So, this is my list. It’s not the Top 10 Essential Kitchen Tools list, but these are the tools I use every day, that are exceptionally good at performing their given task. Chances are you have some or all of these: and I’m here to tell you, if you spend time in the kitchen, they are all worth having.
What are your favourite gadgets, I’d love to hear.
1 Tongs
These are my number one favourite tool. In my catering days I always carried a bunch of them, as I never ceased to be amazed at how many kitchens didn’t have them.
2 Knives/ Sharpener
I am a bit knife-obsessed. I have heaps of them – but just one really good-sized ( 8-10 inch) sharp knife is all you need.
I’m the one, when going to a holiday house, who takes my sharp knives with me. That was another constant in catering days, almost no kitchen had a good sharp knife. A good knife will always make a huge difference to preparing a meal, it will be far easier and quicker. Remember, a blunt knife is much more dangerous than a sharp one.
To keep the knives sharp, a steel, water stone or a dinky little sharpener like the AnySharp or Jarvis Walker brands that suction to the bench, are what you need.
3 Big Cutting Board
Just like a good knife, having a good, solid and BIG cutting board is essential. Mine lives on the bench, and is kept steady by 4 little rubber ‘feet’. A question I’m often asked, which product is better, timber or plastic ? read this post for all the answers.
4 Sharp Vegetable Peeler
While we’re talking about sharp: when was the last time you replaced your vegetable peeler? they do get dull, and if thats yours, do yourself a favour, toss it, and buy a nice new sharp one.
I know you can use a knife for peeling all sorts of veggies, but these trusty little gadgets do a better and quicker job.
5 Digital Scales
I use these for measuring everything. How much easier it is, when you can simply weigh everything into one bowl, rather than measuring with lots of little cups. It’s more accurate, precise and reliable.
6 Mortar and Pestle
The mortar and pestle are ancient tools that no modern kitchen should be without. They’re handy for everything, from cracking peppercorns and crushing tender herbs, to making pesto, pastes and guacamole.
Mine sits on my bench, as it’s far too heavy to stow away. I use it most days, for grinding spices as I much prefer to use whole spices, toast them in a dry pan for a couple of minutes, then grind in the mortar and pestle. Great for curry and spice pastes too.
7 Brickies Trowel
I bought this at a Gretta Anna cooking class about 30 years ago and it has been in my arsenal ever since. It’s simply a Brickies Trowel with the end squared off. Great for getting pizzas & cakes out of the oven, moving cakes from tin to serving dish, in fact transporting anything from one place to another.
8 Microplane Zester/Grater
My Microplane zester is another kitchen gadget that is called into work all the time. I use it for zesting lemons, ginger, limes, oranges – nutmeg works a treat too. Best of all it goes in the dishwasher.
9 Spatulas
There are so many varieties all of them brilliant at their particular job.
10 Baking Paper
Yes I know it’s not strictly a gadget, but I love baking paper. I use it for almost everything that goes into the oven. It’s a non-stick surface, it catches drips and spills, and best of all it saves on washing up.
Plus one extra
Bamboo Toast Tongs
Absolutely love these. A safe way to extract toast from the toaster, with a magnet to attach it – should be in every kitchen. Available at most kitchenware shops for under $10.
