Imagine you just moved into your new house - and you have to set up a new kitchen or you just plainly renovated your kitchen. Either way, the next thing you would do is pick kitchen tools and appliances that you would benefit from the most. Yes, you read it right.
If you have the budget for setting up the kitchen of your dreams, go for the ideal kitchen that everybody wants - and that includes investing in high-quality tools, equipment, and appliances.
But first, why is investing in kitchen utensils so important?
If you would ask us if investing in kitchen utensils and appliances is important, without a doubt, our answer would be - YES. Simply because we don’t want to waste our time figuring out how we will cook a certain recipe without that one or this one.
Here are more reasons why investing in kitchen utensils and appliances is important to us:
- Cost Savings
Even though the upfront cost of high-end kitchen equipment and supplies might seem too expensive, it is worth investing in. Think about the amount of money that you would save if your equipment would not break down easily. There would be no costly maintenance to take care of. Thus, when shopping for kitchen equipment, you should always think long-term. Is it going to be worth your money in the long run? Or is it going to be a one-time, big-time thing?
Aside from saving costs on maintenance, you could also save more energy if you buy high-quality kitchen equipment. Remember that some of your equipment needs to be switched on 24/7. Not only does this include the refrigerators, but also your HVAC system. With this, you would surely have to spend more on your monthly electricity bill. So, it would be better to look for energy-efficient kitchen appliances. This feature should not only be available to your refrigerator but also to your minor equipment like the food warmer and ice maker.
- Efficient
Using old, outdated kitchen appliances may help you save money, but they are inefficient. Deciding to keep on using them would only be a huge liability for your business. Even though you always have the knack to make good food, customers would still choose not to buy from you if your service is slow. No one likes waiting for a long time for their food to be prepared. Thus, it is vital to be efficient. One way you can maximize your efficiency is to invest in quality kitchen equipment.
For example, a high-end ice maker machine in Singapore could be useful during peak hours. During this time, it is normal for customers to start flocking in. Even though there is enough staff to attend to the customers, the ice maker should be efficient enough to create more ice cubes in such a short period. In this way, your customers can enjoy their ordered drinks right away. It would help prevent the long queue of orders in the kitchen.
Another good example would be the use of a food warmer. In Singapore, it is common in bakeshops. You have to make sure that the food warmer stays efficient to ensure the bread and pastries you would display would stay warm and fresh! Customers would be attracted to buy from you if they see that your food products look freshly baked.
- Safety
One of the most essential benefits of investing in quality kitchen equipment is that it ensures safety in your kitchen. Since these are pieces of machines, there is a possibility that they may blow up and cause fires in the kitchen. It would be dangerous if this happens since once a single piece of equipment starts to catch on fire, the other supplies in the kitchen could get up with the same fate. This could be disastrous! It would be worse if some of your employees are still working inside.
Even though you have a fire extinguisher readily available in your kitchen, it would not stop the damage that the fire has caused. In the end, you would suffer huge losses in your business. Not only do you have to buy new kitchen equipment, but you would also have to compensate for your employees’ medical expenses. You are responsible for their well-being while they are working in your kitchen. So, the next time you shop for food warmers, steamers, or any other kitchen equipment, check first if it is safe to use.
Another reason why using safe kitchen equipment is important is that restaurants and food establishments need to stay compliant. You do not want your restaurant to be forcibly shut down because of compliance issues. Remember that Singapore has strict laws when it comes to the food industry. So, you have to check first whether your commercial stove, ice maker machine, and other kitchen supplies are designed with safety in mind.
Taking Care of Your Commercial Kitchen Equipment
Even though you have made sure you chose to buy quality kitchen appliances, they are bound to break if you fail to properly maintain them. You have to put extra effort into cleaning and maintaining them to prolong their life
Taking care of your kitchen equipment is not that difficult. You only have to set a routine cleaning schedule. Although it is a given that you have to clean your kitchen every day, it would be better if there is a general cleaning at least once or twice a week. It may be tedious, but it would ensure your supplies would not get moldy.
Another way you can take care of your kitchen equipment is to inspect it regularly. Train your employees to check the equipment first before starting their shift. This would help you determine whether there would be potential issues that could arise later on.
What tools do you need?
It will make your life so much easier if you have the most important culinary tools in your pantry. Although the kitchen world is always releasing sleek, stylish, and fascinating kitchen gadgets, that doesn't imply you have to acquire them all to cook successfully. In truth, only the most basic materials are required to begin preparing delectable meals. After you've spent all of your money on home-cooked meals, check out our expert tier of kitchen gadgets.
We designed a Kitchen Essentials Checklist to assist you to figure out what tools you'll need to get started. This list explains how to utilize 20 essential cooking utensils and is ideal for new cooks or budget chefs.
You'll be able to prepare almost anything with these tools!
