5 Simple Tools For The Gourmet Home Chef
Are you moving into your very first apartment or home? Do you love to cook but never really learned the basics that a gourmet home chef should know? Maybe you are an old dog at home cooking and very accomplished at it, but you don’t have all the basic tools that a gourmet home chef needs to have a complete kitchen arsensal to be totally prepared to cook for your family and friends in the manner that you would like to? Then take a look at this simple list of seven basic tools that every gourmet home chef should have.
1. Kitchen knives. I know this sounds like a give in but you would be surprised just how many kitchens in home all across America are being run on poor quality knives that will not give you the service or presentation that you are looking for. If you have knives that are of poor quality or you have an incomplete set of knives then it is time to replace the poor quality knives with your best kitchen knives possible. Quality kitchen knives that will last a lifetime of service for you.
2. A saute pan that is either 10 or 12 inches is a necessary part of any home gourmet chef’s kitchen arsenal. The saute pan is probably the most widely used pan in your kitchen. By the way the word saute in French mean “to jump.” It means that you are cooking at a high heat and moving the food around quickly with a spatula, tongs or tossing the food like the cooks do on TV.(just a little quick info for you) It is great pan for fast frying, searing and making rous as well as making killer grilled cheese sandwiches and making omelettes and frittatas. The bigger the saute pan the better.
3. Do you like to cook roasts of different kinds? Do you like to cook large birds? If you do then you will need to have a roasting pan in your kitchen as they are top notch for roasting anything from chickens and turkeys to large roasts and vegetables all in your kitchen oven. A good size standard roasting pan is about 16 to 22 inches which is big enough to a cook a 20 or 30 pound meat roast or turkey. The general pan sizes will vary from 14 to 22 inches long and 8 to 4 inches wide by 5 to 6 inches high. Of course there are electric roasting pans as well that will do the job to the same quality specs as a roasting pan that you put in your oven. It is a matter of choice for you.
4. You will surely need a large pot or stock pot with a strainer or for making soups and boiling water for pasta dishes and it is excellent for making stews and chili. A good stock pot will also let you simmer meats and vegetables for a wide array of recipes. I prefer an 8 to 12 quart pot for my daily chores and recommend those sizes for most kitchens. Stock pots will be stainless steel in most cases with various core options, but there are other forms of stock pots like cast iron with enamel coating and aluminum stock pots. Once again this is a matter of choice.
5. Along with everything else you should have in your kitchen is a good quality kitchen cutting board like a John Boos cutting board because you never want to cut food on surfaces that are not designed to cut food on. If you are cutting and chopping food on surfaces that are not designed for food preparation you are running the risk of food cross contamination and the proliferation of germs and bacteria in your kitchen. A good quality John Boos cutting board will be made of northern hard rock maple wood and will last a lifetime. The best part about this type of cutting board is that they have been found to be more sanitary than most synthetic boards on the market today by the National Sanitary Foundations or NSF. I have had my John Boos cutting board for over 10 years now and they are built to last a lifetime.
As with anything in life the fact is that quality will always cost more, but the performance and lifetime of service that you will get makes it all worth it in the long run. You need to find a happy balance that you can live with. Having the best equipped kitchen you can will make your cooking a real pleasure and impress your family and friends the the amazing meals that you will create. Start growing your kitchen tools collection today and you will be so happy that you did! To learn more about kitchen tools like the best kitchen knives and John Boos cutting boards then please visit: www.mistersharpstuff.com today!
About the Author
I have been self employed for four years now. I became self employed out of necessity after losing my last job in the cutlery business in management. After thirty years I was out of a job and there are not many cutlery business out there and I did not want to travel to another state and start all over again. So, I bit the bullet and became my own boss. I have been making my living on my own terms ever since. I would not go back to the 9 to 5 ever again. I help a small select group of clients build and grow there own websites and blogs and occasionally because of my years in the cutlery biz I do private lessons in self defense. I have loved the last four years and only wish that I had become self employed sooner. Better late than never I guess. If you found the information in this article helpful and you would like to learn more about kitchen knives and kitchen tools then please visit:www.mistersharpstuff.com Today!
