Cooking supplies - good AND bad (1 Viewer)

[Deepster]

1) An immersion blender. You can blend up soups, chili, sauces as they cook and clean up is a breeze. GREAT tool.

2) A peppergrinder. Basic and probably assumed but hasn't been listed and it makes a huge difference.

3) Parchment paper. When baking anything, it helps make it completely non-stick. Bacon, meatballs, cookies, etc.

 

[E-Z Glider]

1) An immersion blender. You can blend up soups, chili, sauces as they cook and clean up is a breeze. GREAT tool. 2) A peppergrinder. Basic and probably assumed but hasn't been listed and it makes a huge difference. 3) Parchment paper. When baking anything, it helps make it completely non-stick. Bacon, meatballs, cookies, etc.

All great additions.

Love the immersion blender for pureed soups. Parchment paper (plus pre-steaming) is the secret to perfect oven-baked wings.

 

[dparker713]

Butcher block is nice for everyday cutting. A plastic chicken only board is kinda necessary. Flexible plastic boards can be useful. And while the kitchen blow torches are cute, if you're serious get a real Coleman torch and be careful. That reminds me, if you have gas a fire extinguisher is not optional.

 

[IC FBGCav]

What brand do you guys recommend for a chef knive?

I've got a decent set of J. A. Henckle knives. I started with the block + like 4 knives and I've slowly built on them. Not cheap, but if you get them and a small sharpener, and you just use the fine sharpener from time to time to keep the edge, they're great. SUPER sharp. The steak knives are no joke. I'd NEVER give on to a kid...truthfully I might not even use one myself around a kid. My wife stabbed herself in the wrist with one accidentally while prepping some food and needed stitches.

Wow, my wife is an accident waiting to happen. Would need to keep her away from these but it sounds like what I am looking for.

 

[Soulfly3]

What brand do you guys recommend for a chef knive?

I've got a decent set of J. A. Henckle knives. I started with the block + like 4 knives and I've slowly built on them. Not cheap, but if you get them and a small sharpener, and you just use the fine sharpener from time to time to keep the edge, they're great. SUPER sharp. The steak knives are no joke. I'd NEVER give on to a kid...truthfully I might not even use one myself around a kid. My wife stabbed herself in the wrist with one accidentally while prepping some food and needed stitches.

Wow, my wife is an accident waiting to happen. Would need to keep her away from these but it sounds like what I am looking for.

Kitchenaid actually makes some really good quality knives and theyre relatively inexpensive...

Super sharp and stylish too. Cant complain at all...

 

[munga30]

A salt cellar full of kosher salt.

This citrus press and not that POS yellow aluminum one from Amco. Hinge snapped within weeks. :flex:

 

[dparker713]

A salt cellar full of kosher salt.

This citrus press and not that POS yellow aluminum one from Amco. Hinge snapped within weeks. :flex:

I prefer leaving a box of Morton's next to the stove and a cheap plastic reamer.

 

[Spike]

Anyone have a good 11' or 12' square griddle (a smooth one, not one that has the ridges) that they would like to pimp?

Mine is on its last legs.

 

[Megla]

Anyone have a good 11' or 12' square griddle (a smooth one, not one that has the ridges) that they would like to pimp?

Mine is on its last legs.

I have a caphlon one that has lasted 15 years or so

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/calphalon-reg-contemporary-nonstick-11-inch-square-griddle/1013015392?Keyword=griddle

 

[Rick James]

1) An immersion blender. You can blend up soups, chili, sauces as they cook and clean up is a breeze. GREAT tool. 2) A peppergrinder. Basic and probably assumed but hasn't been listed and it makes a huge difference. 3) Parchment paper. When baking anything, it helps make it completely non-stick. Bacon, meatballs, cookies, etc.

used my immersion blender last night to make a really smooth butternut squash soup. huge asset in the kitchen.

 

[Megla]

These

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/boos-edge-grain-rectangular-chopping-block/?pkey=ccutlery-wood-cutting-boards&cm_src=cutlery-wood-cutting-boards||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_--_-

in multiple sizes for marinading, breading, seasoning and for storage

http://www.equippers.com/18-x-12-x-9-storplus-food-container/10612-07.asp

These

http://www.pamperedchef.com/shop/Cook%27s+Tools/2-cup+Prep+Bowl+Set/1742

This

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/kitchenaid-reg-7-cup-food-processor-in-contour-silver/1040201993?Keyword=food+processor

this

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/foodsaver-reg-v4860-vacuum-sealing-system/3246039?Keyword=foodsaver

These for fresh spices

http://www.google.com/shopping/product/11069634740596342665?lsf=seller:9119074,store:15451923733316022686&prds=oid:434585313787680862&hl=en#oid:434585313787680862

These for rubs

http://www.foodservicewarehouse.com/update-international/dr-10t/p8283.aspx?utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=Update-International-DR-10T&utm_campaign=Spice-Shakers&utm_source=googlepla&source=googleps&gclid=CjwKEAjwoMKiBRDHwoaQ0dzn0UwSJAAUk5JiIHDGv77OxjVAq9ddjbZ3OQu60KD4R2IpRHuzfQiZkhoCsTjw_wcB

and these to name a few

http://www.quill.com/slicers-peelers-graters/cbs/50018203.html?cm_mmc=SEM_PLA_CB_50018203

 

[Rohn Jambo]

A salt cellar full of kosher salt.This citrus press and not that POS yellow aluminum one from Amco. Hinge snapped within weeks. :flex:

I prefer leaving a box of Morton's next to the stove and a cheap plastic reamer.

