When I first started cooking seriously, I knew I was on to a good thing ’cause using good tools is really important! Here are Dad’s Top 10 Kitchen Tools:
Dad’s Top 10 Kitchen Tools
- the whisk
- the 10″ iron skillet
- the chef’s knife
- the immersion blender
Now, I like great, world-class tools, but I also like a great deal.
Dad’s Favorite Sources
- Local restaurant supply stores
Wanted something heavier than the thin-skinned, small aluminum sauce pan from the 70s that we had since it was new. For about $15, got a heavy-duty 2 qt model used in restaurants. Won’t win a beauty contest, but come on, we’re talking about a sauce pan!
- Hardware store
Everyone ought have at least one cast iron skillet – for cornbread, or for a great ribeye steak recipe I found. The best place to get one (Lodge seems to be the most commonly found brand.) is in your hardware store. It will probably be cheaper than anywhere else.
- Your discount warehouse of choice
A few years back, I bought one of those cast aluminum, non-stick surface roasting pans, with handles. Big enough for a 20-pound turkey. When I saw the ad, I couldn’t believe it was only $20! But it was. It has some small knicks in it, but they’re barely noticeable. And, as you probably know, these pans are normally more than $100 anywhere.
You or your wife or your mother probably know a local Pampered Chef rep. Some of their stuff definitely falls into the one-use tool category and should be avoided unless you’ve got money to burn. But there are quite a few items that are high quality, resonably priced, and you can help out an independent business person!