A Chef's Knife
An excellent chef's knife is a kitchen companion for life, useful for everything from boning a chicken to slicing vegetables and mincing herbs. You want a chef's knife with a balanced handle, a full tang (meaning the knife is manufactured from a single piece of metal that runs straight through the handle), and solid riveted construction that will endure a long time.
While we strongly recommend saving up for "the one"—a high-quality knife that feels perfectly wonderful in your hand—if you're just getting started, the Mercer Culinary Genesis and Japanese-style Misono Molybdenum Gyutou satisfy all of the above criteria at a fair price. When it comes to outfitting a kitchen from the ground up, a nice chef's knife may still be one of the more expensive items, but trust us when we say it'll be worth it.
Cutting Board
Cutting boards should be present whenever knives are used. Make it a point to never chop anything on a plate or immediately on the counter. You risk cross-contamination and the introduction of microorganisms to your meal, not to mention causing harm to your knife and counter. Plastic or reBoard choices are better than wood for newbie cookers. Consider getting more than one so you can transition from preparing raw chicken to slicing onions and bring out a fresh one.
10-Inch Nonstick Pan
The first thing you'll need is a nonstick pan if you're truly starting from scratch in the kitchen. These pans are low-maintenance to clean and quite forgiving for a novice cook, as long as you take great care of them (no metal tools or scrubbers!). They're also the best pan for cooking eggs, as stainless steel and cast iron tend to stick.
Stainless Steel 10" Skillet
There are three materials to choose from: stainless steel, cast iron, or non-stick. Your first pan should be a stainless steel 10-inch skillet "frying pan It won't stain or chip like non-stick, plus it's incredibly adaptable (for everything except eggs, pretty much). You could use cast iron (we adore our cast iron pans), but cast iron is a little more difficult to maintain. That's fine if you know how to properly clean and season, but that's a lesson for another day.
The one with aluminum or copper sandwiched between stainless steel - will suffice. Aluminum and copper are great heat conductors, and they're then wrapped in stainless steel, which is odorless and extremely durable.
Stock/Soup Pot
A normal soup pot can frequently be used to make a one-pot meal. A 6-quart pot will be used to cook pasta, create soups and stews, and, if you're feeling adventurous, simmer the homemade chicken stock. Okay, you may not be making your own stock right now, but you will in the future. "Oh!" you'll exclaim when that day arrives. I'm glad I already have this stockpot on hand. Thank you, food-related website!"
Having a soup pot that allows you to cook for a larger group of visitors is really a good idea too. You can get to cook enough soup recipes for them in one-time cooking - and that will save you from electricity bills if you are using an electric stove, and gas if you are using a gas stove.
Measuring Cups and Spoons
Even though we value - even celebrate - the precision that a scale provides, there are instances when it's either impractical or unnecessary to weigh your components. You'll need measuring cups, both dry and liquid measuring cups, as well as a set of spoons, to acquire exact volume measurements. Not only are these rectangular measuring spoons the most precise of the bunch, but they're also thin enough to fit into even the tiniest spice jars.
Peeler
You've got potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, and beets, all of which require a thorough peeling. Of course, some people prefer to eat their vegetables with the skin on, but a peeler comes in handy when making apple pie or cubing thick-skinned squash. You might as well acquire one because they are little and inexpensive.
Metal Fish Spatula
You'll obviously need a spatula, but before you go for the square fry-cook version, think about using a fish spatula instead. Ignore the name; it does everything a regular spatula does, but better. It's longer, thinner, and constructed of a more flexible metal so it can glide under delicate proteins like fish, but it can also handle pancakes, sausage patties, and anything else you'd flip in a skillet.
Tongs
You know those moments when you're cooking and you wish you could just use your hands, but you know that doing so might result in serious bodily harm, such as when you're removing long spaghetti from boiling water or flipping roasted veggies in the oven? Tongs are useful in this situation. Consider these to be the most hand-like non-hands you'll discover in the kitchen.
Nested Mixing Bowls
When preparing a meal, it's usually handy to have a few dishes on hand in case you need to marinate meat, beat eggs, or set away some prepared vegetables. If you're having friends or parents around for dinner and want to impress them with your culinary skills, mixing bowls can double as serving bowls.
A 3-Quart Saucier (or Saucepan)
A quality saucepan in a varied size is vital for producing most sauces, from béchamel to caramel, as well as custard desserts like butterscotch pudding, to ensure that the contents cook evenly and the finished result comes out velvety-smooth. A saucier, which has slightly sloping sides that make thorough whisking a breeze, is even better than a saucepan.
Look for a saucier that combines the durability of stainless steel with the superior heating ability of aluminum, such as this one from Made In, which won our saucier review.
Grater
A Microplane is an excellent instrument for making a fine spray of Parmesan, lemon zest, or freshly grated nutmeg. A box grater, on the other hand, is a lot better bet if you need to shred two pounds of cheese for Daniel's Classic Baked Mac & Cheese. The Cuisipro took home the gold in our evaluation of the best box graters on the market for its super-sharp etched holes, the larger of which will quickly grate the block of cheddar.
