Common kitchen utensils and their uses
These are the basic cooking and baking utensils that any aspiring baker and cook should have.
Pots: used to cook food and boil liquids on the stove.
Sauce pans: make sauces and contain liquids. Thick bottoms with thick lips are preferable.
Knives: used to chop, cut, carve and fillet food.
Cutting board: used to place food while chopping or cutting to protect the work surface.
Mixing Bowls – Used to put ingredients in while combining.
Baking Dishes – Used to bake puddings and casseroles in the oven.
Frying pan: used to fry food or sauté meats. Heavy bottoms are preferable.
Collander: used to drain water from food. It can be a metal or nylon mesh.
Electric / manual mixer: used to grind and puree food and vegetables.
Food thermometer: to measure the temperature of meat, chocolate, water, etc.
Measuring jug: to measure liquids, it must be heat resistant.
Grater: used to grate ginger, garlic, chocolate, cheese, and citrus peels. Four-sided metallic ones are preferable.
Bain-marie: used for delicate sauces, melting chocolate and, in general, for melting.
Bottle / can opener: to open cans and bottles. It should be well mounted if possible.
Kitchen scales: to measure quantities of food. It must be metric or imperial.
Microwave oven: used to quickly heat or melt frozen foods and sauces.
Mortar: used to grind food and grind spices.
Kitchen timer: for precise adjustments of cooking intervals.
Measuring Cups and Spoons: To measure ingredients accurately.
Spatula: for lifting food from pans and also for discarding food from pots, pans and bowls. It is used to mix ingredients.
Kitchen scissors: for cutting bones and meat.
Brush: to apply liquids such as eggs, oil and sauces on food.
Pastry bag: for pastry cream, frosting, potatoes, etc.
Blender / Blender: Used to finely grind food and vegetables. It is used to make smoothies and shakes.
Grill – Usually comes with the oven, but it can come separately. It is used to grill steaks, chops and sandwiches.
Seive: used to drain sauces.
Ladle: used to fish for soups.
Wire rack: used to hold cakes, cookies, buns, etc. while they cool down.
Spoon: to serve ice cream, potatoes, etc.
Pressure Cooker – Used to cook basic casseroles, casseroles, meatballs and broths quickly.
Dough cutters: used to cut and shape the dough.
Other kitchen equipments include; freezer, food processor, refrigerator, toaster, coffee maker, etc.