The Most Helpful Kitchen Utensils and Their Uses

The average home cook does not need dozens of complicated and expensive kitchen utensils, just the right basics.  Here are some suggestions for the utensils you'll need for common cooking needs.

Metal Spatula

A rectangular shaped spatula is handy for flipping burgers, pancakes, eggs or grilled cheese sandwiches, stirring a vegetable saut� or a sauce, when you need to scrape along the bottom of the pot.

Vegetable Peeler

Use this to peel cucumbers, carrots, potatoes, eggplant or even apples.

Large Cooking Spoons

Metal or plastic, one solid and one with holes or slots.  Use for stirring sauces and saut�s, and serving hot food.

Chef's Knife

A sharp knife with an 8-12 inch blade is essential for slicing, dicing and mincing.  The metal of the blade should extend into the handle, to give the knife strength and balance.  Cheap or dull knives can cause trouble and cut poorly.

Paring Knife

A paring knife blade is about 5 inches.  Use it for peeling and slicing fruit and vegetables, or trimming raw meat.

Tongs

These come in different shapes, so pick the one most comfortable for you.  Use tongs to pick corn out of boiling water, or to grab and turn pieces of meat or large chunks of vegetables in a pan.

Whisk

For mixing soups and sauces, combining dry ingredients, or whipping cream or egg whites

Colander

From draining pasta to rinsing berries or vegetables

Ladle

For serving soup or sauces

Heat-Resistant Rubber Spatula

It's best to buy heat resistant, since you can use it anytime you need to scrape out a pot or bowl, whether or not the food is hot.  

Measuring Spoons

Buy a sturdy set, whether plastic or metal.

Measuring Cups

A solid plastic set is a good choice, as the handles won't break off

Mixing Spoons

Wooden or plastic, with thick rounded handles, for mixing batter, salads, casseroles and sauces.