I use a $3 wooden reamer. It works fine but I do not like picking out lemon seeds. Does the citrus juicer help with that?

 

[dparker713]

A salt cellar full of kosher salt.This citrus press and not that POS yellow aluminum one from Amco. Hinge snapped within weeks. :flex:

I prefer leaving a box of Morton's next to the stove and a cheap plastic reamer.

I use a $3 wooden reamer. It works fine but I do not like picking out lemon seeds. Does the citrus juicer help with that?

If its really an issue for you, just use a strainer. A quick rinse after and it'll be clean.

 

[Rohn Jambo]

A salt cellar full of kosher salt.This citrus press and not that POS yellow aluminum one from Amco. Hinge snapped within weeks. :flex:

I prefer leaving a box of Morton's next to the stove and a cheap plastic reamer.

I use a $3 wooden reamer. It works fine but I do not like picking out lemon seeds. Does the citrus juicer help with that?

If its really an issue for you, just use a strainer. A quick rinse after and it'll be clean.

I was looking for an excuse to buy a new gadget.

 

[Redwes25]

I always recommend reading this article: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/09/dining/09mini.html?pagewanted=all

Great article, best part of the article is to truly go to a restaurant supply store. So much cheaper and you get what you need.

 

[dparker713]

A salt cellar full of kosher salt.This citrus press and not that POS yellow aluminum one from Amco. Hinge snapped within weeks. :flex:

I prefer leaving a box of Morton's next to the stove and a cheap plastic reamer.

I use a $3 wooden reamer. It works fine but I do not like picking out lemon seeds. Does the citrus juicer help with that?

If its really an issue for you, just use a strainer. A quick rinse after and it'll be clean.

I was looking for an excuse to buy a new gadget.

Sorry, I'm generally anti gadget. They generally just take up a bunch of space.

 

[Fat Nick]

A salt cellar full of kosher salt.

This citrus press and not that POS yellow aluminum one from Amco. Hinge snapped within weeks. :flex:

Kosher salt >>>>>>> regular salt.

I don't even know what it is, but seasoning things with kosher salt tastes so much better. We hardly use regular salt anymore.

 

[[icon]]

Fantastic little knife sharpener for under $10

Puts a killer edge on all my knives.

 

[Rohn Jambo]

A salt cellar full of kosher salt.This citrus press and not that POS yellow aluminum one from Amco. Hinge snapped within weeks. :flex:

Kosher salt >>>>>>> regular salt.

I don't even know what it is, but seasoning things with kosher salt tastes so much better. We hardly use regular salt anymore.

I learned one thing useful from the cooking shows: pinch some salt and sprinkle it from higher up helps to season the food by the right amount consistently. But I hate having salt left on my fingers. What do you do about this?

 

[Rohn Jambo]

Fantastic little knife sharpener for under $10

Puts a killer edge on all my knives.

The picture shows it can be used on serrated knives - does it work well?http://www.amazon.com/AccuSharp-1-001-Knife-Sharpener/dp/B00004VWKQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1414612181&sr=1-1

 

[berndog]

A steel for your knife is essential to keeping your knives sharp. I have a similar sharpener to what fast eddie linked to above and only need to use it once a year. I hit my knives with a steel once a week and it makes a huge difference. Added bonus of feeling cool in the process

 

[[icon]]

A steel for your knife is essential to keeping your knives sharp. I have a similar sharpener to what fast eddie linked to above and only need to use it once a year. I hit my knives with a steel once a week and it makes a huge difference. Added bonus of feeling cool in the process

Steel is actually technically more for straightening the blade than putting an edge on it. A mix between a sharpener / steel is the best plan of attack.

 

[Scoresman]

george foreman grills get a bad wrap, but they have one great use, hashbrowns. you dont have to flip them and they come out excellent.

i also use a stick blender to make my world famous hot chocolate. gotta use one of those to get that frothy topping on there.

 

[munga30]

A salt cellar full of kosher salt.This citrus press and not that POS yellow aluminum one from Amco. Hinge snapped within weeks. :flex:

I prefer leaving a box of Morton's next to the stove and a cheap plastic reamer.

I use a $3 wooden reamer. It works fine but I do not like picking out lemon seeds. Does the citrus juicer help with that?

Yes.