Gotta Have it Gadgets

Culinary Tools that Really Work

Whether you've been cooking for years or you're just getting started, fill your kitchen with the right gadgets and your culinary pursuits become a lot more pleasant. Before you purchase a piece of equipment ask yourself a few questions. Can this item help me with the preparation of my meals? Is it easy to clean? Is this more of a novelty or will I really use it on a regular basis? Your answers will indicate if this gadget is right for you.

Peelers come in many shapes, forms and sizes. Some are specifically marketed for one type of vegetable. With the exception of an apple peeler, these veggie- specific peelers are excessive. Your best bet is to find a peeler with a steel blade with a soft, rubble handle that fits comfortably in your hand. Peeling is a task that serious cooks do often, so it's worth spending the extra few dollars on the perfect tool for the job. In addition to peeling vegetables, peelers can be used for preparing parmesan cheese curls, shaving chocolate and creating garnishes.

Ultimately it's beneficial to have at least one grater that will shave larger pieces and one for thin strands. Box graters are an excellent choice since they have two to four different hole sizes in one unit. They also tend to be the most user friendly since the base of the grater lays flat against your cutting board. This allows you to put the appropriate amount of pressure on your food in order to efficiently grate without balancing your apparatus awkwardly. For extra fine cheese wisps, consider picking up a rasp or rotary grater as well.

Specifically designed to carve thin curls from the skin of citrus fruits, zesters are handy if you are serious about exploring fine cuisine. They are the same size as peelers, but instead of one long blade, they have approximately 4-5 small holes on their tips. Using these tools you can acquire the right amount of sweet colorful citrus peel without the bitter white pith. Zest is used in sweet and savory preparations to create an incredible taste that is unachievable with the fruit or juice alone.

There's no reason to waste time peeling and chopping garlic. Many garlic presses can do the entire job for you. Some require that the cloves are peeled first, in which case you can purchase the peeled cloves and go from there. Either way they save you as much time in clean up as they do in prep work. Press garlic cloves directly into your dishes, rather than staining your cutting board or fingers with that impenetrable smell. Make sure to purchase a "self-cleaning" garlic press with reversible handles that poke remaining garlic out of the mechanism easily in the end.

The most accurate and professional way to decide whether your dinner is cooked to your liking is using a meat thermometer. Just poke the thermometer into the thickest part of your cut and watch the gauge until it settles. Check with a reliable reference to see if it has reached the appropriate temperature. Remember residual heat will continue the cooking process even after you remove your meal from the grill, oven or stove. If your cut is only a few degrees shy of its goal, allow it to rest on a clean cutting board for 5 minutes. Chances are it will come up to temperature and be cooked perfectly by the time it reaches the table.

Like the smaller garlic press, a potato ricer takes the lumps out of cooked potatoes. Look for one with comfortable ergonomic handles and a sturdy stainless steel removable basket for easy cleaning. Fully cook potatoes before placing them into the device, so that they process evenly and easily. Load the basket no more than three quarters full and press to enclose. The ricer will exude fluffy strands of potato that are perfect for classic mashed potatoes, gnocchi or kneading into dough.

A mandolin (or slicer) has a sharp adjustable blade in the center of a stainless steel or plastic base to shave food into uniform pieces or slices. Some have special inserts to achieve a ridged effect or a perfect julienne. It's safest to fit your food between the slicer and the protective plastic handle before guiding it back and forth through the blade. They're more accurate and efficient than a basic chef's knife, and just as easy to clean.

In addition using it for its obvious purpose, a well-made ice cream scoop with a retractable food release mechanism is perfect for a variety of tasks. Ever wonder how bakeries make their cookies so uniform? Scoop out your next batch of dough with one of these and you'll see for yourself. You'll save some prep time too. They're also priceless for portion control if you're working on a big affair or doling out side dishes like mac 'n cheese, potato salad or mashed potatoes for a family party. Whether you've been cooking for years or you're just getting started, fill your kitchen with the right gadgets and your culinary pursuits become a lot more pleasant.