A Wooden Spoon
Whether stirring a sauce, tasting a soup, or preparing the creamiest possible risotto, a good wooden spoon is a cook's best friend. It's not uncommon for serious fans to end up owning a half-dozen wooden utensils of all shapes and sizes.
Pepper Mill
Freshly cracked pepper simply does not compare to pre-ground pepper. You'll need to crush your own pepper for that warm, fruity flavor, so why not do it in style with our favorite pepper mill from Fletchers' Mill? It was the most efficient mill we tested for our study of the best pepper grinders, crushing peppercorns to a fine powder in a matter of seconds. It also looks great on the table.
Whisk
While a stand mixer (or a portable electric mixer) makes beating egg whites and whipping cream considerably easier, if you're still saving up for one, a good old-fashioned whisk-and-bowl combination will suffice.
Look for an all-stainless structure for pastry applications that won't transfer off-flavors to extremely acidic recipes like jam, Key lime pie filling, or lemon curd. A balloon design, in which the tines form a fairly open cage, will reduce the clumping of sauces and batters in the whisk's crevices for more general use.
Kitchen Scale
Yes, you can get by without a dependable scale, but once you have one, your cooking life will improve enormously (haha). And if you bake on a daily basis, whether it's homemade pizza dough or a special-occasion coconut cake, you'll undoubtedly require one.
We don't usually propose measuring by mass or weight, since volume alone ignores differences in density among components, and baking necessitates greater precision. It also makes measuring easier in some respects, because you don't have to juggle a bunch of different-sized spoons and cups—just put a single large vessel on the scale, tare it, add flour till you get the proper quantity, empty it into your mixing bowl, and repeat with the next ingredient. Plus, when you have grams to deal with, scaling a recipe up or down is a lot easier than figuring out the ratio between a third of a cup and two teaspoons.
Kitchen Shears
A knife can handle most of your kitchen cutting tasks, but you'll dread opening packages with it, especially if there's a pot of water on the stove that's about to boil over or a pan of oil that's getting too hot. A pair of normal scissors will fix that problem, but they won't cut it when it comes to breaking down a bird. Shun's heavy-duty kitchen shears are up to the task. You can learn more about them in our best shears review. The short version: They're great for cutting and snipping, and the included flathead screwdriver, nutcracker, and bottle opener aren't bad either.
Fine-Mesh Strainer
When creating stocks, sauces, and creamy, smooth soups, you'll need a gadget that can easily remove all of the fragrant bits and pieces. That tool is the simple, plain strainer, which should be rust-resistant, fit tightly over your bowls and pots (look for hooks on the rim to allow for this), and be relatively inexpensive—this set of three will suffice.
A strainer can be used for a variety of purposes. Squeeze citrus juice with no seeds or meat, cook beautiful eggs, sift flour, simmer veggies, and more. Of course, your strainer may also be used as a colander to drain pasta and other hot dishes, making it a great hot-foods companion to your salad spinner.
Flexible Heat-Resistant Spatulas
This is not the same as a fish spatula or a broader turner that you may use with your nonstick skillet. It's what you'll use to scrape off every last drop of custard, batter, or sauce from the interior of a pot or bowl, rather than turning and flipping with it. It's a good idea to keep a few on hand.
A Serrated Knife
Though a chef's knife is more important and versatile, a good serrated knife, often known as a bread knife, is difficult to replace: Nothing beats its saw-toothed blade for slicing through the soft crumb of new bread or the skin of a ripe tomato. Your bread knife will be nearly impossible to sharpen due to the serrated edge, therefore it will need to be replaced every five years or so.
Why do you need to use appropriate cooking equipment when cooking in your kitchen?
When it comes to work and food quality, the quality of the kitchen equipment you select to utilize is just as good as the instruments themselves. Given the large range of cooking equipment necessary for an even wider range of dishes, it's critical to ensure that you select the proper sorts and quality to match your kitchen's needs.
Having the proper cooking equipment is critical to cooking success and minimizing frustration for people who want to be the greatest cook they can be.
Conclusion
It's crucial to invest in your kitchenware because having the correct tools may go a long way toward keeping the kitchen clean and orderly. Some of these tools could assist the cook in chopping, slicing, and mincing raw foods precisely. There is special cooking equipment created for this purpose, and it is also designed to be mess-free.
Some people don’t have the budget for this right now, but when you have, we really suggest investing in these tools, appliances, and utensils to make your cooking life easier and more productive.
Lastly, always remember that the lifespan of your kitchen tools, utensils, and appliances always depends on how you take care of them. If you will invest in expensive kitchen needs and don’t take care of them properly, you’ll end up wasting your money. So, make sure to take care of them as if they are your babies.