Cooking Duck with Chef Rick Tramonto
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Cuisinart CSB-76 SmartStick 200-Watt Immersion Hand Blender $55.00 Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender – 200W Blend ingredients right inside pots, pitchers, bowls, or the clear plastic beaker that is included with the Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender, which is available in your choice of color. A powerful 200-watt motor operates with an easy one-touch control. Blend drinks, puree soup, and mix crêpe batters in seconds! The blender features a ergonomic grip that… |
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Aroma AWK-115S Hot H20 X-Press 1-1/2-Liter Cordless Water Kettle $24.00 1.5-liter capacity Easy cordless pouring with the patented Strix electric connector Safe-grip handle and no-drip spout Easy-to-read water level indicator Elegant brushed stainless steel finish… |
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Misto Olive Oil Sprayer … |
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Gore-met Zombie Chef From Hell Produced & Directed by Don Swan Starring: Theo Depuay, Kelley Kunicki, C.W. Casey, Alan Marx, Michael O’Neil, Jeff Pillars, Jeff Baughn, Billy Scott Approved by Bob Dobbs… |
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Chefs Live! How To Gourmet Cooking Vol. #3 [VHS] $34.95 CHEFS LIVE! – How to Gourmet Cooking Vol. #3 FREE INSIDE – Recipe/Ingredients Cards & Shopping List This new (2002) 32 minute ‘how to’ gourmet cooking video gives you more than your regular TV show chefs. Join A. Prosperi Porta an expert chef & cooking instructor, learn the tips and techniques he uses to teach other chefs. From first preparation to the final dish he tells you what to do and when… |
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1.0 oz. Divine Desserts Embossed Chefs Tin $10 Divine Desserts – is a wonderful spice blend created by Chef’ Bernard Guillas. This is a vibrant aromatic blend of 12 unique spices and fennel pollen. Enhancing the flavors of fresh fruit, apple pie, carrot cake, and cookies.With this gourmet spice blend you can feel free to be creative. Replaces cinnamon in any recipe. |
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1.0 oz. Hog Heaven Embossed Chefs Tin $10 Hog Heaven – can be used for poultry, pork, and veal. Another of our blends created by Chef’ Bernard Guillas.This wonderfully aromatic, and delicious gourmet fennel spice blend is just perfect for that added touch to any white meat. However don’t let that limit your uses, try on anything you wish, and let your imagination create. |
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12 Mario Mahogany Salt Mill $42.9 Product shown in cherry – VCF1029: Mario Batali, one of the country s top chefs, has partnered with Vic Firth Gourmet on the design of the stylish Mario Signature Series of peppermills and salt mills. named Man of the Year in the chef category by GQ Magazine in 1999. Mario also one the James Beard Foundation s Best Chef: New York City award in 2002. This mill combines both style and function and will be a perfect addition to any kitchen! Features: -Part of the Mario Signature Series -Material: mahogany wood -Dimensions: 12 |
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17 Mario Mahogany Peppermill $74.9 Product shown in cherry – VCF1032: Mario Batali, one of the country s top chefs, has partnered with Vic Firth Gourmet on the design of the stylish Mario Signature Series of peppermills and salt mills, named Man of the Year in the chef category by GQ Magazine in 1999. Mario also won the James Beard Foundation s Best Chef: New York City award in 2002. Exacting chefs want and need complete control over the seasoning of their dishes and Vic Firth Gourmet mills give them precise control through a patented Lock and Grind grinding system. This unique mechanism ensures perfect consistency whether fine grinds for fish, medium grinds for gravies or coarse grinds for meats. This mill combines both style and function and will be a perfect addition to any kitchen! Features: -Part of the Mario Signature Series -Grinding is performed in a two-step process -First, the peppercorns are crushed to release their natural oils and flavors -Next, they are ground to the chosen consistency for perfect results every time -All mills feature pop-out mechanisms for easy cleaning Specifications: -Material: mahogany wood -Dimensions: 17 height -Made in the USA |
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17 Mario Orange Peppermill $79.9 VCF1033: Mario Batali, one of the country s top chefs, has partnered with Vic Firth Gourmet on the design of the stylish Mario Signature Series of peppermills and salt mills, named Man of the Year in the chef category by GQ Magazine in 1999. Mario also won the James Beard Foundation s Best Chef: New York City award in 2002. Exacting chefs want and need complete control over the seasoning of their dishes and Vic Firth Gourmet mills give them precise control through a patented Lock and Grind grinding system. This unique mechanism ensures perfect consistency whether fine grinds for fish, medium grinds for gravies or coarse grinds for meats. This mill combines both style and function and will be a perfect addition to any kitchen! Features: -Part of the Mario Signature Series -Grinding is performed in a two-step process -First, the peppercorns are crushed to release their natural oils and flavors -Next, they are ground to the chosen consistency for perfect results every time -All mills feature pop-out mechanisms for easy cleaning Specifications: -Orange painted finish -Dimensions: 17 height -Made in the USA |