We’re having multiple wedding showers in our neck of the woods so I’m seeing bridal registries more often than I have in a while. Have they registered for essential medium kitchen tools or are they stabbing in the dark?
Once you’ve been cooking awhile, you find some things NEVER get used…I mean NEVER. Just taking up kitchen drawer real estate!
And then there are others that – in the moment – you realize would be SO helpful…IF you only had one. An experienced cook could certainly help new couples here! Next up are what I’ll call medium tools…they are between measuring spoons and food processors…and they fit in a drawer! Here’s the basic breakdown…
Essential tools you need more of
- Tongs (some metal tips, some nylon tips – ALL with the ability to hold themselves closed!)
- Whisks (of various sizes…might need a nylon one if you do a lot of whisking in your nice pans)
- Spatulas (you need multiple sizes and materials – metal are for use on glass only – and MUST HAVE at least two with metal stems for rigidity when breaking up ground meat as you brown it)
- Large nylon spoons and slotted spoons (well you know what these are! A lot of folks like wooden spoons but at least these old ones I have only stir…you can’t get any quantity out of the pot with these!)
Only need one but it’s a “must have”
- Thermometer (really only need one good one that WORKS)
- Potato masher (if you like mashed potatoes, yes, you need one!)
- Ice Cream Scoop (even if you’re Whole30 or really healthy diet, YES, you do need one of these as you’ll use it at some point)
- Pizza cutter (It’s not JUST for pizza people!)
- Stainless steel scraper/chopper
- Ladle (everyone makes soup; you need one!)
- Brush (my favorite use for this is coating potato slices with ghee before baking!)
Ask yourself – “Would I really use these?”
- Baking spatulas (these are more for scooping batters and frostings out of the bowl and NOT for use on stovetop as they will melt)
- Rolling pin (you only need one if you are going to bake things that require it)
- Meat tenderizer
- Spaghetti spoon
Of course, to clarify these essential tools, I had to actually clean out my tool drawer (and yes, once again I tossed some things that were just taking up space!). But it also made me see I need some dividers in this drawer to make things stay in place so it’s easier to find them. Next project!
Some might ask why I don’t just put them in a crock on the counter. Honestly, I like open countertop space so I’m always trying to “put things away.” That’s just me…use a crock if you like…but make sure you periodically give everything a good cleaning since flies and other insects do come through the kitchen once in a while.
What are your essential tools? Have you purged your tools recently? Would love to know what works best for you!
Check out more essential tools…
