Top 5 Kitchen Utensils

Don't get it twisted, there are a million things that should be on this list! But aside from a good knife and cutting board, these are the items that I reach for most often.

Kitchen Scissors

A good pair of kitchen scissors is an indispensable item and it'll keep you from getting yelled at when the household pair is missing. This pair of scissors should be ONLY FOR THE KITCHEN! Meaning it shouldn't be used for gift wrapping, kids crafts or lawn care. As a matter of fact, *note to self* there should really be a security chain around the handle so it can't be removed.

These scissors should be industrial kitchen strength able to cut through chicken bones and joints. It'll also assist you in opening packagings and snipping herbs that are too delicate for a knife. Many pairs will have a serrated opening between the handles that is actually a jar opener, screw-top opener, seafood shell and nut cracker. Some even have a flat head on the bottom of the handle for that loose screw on the drawer pull and a bottle top opener for popping that cerveza...kitchen beer, amirite? Do yourself a favor and invest in a good pair of scissors. Treat them right and they'll last years.

Rasp

You might think that if you have a grater, you don't really need a rasp. I don't blame you for thinking that way seeing as it's really a tool from the woodshop that someone decided **smartly** to use in the kitchen. Microplane, a company based in Arkansas has effectively made the most popular rasp ever! I mean, people don't even call them rasps anymore, they just use the brand name...like Kleenex and Q-Tip.

These rasps can be used for zesting citrus, grating ginger or garlic or turning hard cheese into fairy dust. No really, finely grating parmesan on a wood rasp turns it into this airy, fluffy cloud of cheesy heaven. Grating chocolate for desserts was never easier.

These things will last forever and are insanely sharp. KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN. I highly recommend getting one with a comfortable grip and a cover. I've lost many a knuckle reaching into the drawer and **shockingly** finding one un-covered. Ouch.

Wooden Spoon

I don't know why but wooden spoons remind me of my Grandma. Not to say that they're an old tool (haha), but more a reliable piece of vintage practicality that never lets you down. **Love you, Grandma**

Where to begin here...wooden spoons are certainly good for stirring, but are preferred because they won't scratch the bottom of your pans. You can scrap the bits off for a sauce and not remove the coating on the nonstick skillet. They're also good for checking the temp of hot oil...just stick the tip of the handle into the oil and watch the bubbles rise. The speed of the bubbles will tell you if the oil is not yet ready, too hot or juuuuuust perfect.

Wooden spoons won't chemically react with acidic food and will even keep your pot from boiling over. Don't know this trick? Just lay the wooden spoon across the top of the pot and the bubbles will burst when they come in contact before it ever has a chance to boil over. Genius, I tell ya! Get some!

Tongs

Tongs are ah-mazing and not just for use when grilling. A good pair will have a way to close them: either a little ring that wraps around the tongs or a toggle on the end of them that will hold them open or secure them closed. It's worth it to pay the extra $2 for this feature, I swear. There's nothing worse than a pair of tongs popping open inside the drawer and getting wedged so you have to take the bottom off the drawer in order to get everything out and then put it back again. **Hypothetically**

Tongs are good for turning food in a hot pan, mixing salad, or pulling noodles out of boiling water. You can use them for plating, serving and grabbing things from the way back of the cabinet. I use them all the time to help me get that can from the back of the top shelf that I can't quite reach. Beats having to find the stool or a chair to climb up on.

Spatula

Many people in the restaurant industry refer to spatulas as 'penny savers' because you can crape every last penny out the jar with nothing going to waste. The same principle applies at home. Get down to the very bottom of that jar of mayo with this sucker! I love that many of them have a pointy corner and a curved corner for use in various jar bottoms.

You know what irks me...when I watch cooking shows or videos and they don't use a spatula to scrape out their container. Like when they add 2 tablespoons of honey to a recipe and don't scrape it out. Was that really two tablespoons or is one still stuck to the bowl, yanno?

The best one to buy if you're only going to get one is a medium sized silicone spatula. It's not too big to fit in the mouth of a jar and not too small for big jobs. It's right in the middle and perfect for both. AND it's heat resistant so you can use it in hot pans! I use mine to make yummy scrambled eggs and omelets. Give it a try!