Whether it’s for a hobby or a business, stocking a new kitchen can be time-consuming and daunting. You wonder about kitchen utensils and its uses.
Making a list of must-have utensils, kitchen tools, and equipment can save you a lot of time and effort. This evidently makes shopping easier.
But which kitchen utensils should you prioritize?
In this article, we will talk about the kitchen utensils you must consider including on your shopping list.
Kitchen Utensils and Uses
- Tongs
- Slotted Spoon
- Large Spoon
- Measuring Spoons
- Whisk
- Rubber Spatula
- Thin Metal Spatula
- Peeler
- Can Opener
- Grater
- Kitchen Shears
- Kitchen Thermometer
- Measuring Cups
- Pastry Brush
- Colander
- Slow Cooker
- Blender
- Food Processor
- Oven
- Pans
Top 20 Kitchen Utensils and Uses
To save your precious time, this section outlines the kitchen utensils and uses:
1. Tongs
Tongs deserve the top spot on this list because it is one of the most useful kitchen utensils. In a nutshell, it is a kitchen utensil that is used to hold things, in cooking and serving food.
Technically speaking, cooks use tongs to grip or hold food items. In the kitchen, food items often become too hot or too cold. As a result, you cannot hold them with your bare hands.
Tongs solve this problem. By gripping extremely hot or cold food items, you don’t have to put your precious hands at risk.
In addition, you can use tongs to handle food that you do not want to handle with your hands. These include breading, sticky food, and mixing greens.
2. Slotted Spoon
As its name suggests, a slotted spoon is a large kitchen utensil with slots or holes. With a long handle and properly positioned holes, the slotted spoon works to keep your hands away from food items with extreme temperatures.
Slotted spoons come in several materials, shapes, and sizes. To choose a slotted spoon that best suits your needs, you must consider the type of food you frequently prepare. You must also consider the size of the holes and the heat resistance of the materials.
A slotted spoon becomes extremely useful when preparing soups, pasta, stew, deep-fried items, and the like.
3. Large Spoon
Speaking of spoons, you must consider getting another spoon. This time, you must consider getting a large spoon,
A large spoon can be used to do a lot of things. These include stirring, mixing, serving, and transferring food.
Just like slotted spoons, large spoons come in a variety of materials. Large spoons are often made of wood, metal, or heat-resistant silicone. You can choose any material you want, as long as you make sure that it fits your needs.
4. Measuring Spoons
As their name implies, measuring spoons lets you accurately measure liquid ingredients.
Often needed by cooks and bakers, measuring spoons vary in size. They often come in measurements of 1/8 teaspoon, 1/4 teaspoon, 1/2 teaspoon, 3/4 teaspoon, 1 teaspoon, 1/8 tablespoon, 1/4 tablespoon, 1/2 tablespoon, 3/4 tablespoon, and 1 tablespoon.
Just like the other spoons on this list, measuring spoons come in different materials. Now that you know this kitchen utensil and its uses, we suggest you stick to metal or plastic ones though.
5. Whisk
Whisks, also known as cooking whips, are kitchen utensils with narrow handles and wire loops joined at the other end. The thickness and attachments of the said loops vary depending on the type of whisk.
In a nutshell, cooks and bakers use whisks to mix sauces, whip eggs, and make batter.
Technically speaking, whisks add air into a mixture. It also thoroughly mixes cooking and baking ingredients together.
So, if you like to eat eggs for breakfast or bakes frequently, you should definitely have a whisk in your kitchen cabinet.
6. Rubber Spatula
One of the most useful kitchen utensils out there is a spatula.
Both amateurs and professionals use spatulas to do a lot of cooking-related things. But for the sake of this section, we are recommending a spatula made of a specific material― rubber.
In this case, the more flexible the better. By having a rubber spatula, you can easily scrape off mixtures from blenders and pots. It also lets you make the most out of the food you make since you don’t have to waste it.
7. Thin Metal Spatula
We have to feature another spatula on this list. Yes, they’re that useful.
