rubber handle. You can use a universal peeler for veggies and yes fruit. Wooden spoons are preferred by most cooks because they do not conduct heat like their metal counterparts, or melt like the plastic spoons do. Use glass measuring cups and plastic measuring spoons. Plastic cutting boards are best and having more than a couple will ensure there is no cross contamination. A good set of knives of varying size is a great thing to have, but make sure to use the right size for the job! Have a mortar and pestle or grinder for spices. A cheese grater and cheese cutter are not the same things, so both are recommended.
When planning and preparing a meal with your shiny new kitchen toys, be creative. Garnish with fresh food-yes, it’s okay to play with your food now. There are books that have instructions on how to make tiny swans out of cucumbers or some such thing. If that’s what you like-go for it. Personally, I feel like color in a dish matters. If you’re serving something brown, throw a nice sprig of lettuce with a crown cut cherry tomato on top. You can do that as you have a nice set of knives now. Have fun and put your own spin on things.
Well now you’ve wowed your guests or family and it’s time to clean up. I suggest you have a bottle brush on hand for any of your utensils that might have moving parts or tiny spots you can’t get to with a regular dish rag. Make sure that what you are putting into the dishwasher belongs in a dishwasher- please, no rubber handled utensils, big daddy fryers or rotisserie ovens. I highly recommend installing an upright sliding shelf under cabinet space. This helps you stay more organized and will also help with the time factor-sometimes you can spend more time looking for a spatula than you will actually using it.
The main cooking tool is you though. Remember, your cooking skill is just that-a skill. It’s acquired through practice and patience. Good luck and go cook something!
Zeeman Haus enjoys writing articles online on a variety of subjects. You can check out his latest website on Slicer Meat which discusses various meat slicers on the market and which one might be an option for you and your family.
