cooking utensils

Seven Cooking Utensils No Kitchen Should Be Without

It seems like every cook has a drawer full of cooking utensils – way more than any cook needs. You can cook just about anything using just seven cooking utensils. What are the seven essentials?

No. 1 - Tongs

Tongs are a cooking utensil you simply can't do without. With tongs, you can push spaghetti into boiling water, remove roasted Brussels sprouts from a baking sheet, lift sausages and hot dogs from the grill, and turn steaks without piercing them. Tongs are also great for reaching wine glasses or bottles of soy sauce that hide at the back of those high kitchen cabinets. If you use nonstick cookware, get silicone or plastic tongs.

No. 2 - Wood Spoons

Wooden spoons are another of those basic cooking utensils that every cook needs. Wooden spoons can be used on nonstick cookware, cast iron pans, glass, and steel. They are inexpensive and beautiful to display.

No. 3 – A Whisk

The whisk is one of the most versatile cooking utensils ever invented. Use it to scramble eggs and keep sauces and gravies lump-free. Use silicone or plastic whisks for nonstick cookware; otherwise, a stainless steel whisk is one of those basic cooking utensils you'll use forever.

No. 4 – A Flexible Spatula

A thin, flexible spatula is the perfect cooking utensil for flipping pancakes, eggs, crepes, and hash browns. Don't even think about trying to make breakfast without one.

No. 5 – A Grater

Graters aren't just for cheese any more. This useful cooking utensil can shred cheese, grate fresh nutmeg, mince a piece of ginger root, or zest a lemon. Once you buy a grater, keep it handy, because you'll use it every day.

No. 6 – A Ladle

One ladle serves many functions. You can use it to serve soup, scoop batter out of a bowl, or add broth to risotto. To use this handy cooking utensil as a measuring cup, fill your ladle with water and pour the water into a measuring device. However much water is in the cup, that's how much liquid your ladle holds. Next time a recipe calls for that amount of liquid, you can use your ladle to measure it.

No. 7 – A Colander

A colander is another cooking utensil you will use every single day. Use a colander to wash fresh vegetables, drain pasta, or rinse berries or salad greens or canned beans. A colander is great to use anytime you need to separate food from water.

You don't need a big drawer full of cooking utensils. With these seven items, you can make virtually any meal.