Also known as a fish spatula, people use thin spatulas to flip delicate food items such as oysters and oysters. They are also used for baking. Specifically, thin spatulas can be used to frost cakes and transfer brownies.
Thin metal spatulas can come in a square or rectangular shape. However, you will often find metal spatulas in a wedge shape.
When choosing a spatula, the wider the area, the better because it gives you more control.
8. Peeler
A peeler is one of the most useful kitchen utensils you can buy.
As its name suggests, a peeler can peel vegetables and fruits easily. It has a blade perpendicular to its handle, making a peeler resemble a safety razor.
Interestingly, cooks use peelers like a razor, peeling off skin in strips.
One of the best types of peelers you can get is a Y-shaped peeler. Most Y-shaped peelers include an eye gouger near the blade. The gouger can be used to dig out eyes from pineapples, potatoes, and other vegetables.
9. Can Opener
A can opener is one of the most frequently used kitchen utensils. Since a lot of ingredients come in cans, every cook and baker needs a can opener.
This tool helps you cut into cans quickly and easily. Using a can opener, you don’t need to put yourself at risk for injury.
In addition, you can find electric can openers nowadays, which open cans without manual input. Getting this tool can be a great investment if you need to open a lot of cans on a daily basis.
10. Grater
If you often find yourself making cheese-based dishes (or any dish with cheese for that matter), you must get a grater.
Just like many kitchen utensils on this list, a grater makes dealing with cheese efficient and easy.
Using a grater, you don’t have to grate cheese using a fork anymore (just like what our ancestors did).
In addition, graters can be used to grate soft ingredients other than cheese. It can also be used to grate spices like nutmeg. Just make sure they are not extremely hard. This is a cooking and baking hack you must take note of.
11. Kitchen Shears
Specifically made for preparing ingredients and dishes, kitchen shears are more versatile than a regular pair of scissors.
Featuring a plastic- or rubber-coated handle, kitchen shears are made to handle food. They are often sharper than regular scissors because they must cut through meat.
In addition, kitchen shears include a notch that you can use to cut through joints. The teeth can also be used to open bottles and jars, proving the versatility of kitchen shears.
When choosing kitchen shears, make sure that the blades open wide enough for your food preparation needs. For instance, if you cut meat often, make sure that the blades are sharp and strong enough to cut through meat, cartilage, and bones.
12. Kitchen Thermometer
A kitchen thermometer is what it exactly sounds like: a thermometer made for kitchen use.
As you may well know, many recipes call for veteran temperatures. For instance, you need to deep fry donuts at a certain temperature. The same goes for baking TikTok cakes.
So, if you want to accurately bake and cook food, you must go get yourself a kitchen thermometer.
However, not all kitchen thermometers are made equal. Some kitchen thermometers are more robust than others. You should choose the superior ones. Despite being more expensive, these kitchen thermometers can survive extremely high temperatures and can last for many years.
13. Measuring Cups
We mentioned measuring spoons earlier, so it’s just fitting we include measuring cups, too.
As you may well know, measuring cups have lines on them. They determine the volume of ingredients like Chiffon Aide Cake Oil and Mlekovita Milk Review.
Just like measuring spoons, measuring cups aim to give you accurate measurements of liquid ingredients. However, unlike measuring spoons, measuring cups can be used to measure dry ingredients like flour and chocolate chips.
Among the best measuring cups you can choose are microwaveable ones. Having them gives you the freedom to melt ingredients like chocolate without transferring them to another container.
14. Pastry Brush
A tiny, round- or flat-shaped brush, bakers use this tool for egg washing, marinading, glazing, and oiling a baking pan.
A party brush can be used to make bread, cookies, and other pastries. They can also be used to make tasty dishes like barbecued ribs.
The brush handle may be made of stainless steel, wood, or a combination of both. Now that you know this kitchen utensil and its uses, we suggest you go for stainless steel handles to avoid rusting.
Moreover, the bristles of a pastry brush may be made of silicone, nylon, or natural materials. The type of material the bristles are made of can affect the basting process, so choose wisely.
