Tools & Equipment Guide - Pots and Pans

From the humble potato peeler to an avocado slicer, a kitchen is not complete without a drawer of essential gadgets. In recent times the market for kitchen tools has exploded, resulting in a huge variety of tools in different colours and designs.

The Basics

The basic cooking tools in every kitchen usually include spoons, a ladle, turners, a peeler and a potato masher amongst other tools.

There are a few different materials which kitchen tools can be made of, each with different features and benefits. Stainless steel tools are very popular, and with good reason. These tools are not only attractive but extremely hard wearing. A important point to note with these tools is that they are not usually suitable for non-stick pans. They will scratch the surface, damaging the non-stick coating. They are not ideal for cast iron pans either, as they will leave silver trail mark on the enamel in the base of the pan, although this is not damaging to the same extent as with a non-stick surface. Stainless steel tools are suitable, for use in stainless steel pans without non-stick finishes, which are our best selling pan type. Most plastic tools are made of phenolic heat resistant plastic, meaning that they will not melt or warp. These kitchen tools are ideal for non-stick surfaces as they will not scratch or mark them. Silicone tools are relatively new to the market, but there is already a vast variety available. Silicone is usually heat proof to a minimum of 200C and has the added bonus of flexibility. This flexibility means the tools are ideal for getting into the edges of saucepans. Like phenolic plastic tools, silicone kitchen tools are ideal for use with non-stick pans. Where phenolic plastic tools tend to be black, silicone tools are available in a range of colours to match your kitchen decor.

Kitchen Tools

Apple corer/divider – a great way to get kids eating apples, this tool not only cores the apple, but also divides it into manageable slices.

Avocado slicer – a tool which enables the user to get the highest yield of avocado out of the skin, and slices it at the same time. Sometimes made in stainless steel, there is a model on the market by Chef’n, which is flexible, and takes into account different sizes of avocado.

Blowtorch – a favourite with most TV chefs, these gadgets may look a little intimidating, but they are actually incredibly easy to use and refill. The smaller styles of these are really only suitable for creme brulee, where as the larger sizes are also suitable for roasting peppers, and even crisping joints of meat. All blowtorches supplied by Pots and Pans are easily refilled with butane lighter fuel.

Can opener and jar opener – there is a massive range of can openers on the market, but here are the features of some of the most user friendly. Good Grips can openers, as the name suggests, are easy to handle due to their chunky handles, which makes them ideal for people with arthritis. One also features a locking function which means that the can opener locks on to the can and cannot ‘jump off’ as can happen with some cheaper can openers. The Culinare One Touch can opener is unique in that the user simply places it on to the can, presses a button and the can opener rotates and opens the can.

Cheese plane – solid or wire versions are available. The solid version is best suited to harder cheeses such as parmesan, whereas the wire version (which is usually adjustable) is better suited to soft cheeses. We only have solid versions online at the moment.

Flavour Shaker – The Jamie Oliver flavour shaker, designed by the man himself, is best described as a shaker-style mortar and pestle. It consists of a heavy duty plastic container with a ceramic ball inside. You can put a wide variety of ingredients inside, whether liquid or solid and then shake it to crush and combine the ingredients. It is quick and easy to use and ideal for making marinades and salad dressings. It is also available in a range of colours, or in stainless steel.

Garlic press – a must have in the kitchen, a garlic press squashes garlic cloves, allowing the natural aromatic oils to be released. The best garlic presses have a built in cleaner and a heavy duty construction. The Zyliss garlic press also does not require the user to peel the garlic cloves, and also comes with a five year guarantee.

Good Grips – a range of tools created originally for arthritis sufferers but now widely available to the general public. The main feature of these tools is their chunky, rubberised handles, making the tools easy to hold and manipulate.

Grapefruit knife – essentially a knife with a bent, serrated tip perfectly shaped to cut segments out of a grapefruit.

