Top 10 Kitchen Utensils Every Home Cook Must Have!
A well-equipped kitchen with the right utensils can make a world of difference when preparing good food. We all know that over the last few years, the cookware industry has...
A well-equipped kitchen with the right utensils can make a world of difference when preparing good food. We all know that over the last few years, the cookware industry has exploded with a variety of different gadgets for pretty much every cooking need. While it may seem very tempting to purchase all of these little gizmos, as a home cook you only need a few essential utensils to cook up a delicious storm in the kitchen.
Here are the top 10 basic kitchen utensils every home cook must have.
1. KADAI :
Kadais are a must-have in every home kitchen. This versatile tool is available in a range of sizes and is frequently used in Indian cooking for sautéing, deep frying, and even steaming. Additionally, kadais are made using different materials that can improve the food's flavour and nutritional content. Commonly used materials include stainless steel, cast iron, copper, and non-stick. We recommend you choose a stainless steel kadai for your home kitchen because it is safe, durable, easy to maintain, and can be used on gas or induction burners. If you cook a lot of food over high heat, cast iron kadais are a fantastic option.
2. PRESSURE COOKER :
A pressure cooker is every home cook’s efficient best friend. You can basically whip up anything from 2-minute popcorn to the most complex stew using one of these. This is a handy tool when you want to cook a tasty meal quickly. The high heat and pressure built inside the pot help to easily tenderise tough pulses and the shorter cooking time retains the nutritive value and taste of food. Pressure cookers also come in different sizes with lids that can be fitted from the inside or the outside.
3. DUTCH OVEN
One of the oldest kitchen tools that have been around for ages is the Dutch oven. It is typically a wide and slightly shallow cooking pot with a fitted lid. This multipurpose tool can be used for a number of cooking methods including roasting, braising, and boiling. Since they’re thicker, Dutch ovens keep a steady temperature and radiate heat to ensure that food cooks evenly. Therefore, a good Dutch oven can easily replace many pots and pans to streamline the cooking process.
4. SAUCEPAN
The kitchen tool that gets the greatest use in any home is definitely a saucepan. This basic tool may be used for everything from making chai to simmering soup and sauteing vegetables. For your home kitchen, you can go for a stainless steel saucepan with a strong, stay-cool handle since it properly distributes heat during cooking and prevents food from burning.
5. FRYING PAN / SKILLET :
Frying pans, often known as skillets, are shallow, wide, flat-bottomed pans with a diameter of 8 to 12 inches. They have a wide range of uses and are not just simply meant for frying. Its flat bottom helps cook ingredients evenly while adding colour and crispness. The majority of skillets today are made of stainless steel. Other common materials used in its construction include cast iron and aluminium.
6. COOKING POT :
Cooking pots are typically large, slightly tall utensils used to prepare foods with a lot of liquid. This makes it perfect for preparing recipes like stews, soups, and broths, among others, which call for ingredients to be submerged in liquid and cooked from all sides. To ensure uniform heating, longevity, and ease of maintenance, choose a cooking pot with a thick, heavy-bottom stainless steel or tri-ply construction. These cooking pots exist in a variety of sizes and can go by other names, like stockpot or saucepot.
7. IDLI STEAMER :
Idli steamers are becoming a necessary appliance in every Indian household. It has never been simpler to make delicate, rounded idlis! This versatile appliance is perfect for reheating because, in addition to steaming idlis, it can also be used to prepare other South Indian classics like idiyappam or just to steam bread and leftovers. Idli steamers are typically made of stainless steel or aluminium and come in a variety of sizes with idli moulds.
8. CAST IRON TAWA :
Tawas are shallow, flat pans used to cook foods like pancakes, crepes, dosas, and other items that need a wide, flat surface to cook uniformly. The food being prepared has more nutritional value when it is cooked on cast iron tawas and their exceptional heat retention makes it ideal for uniform cooking. Since iron is prone to corroding, these tawas require a little extra upkeep. However, the majority of contemporary cast iron tawas are designed to resist corrosion for a long time.
9. TASLAS :
Taslas are multipurpose kitchen utensils that can be used for both cooking and serving. Because of its thick base, it is perfect for frying vegetables, preparing rice, noodles, curries, and other foods that require a lot of stirring and sautéing. Your home kitchen would benefit greatly from the addition of a stainless steel or tri-ply tasla in two different sizes. These can go straight from the hob to the table and are not only durable but also simple to maintain.
10. HOTPOT :
A hotpot, also known as a casserole is used to serve and keep cooked food hot. This essential home kitchen tool has an insulated vacuum body and comes with an easy lock-lid mechanism that makes it portable and easy to use. Hot boxes are usually made of stainless steel and can be found in different sizes and colours.
In short, home cooks are often intimidated by the number of kitchen gadgets available in the market today. You may feel like you need many elaborate kitchen tools to make a simple meal. But, these basic essential and multipurpose utensils are sufficient to cook pretty much anything you want in an efficient and healthy manner.
Praylady offers a range of different stainless steel and cast iron cookware for all your kitchen needs. Click here to learn more about our collection.