When it comes to choosing the right kitchen tools, details matter because these are the tools you’ll use most in your kitchen every day. Stock your kitchen with this list of Pampered Chef basics. We cover the essentials you might not realize you need but once you have them, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without them.
1. Scrapers
These heavy-duty scrapers have silicone heads fused to the handle. They won’t crack, burn, or melt because they’re heat-resistant to 650°F (230°C). Use them for mixing, but also stirring and blending ingredients on the stove without worrying about scratching your cookware or losing the scraper head in the pot. The classic, skinny, and mini skinny scraper designs have thinner heads with pointed ends that get into corners and hug the sides of round bowls.
The Mix ‘N Scraper is the best of a scraper and a spoon in one tool. It’s great for hand-mixing, and then scooping and scraping thick batters and cooked foods into a pan or serving dish. This design comes in a small and mini size so you can choose the right-sized scraper for the job.
2. Serving Spatulas
Have you ever dished out a beautiful casserole with a fork or knife and ended up with a mess on the dinner plate or a scratch in your favorite pan? That’s why it helps to have a few different serving spatulas in your kitchen. The Slice ‘N Serve:® has serrated edges that cut right through food, so you don’t have to use a knife. Then you can use it like a traditional serving spatula.
A large serving spatula is a must-have for serving food out of pans with sides. The beveled edges make it easy to slip under large slices of lasagna, cake, or pizza. A mini serving tool can handle smaller jobs like cookies and appetizers, while a mini nylon spatula works well on metal or nonstick bakeware and won’t scratch them.
3. Cooking Utensils
Just because your utensils are practical, doesn’t mean they can’t be beautiful and make you feel happy when you reach for them. These cooking utensils feature the best of beautiful stainless steel with durable nylon materials to fulfill a ton of cooking tasks. A wide, sturdy nylon turner is a dream come true for pancake and burger flippers. A slotted spoon makes it easy to stir, drain, and serve your favorite foods, while a smaller food turner can handle flipping delicate foods like eggs or fish fillets.
4. Can Opener
Every kitchen needs a can opener, but traditional can openers cut into the top of a can, leaving the lid with a dangerously sharp edge. Our can opener cuts the lid on the side of the can, leaving both the can and the lid edges smooth and safe, and the cutting wheel stays clean and out of the food. It also has a tab opener to open pull-tab cans of tuna, broth, vegetables, or fruit.
5. Microwave Cookers
Who wouldn’t love to have a healthy dinner on the table in minutes? This set of microwave cookers is a convenient way to steam vegetables, cook rice, and make mashed potatoes. You can make a veggie and rice dinner in less than 20 minutes.
6. Tongs
Tongs are a kitchen must-have for turning and securely gripping foods, but sometimes they pop open when you least expect it. Often the springs are too strong, making them hard to close and store. These tongs get top reviews for how practical and easy they are to open and close. The locking mechanism works automatically when you point the tongs up and squeeze them together. When you’re ready to use them, point the tongs down and they spring open. You’ll want a pair of smaller tongs for turning hard-to-grasp foods like shrimp, bacon, or sausage in small pans.
7. Mix ‘N Chop
Anyone who’s tried to crumble ground beef in a pan with a fork or spatula will tell you that this unique chopper is a game changer. Its one-of-a-kind design with five beveled nylon blades breaks foods into a nice consistency for even cooking. Every kitchen needs one because it does so much more than chop meat. Check out ten ways it can help you in the kitchen.
What small, but mighty kitchen tools can’t you live without? Tell us what everyday kitchen tools you love and why in the comments below.
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Question re: Rice Quantity and Cooking Times – Standard recipe is 1 cup rice, 2 cups water. Cook for 5 minutes on high then 15 min at 50% power. Can I double the recipe and, if so, do I need to alter the cooking times?