15. Colander
A beloved tool all over the world, also known as a strainer in some countries, deserves all the love for many reasons.
For one, colanders effectively separate solid from liquid ingredients (e.g. boiled pasta). They can also be used to hold greens as they dry.
You can simply put your greens in a colander, leave them to drain, and voila! You get greens perfect for your delicious vegetable salad.
Colanders can also be used to clean a bunch of fruits and vegetables, allowing water to be drained as you wash the food.
16. Slow Cooker
If you have been cooking for years, you likely know that many recipes call for slow cooking. So, if you want to take your cooking skills to the next level, buying a slow cooker can help.
A slow cooker is an electric appliance that slowly cooks food under low, moist heat. It consistently cooks your food under low temperature, often lasting for six to 12 hours.
Additionally, slow cookers are best used to make complicated and exquisite dishes. While the dishes involving slow cooking are often complicated, making them will be worth your time and effort once you taste them.
17. Blender
As you may well know, you use a blender to make fruit, vegetable, or any kind of shake.
But did you know you can use a blender to make sauces, emulsions, infusions, and oil-based condiments, too?
Aside from this, you can also use a blender to turn ingredients into their fine versions. Just make sure not to use a blender to deal with extremely hard ingredients such as nuts and meat.
18. Food Processor
As mentioned, a blender can only do so much. This is where a food processor comes in.
In a gist, a food processor can grind ingredients that a blender cannot withstand. These include nuts, meat, and other hard ingredients.
Just like a blender, you can use a food processor to make sauces, emulsions, infusions, and oil-based condiments. If you’re up to it, you can use a food processor to make powdered versions of certain ingredients.
19. Oven
An oven is another appliance you must prioritize. If you have been baking for a while now, you know that you need an oven to bake anything.
While a microwave can help you make some treats, only an oven can let you make all treats.
There are many types of ovens in the market, so make sure to make an informed decision. If you need help choosing an oven, check out our oven for baking blog post.
20. Pans
One of the most needed kitchen utensils every home cook or food business owner must have are pans.
Yes, you heard that right. You need pans. Many types of pans.
For one, you need a pan for frying. You also need a sturdy baking pan to make delicious Filipino desserts. If you make sauces on a regular basis, you need a saucepan as well.
Remember, a kitchen without pans cannot be called a complete kitchen.
Read Related Articles
- 20 Kitchen Tools and Equipment Every Cook Must Know
- Why Is It Important to Sanitize Kitchen Tools and Equipment?
- 8 Best Baking and Kitchen Spatulas of 2022
- Small Bakery Shop Interior Design Ideas
- 21 Baking Tools and Equipment Every Baker Must Have
Conclusion
Now that you know the important kitchen utensils and its uses, it’s time to check your favorite store. Shopping for the right kitchen utensils can be daunting especially for first-timers. But you don’t need to worry because the list above will help you choose which ones to prioritize.
Happy shopping and cooking!
About HICAPS
Over the years, HICAPS has helped bakers and businesses make delicious products by offering ingredients like ChiffonAide Cake Oil, Magic Whizk Whipping Cream, Red Velvet Flavor Emulco, and Instabake Brownie Mix.
HICAPS also provides tools and resources to valued partners such as the free “How to Increase Your Sales Amidst the Pandemic” E-book and free dealer locator that helps look for baking ingredients near me.
Want more free tips and tutorials? Follow us on Facebook at Hicaps Mktg. Corp. and on YouTube at HicapsTV.
Want to be one of our valued partners? Fill this form out. Looking forward to talking to you soon!
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
Lysias Legarde
Lysias (Lysh for short) is a Social Work graduate from the University of the Philippines Diliman. She has over seven years of experience in content marketing.
With a sweet tooth and thirst for mind-blowing content, she is the resident SEO content strategist for HICAPS. Lysias is also the founder of a digital marketing agency called Digifolia. When she’s not in front of the computer, Lysias bakes melt-in-your-mouth donuts and plays with her sweet, adorable dogs.
