Essential Cooking Tools

Cooking tools are for everyone! Here’s a no-nonsense guide describing the items a health-oriented cook should have at their disposal.

Use A Non-Stick Aluminum Foil

A quick way to clean up after cooking is by using a non-stick aluminum foil. I use Reynolds Non-Stick Aluminum Foil.  You can place this foil on the baking sheet or tray and cook directly over it. You don’t have to worry since what you’re cooking will not stick to the aluminum foil. When you are done cooking, you can just take out the aluminum foil and throw it away, but I often re-use the foil if it’s not too encrusted with food to be more environmentally friendly. These simple tips with will help you cook fast and clean even faster.

A non-stick grilling mat will prevent vegetables or fish from sticking to the grill. This is a great tool since it is easy to clean and really brings out the flavors of the vegetables or fish you are grilling – and who doesn’t love the taste of lightly seared tuna? I recommend buying a Grill Mat from Chefsplanet.com. Don’t get a non-stick grill mat with metal handles because they can get hot and hard to handle.

Invest In A Meat Thermometer

You need to be sure that meat is cooked before you take it out from the pan. Invest in a good meat thermometer to make sure that your meat dish is cooked thoroughly. Uncooked meat can cause health problems.  Brands I recommend are Fieldpiece SPK1, Thermoworks RT-301 and Comark PDT300.

A Good Grill Pan

One very useful kitchen tool is the grill pan. At times it isn’t possible to barbecue outside because of the weather, or you might live in an apartment that doesn’t have a garden or a lawn. The grill pan is your best bet for healthy eating without having to cook food in oils or fats.

A grill pan can be used on a stove and has the added advantage of being sold in non-stick varieties, which makes cleaning easier.

Recommended grill pans are Simply Calphalon Nonstick 13" Round Grill Pan, Pampered Chef Professional Cookware 11" Square Grill Pan and All-Clad LTD. 11" Square Grill Pan.

The Chief’s Knife

A knife is one of the tools you must have in your kitchen. A kitchen is not a kitchen unless a good kitchen knife is available. With the knife, you can cut, chop, fillet, strip and cut ingredients to appropriate sizes. A knife is a cook’s best friend.

You need to be comfortable working with your knife. It should have a good grip so you can forcefully use it if needed. A chef’s knife blade ranges from 7 to 9 inches. A range of knives is preferred.

A good knife will last for a long time especially when it is sharpened and cleaned after use. Always use the knife with a cutting board so the blade won’t get dull. Never use the knife anything other than food, unless you plan to throw it away.

Recommended knife brands are Wüsthof Classic 7 inch Santoku Knife, Henckels Four Star II Hollow-Edge 7-Inch Santoku and OXO Good Grips Professional 8-Inch Chef Knife.

Don’t Be A Tool

Always be careful near hot and sharp things! And round boxy things too, like that comment box. It’s rather dangerous when empty, I hear…*hint hint*