Having good kitchen equipment can make a difference. Trying to decide which ones would be useful can be a challenge. There is no point buying equipment which you use only once in a blue moon. All that happens is it sits gathering dust while taking up valuable cupboard space. I have listed below my favourites.
Measuring Spoons
I love measuring spoons. They take all the guess work out when measuring very small quantities. After all, does anyone really know what a 1/4 teaspoon of curry powder looks like? Before I sorted out my cutlery drawer, I had teaspoons of differing sizes, and an awfully big looking tablespoon. Which, when measured was larger than a tablespoon. Certain recipes do require careful measuring and this where measuring spoons come into their own. You can by measuring spoons individually, but buying a set feel is a better idea. They usually come in sets of 5 spoons, and include 1/4 teaspoon, 1/2 teaspoon, 1 teaspoon, 1/2 tablespoon and 1 tablespoon. These convert to 1.25 ml, 2.5 ml, 5 ml, 7.5 ml and 15 ml. This spoon to ml conversion is not entirely exact, but as long as you use either spoon measurements, or ml measurements for a recipe you will be fine.
Measuring spoon sets are widely available online, in supermarkets and cookery shops. My favourite measuring spoons are the ‘Kitchen Craft Colour works 5 Measuring Spoons’. These spoons are brightly coloured and come joined together with a plastic ring. I took them off the ring as it made using them and then washing them up simpler. They are also dishwasher proof. Once you know which colour is for which size of spoon, you can quickly spot the spoon you need. Kids love the bright colours, and like it when you ask them for 2 yellow spoons of flour or oats. These are fabulous spoons for a very decent price, I have found them on Amazon for a little over £1, with free delivery. They do exactly what it says on the tin.
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Digital Scales
I don’t know how I coped before digital scales! My first set of scales were mechanical and were absolutely fine, they weighed easily and lasted for years. I changed to digital not because they were broken, but I had been round at a friend’s house and saw her digital ones and I was hooked..
A great little digital scale is from Salter 1036 digital scales. They can measure up to 5kg in 1g increments, up to 11lb in 0.1oz increments. You can also measure liquids with these scales, up to 5L in 1ml increments, and 175fl.oz in 0.1fl.oz increments. They have an easy wipe clean surface and Salter are so confident they will not develop a fault they come with a 15 year manufacturers guarantee. It compact size 18 x 16 x 2.1cm means it can be easily stored when not in use. An added feature is a zero button, this means you can add mutiple ingredients at once.
A Decent Knife
There are so many knives out there I could have a whole website dedicated to them. I am specifically talking about getting a decent knife to cut raw meat, chicken and fish with. I only got a decent knife for this about 5 years ago, and it made the whole chopping raw meat experience SO much easier. I cannot remember where I got mine from, though if I was a betting woman, Lakeland would be top of the list. It is a Taylor’s Eye Witness knife. I looked on their website but their designs have moved on and I couldn’t find it. My knife is heavier than my other knives, has a good strong handle and quite a long and deep blade.
The actual cutting surface is not serrated. It makes easy work of raw meat and fish. I do sharpen it fairly regularly to keep it in top condition. The sharpener I use was a great wee purchase from The Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh a good few years ago. It just takes a few strokes through the sharpener to make all the difference.
A decent knife can set you back £30-£40, but there are lots of much cheaper versions out there too. It does come down to ‘you get what you pay for’. If you feel that you want to spend more for a decent knife then go for it. However, you may not to be able to justify an expensive knife, put it on the back burner for later. Christmas is approaching, you could always put it on your list!
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Grater
By grater, I mean a fine grater as opposed to the traditional four sided stand up grater, which many of us already have in our kitchen. The fine grater market has really expanded and developed over the last few years. They are ideal for grating parmesan, shredding nuts and zesting citrus fruit. I find them really useful for grating garlic and ginger, especially if you do not want pieces, however small, in a recipe.
My favourite fine grater is the ‘Microplane Fine Grater’. I have had mine for years and it still gives great results. It has an easy grip handle and the grating surface is a good size measuring 10.5 cm x 5 cm. Its’ two way blade means you grate going up and going down, so you get great results even quicker. It is a bit more expensive than an ordinary grater. However, if you do decide to go for one, you will be well rewarded.
