Cooking can be intimidating for people new to the kitchen. Many think it’s too hard, have trouble following a recipe, or get frustrated when they don’t nail it the first (or fifth) time through. Having the right cooking tools can help you master any recipe. Learn about different cooking utensil materials and determine which ones are the safest for your health.
Wooden Spoons
Whether you’re a professional chef or a home cook, you likely still haven’t needed to get wooden spoons tucked away in your drawer. And for good reason: they’re a kitchen staple that should be in every cook’s arsenal. They’re safe for nonstick pans and don’t scratch or scrape the finish of cast iron or copper pots. They’re also safe to use with risotto and other temperature-sensitive recipes requiring stirring immediately. Wooden spoons are a great choice when making sauces that can curdle quickly (hollandaise, for instance) because they don’t transfer heat the way metal spoons do, which could alter the consistency of the sauce.
As a natural material, wooden spoons should be oiled regularly to protect them from cracking or drying out. When properly cared for, wooden utensils will last a long time. They are non-reactive so that they won’t leach chemicals into your food. They’re also easier on the hands than plastic, which can burn you and scratch your pots and pans. You can customize it for a gift with one’s last name, initials, or a message to someone else that can be engraved on them. Every time these are used, these valuable and personalized cooking utensils imbue any kitchen with a unique personality and enduring memories.
Whisk
A whisk, or cooking whip, is a kitchen utensil with a narrow handle on one end and wire loops joined together at the other. The shape and thickness of these loops vary based on the type of whisk you use, and they serve two essential purposes: they can blend ingredients smoothly or incorporate air into mixtures to increase their volume. Whipping cream to top your wedding cake or creating a roux to thicken crab mac and cheese, whisks are a must-have in every commercial kitchen. And to ensure you’re using the right tool for each recipe, several different types of whisks exist. For example, a dough whisk, also known as a brisker in its native Denmark, is ideal for handling stiff doughs and batters as it swiftly cuts through challenging combinations without overworking the ingredients. Its solitary wire winding around a round profile makes reaching the corners and crevices of a bowl or pan easier.
Tongs
Whether flipping burgers at a dine-in restaurant or plating a delicate salad, kitchen tongs give chefs the tools they need to perform their best. These utensils consist of long arms usually made of stainless steel or food-grade plastic, hinged at one end and widening into scalloped grabbers with a locking mechanism on the other. These tongs are commonly found in most commercial kitchens and allow cooks to handle many tasks without directly contacting hot cooking surfaces or flames. They can also help serve utensils for foods that would be messy or difficult to pick up with a spoon.
For establishments offering drink service, ice tongs are crucial for picking up a single ice cube at a time and effortlessly transferring them into glasses. They’re also ideal for grabbing baked goods from display cases and retrieving garnishes during service.
Wooden Spoon Rest
Wooden spoon rests might seem like a trivial kitchen accessory that only adds to the clutter on your stovetop, but they’re instrumental. They help you clean your utensils and prevent cross-contamination by trapping the cooking oil, sauces, batters, and other liquids that fall off them. You can even use a spoon rest to hold your other cooking utensils, such as spatulas, turners, whisks, and tongs. You can find one perfect for your counter space because it comes in various sizes and shapes.