Kitchen Craft – there are two comprehensive ranges of tools available from Kitchen Craft, the Professional Series, and the Stand Ups range. The professional series is a stainless steel range with a lifetime guarantee. The stand-up range is a mixture of polycarbonate plastic and rubber, and comes in a variety of colours. The main feature of this range is that the colourful tools stand up, and can be displayed on the worktop. Kitchen Craft supply numerous other tools and equipment.

Lemon reamer – a tool for quickly juicing citrus fruit, simply cut the citrus in half and squash with the reamer. Stainless steel is ideal as it is long lasting and hygienic.

Lettuce Shears – when lettuce is cut with a metal tool, the edge of the leaf will oxidise and turn brown. These plastic shears give a clean cut but with no browning of the leaves.

Mandoline – a fantastic tool for making thin slices of fruit and vegetable, and a must for potato dauphinoise. Some mandolines also have an attachment for doing julienne strips. Important features to look for include a sturdy build, and straight forward mechanism for changing the blades.

Mango splitter – a new tool from Good Grips, this gadget splits the mango in half, removing the stone at the same time.

Meat tenderiser – a hammer for pounding meat to make it more tender, metal should be the only option, as it is far more hygienic than wood. Good Grips have two excellent tenderisers, which are ergonomically designed, and easy to use.

Microplane – a range of super sharp graters which simply cannot be beaten, and a firm favourite with chefs. The blades of the microplanes are laser etched ensuring a consistent finish. Particularly good for zesting lemons.

Mincer – though the design has not changed for many years, mincers are enjoying resurgence, as more people want to know what actually goes into their mince. Also suitable for making sausage meat, these heavy duty mincers attach to a work surface, and are powered by hand.

Mortar and pestle – This tool has hardly changed over the years, consisting of the mortar, which is the bowl, and the pestle, used for grinding. There are a few different materials available, all suitable for slightly different things. Olivewood mortar and pestles are very decorative, and are particularly useful for salad dressings. Olivewood is a hard wood and if it is treated regularly with olive oil, it should prevent flavour and colour transfer. Ceramic mortar and pestles are very traditional and usually available in a variety of sizes. Excellent for liquid and solids, the only slight drawback is that there is colour transfer when using coloured spices. However, there is no flavour transfer.

Oyster knife – a short bladed knife with a pointed tip, which is inserted into the oyster shell and then twisted, opening the shell. Some knives also come with a guard to protect your hands.

Pastry brush – useful not just for pastry, but also for applying a small amount of oil to a frying pan. There are three types of bristles. Natural bristles give excellent coverage, and do not melt, and plastic fibre bristles give a very even finish. The best material is silicone, as it gives excellent coverage, but is also heat proof, and dishwasher safe, making it very easy to clean.

Pineapple slicer – finally, the problem of how to peel a pineapple without waste is solved. A pineapple slicer actually cores and slices at the same time. Simply slice the top of the pineapple, place the slicer of the top and twist. When you reach the bottom of the pineapple simply pull the sliced fruit out. Vacuvin offer a single pineapple slicer, as well as a set of three to account for different sizes of pineapple.

Potato peeler – a must, and again a wide variety are available, ranging from solid or swivel blade, straight or y shaped and even the chef’n palm peeler, which fits in the palm of your hand.

Potato ricer – another tool which owes some of its popularity to TV chefs, a potato ricer is simply a must for smooth mashed potatoes. Much like a giant garlic press, the potatoes are inserted and then crushed though small holes. The stainless steel version of this tool is excellent, as it can be put into the dishwasher.

Salad spinner – useful not only for lettuce, but the new smaller models are also excellent for rocket and fresh herbs. Some incorporate a serving bowl, such as the one from Guzzini.

Thermometers – whether it is for the fridge, the food or the cooker, thermometers are an essential part of the kitchen. Different jobs require different temperature ranges, meaning it is best to get the correct thermometer for the job.

Zester – this tool, rather than giving small pieces of citrus zest, as a grater does, gives longer, neater zest, suitable for desserts. Zesters sometimes come with a canelle knife attached, which allows the user to get spiral pieces of zest.

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