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Silicone Spoon and Spatula
Silicone kitchen utensils are everywhere nowadays, and they are fabulous. They are heat resistant suitable for non stick pans and dishwasher proof. You can get cooking spoons, spatulas, hand whisks, pastry brushes and fish slices to mention a few. The spatulas scrape virtually every last scrap out of a bowl or pan. If you like to lick the cake bowl, you may be disappointed! The pastry brush lasts much better than the normal type. The bristles don’t get misshapen, and since they can be put in the dishwasher, there is no need for fiddly cleaning. I use my silicone spoon and spatula all the time when I am cooking.
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Electric Whisk
Electric whisks are a kitchen essential, as they make light work of allsorts of kitchen jobs. Beating egg whites for meringues, beating butter and sugar together, making an all-in-one sponge, the list goes on. They all come with at least 3 speed settings, some go up to 5. They also come in different Wattages, 150-300, the higher the Watts the more power for the beaters. As standard they all come with two beaters, some come with extra beaters such as dough hooks and balloon whisks. Before you buy decide what you want out of your whisk and buy accordingly.
A great whisk whick won’t break the bank is the Andrew James Powerful 300 Watt Red Hand Mixer. It has 5 speed settings and comes with, regular beaters, ideal for mixing cakes and batters, a balloon whisk, which will make light work of meringues and sauces, and dough hooks which means you can get a homemade loaf of bread without having to knead the dough. It is lightweight and has 5 speed settings, making them great for any level of baker.
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Glass Chopping Board
This is another fabulous item to have in your kitchen. I use mine primarily for chopping raw chicken, meat and fish. When I have finished chopping, I pour boiling water over the board to get rid of any bacteria that can live on raw meats, then give it a good wash. Most glass chopping boards are heat resistant, but double check before you buy. Also, check for it’s suitability for going in a dishwasher if that is important for you. I sometimes cover my board in tin foil and use it to put birthday cakes on!
If you do an internet search for glass chopping boards, you will literally get nearly 2 million results! They come in all shapes and sizes, colours and prices. There is something for everyone.
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Stick Blender
This is a hand held blender you can put it into a pot of soup or sauce and blend it all up. I find it easier to blend this way rather than decanting the pot into an electric food processor or blender. It also saves on the washing up. If you have a baby, then it makes light work of pureeing food. Quite often stick blenders come as part of a set, and you also get a chopper as well. The chopper is great for making breadcrumbs and chopping nuts or herbs.
Bosch have a stick blender that is great value for money, Bosch Hand Blender White MSM6B150GB. It comes in at a shade under £20, but for that price you are still getting something that is simple, effective and quick. It provides 300W of power which gives you wonderfully smooth soups, purees and shakes. The blending foot is detachable making it easy to clean and is also dishwasher proof. It also comes with a mixing beaker, which is calibrated in millilitres, pints, cups and fluid ounces. This blender is a no frills basic one, but will cope with the vast majority of your blending needs. It is easy to use, blends quickly and is reliable. You can spend well over £100 on a stick blender. Sometimes it is worth spending a bit more on an item of equipment, but in this case there is no need. You may of course wish to upgrade at a latter date, but this little gem is a great place to start. Back To Top
Garlic Crusher
Once you have used a good garlic crusher you will wonder what took you so long to get one. Chefs don’t seem to use them, they bash a clove of garlic with the side of a knife and do it that way. I have never found that technique to be very successful. However, I am not a chef so there is no need to worry!koncis-garlic-press__23486_PE040579_S4
I think the garlic press I have at the moment came from ikea. I have had it for a good few years and it is still working just fine. It is easy to use and it gets the job done. They have one on their website at the moment called, ‘ikea KONCIS’ at £3.70 with free postage and packing. I went to ikea to have a look and it is just the same as the one I have. With any garlic press it is always a good idea to wash them as soon as you can after using. If you don’t, the remnants dry out and you end up poking in the little holes with a skewer. Back To Top
These are of course only my favourites, there are literally 100’s of products out there that you can use in your kitchen. Just use what you like. If you hunt about a bit on the internet you can quite often grab a bargain.
If you come across, or are already using, a great bit of kit and want to share it, just leave a message in the comments box to the right hand side of the screen.