Timeless Tools for Healthy Cooking
With the right tools, any job is easier. Here are the everyday essentials that will help you get healthy meals on the table fast, plus our best advice for choosing the ones that are best for you.
THE RIGHT CUTTING BOARD
A large, sturdy board will make chopping fruits, veggies, and meats easier, and will also help you mince ingredients like fresh herbs and garlic that add flavor to your food without increasing calories. How to choose: Your board should fit comfortable on your primary work surface and accommodate the entire blade of your biggest knife with at least an inch or two to spare at the top and bottom. Choose wood or plastic: Both materials are durable and will absorb the impact of your knife, making it easier to chop and protecting your blade. Some cooks opt for two boards and designate one specifically for meat and poultry; this can help prevent meat juices from contaminating other foods.
THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT KNIVES
These are the essentials: A small paring knife with a blade 3 to 4 inches long for peeling and slicing small foods; a cook's knife with a 8- or 9-inch blade for all basic chopping, dicing, and slicing; and a long serrated knife for neatly slicing bread. You'll also need a good sharpener since eve the best knives will dull over time. How to choose: Your budget will be a major factor in your selection, but do buy the best you can afford -- a good-quality knife properly cared for should last you a lifetime. If you can, hold the knives before purchasing; their handles and weight should feel comfortable and the grip should be secure in your hand.
THE GOOD GRATER
Shredding and grating fruits, vegetables, and cheeses to add flavor and nutrition to your meals is made infinitely easier with a sturdy grater. Our recommendation is a box grater that has four sides with fine, medium, coarse, and slicing blades and a handle on top. Although box models can zest citrus and finely grate small items like fresh ginger, we recommend you also purchase a rasp grater (Microplane) for these more delicate task. How to choose: Heavy stainless steel will give you the best results and wear well. You can opt for a durable rubber handle on top for comfort and a rubber-rimmed bottom for extra stability if you like.
SPRING-LOADED TONGS
Tongs are vitally important for lifting, flipping, and moving food quickly and gently; a spatula is often to big to fit in a tight pan or may damage delicate foods, and jabbing a fork into meats to turn will allow juices to leak out. How to choose: Tongs should be 12 inches or more long to keep your hand comfortably away from hot cooking surfaces. Spring-loaded models can be locked shut for easy storage. Silicone-tipped tongs are a necessity for use on nonstick cookware to prevent scratching; select heat-resistant tips and you will be able to use them over open grill flames as well.
VERSATILE KITCHEN SHEARS
These heavy-duty scissors can do delicate jobs like cutting parchment paper to line pans or snipping herbs for a tasty last-minute garnish, but they're also strong enough for splitting poultry, cutting crustacean shells, opening tough food packages, and many other kitchen tasks. How to choose: Shears should be stainless steel to prevent rusting, and the handles should be large enough to fit your hand comfortably and offer protection against slipping. Straight (not curved) blades are the best for most jobs, and a bolt between the blades that can be removed to separate them will allow for easy cleaning, Left-handed people should look for shears designed specifically for them.
AN ACCURATE THERMOMETER
A good meat thermometer is the best way to ensure that your foods are cooked to the proper temperature for safety and peak flavor. How to choose: We recommend that you use an instant read thermometer; not only will it give you a reading in a matter of seconds, most models are small enough to fit in your pocket for quick access. Select a model that specifically designed for meat and poultry (not candy or oil) and has an easy-to-read dial or digital readout.
These heavy-duty scissors can do delicate jobs like cutting parchment paper to line pans or snipping herbs for a tasty last-minute garnish, but they're also strong enough for splitting poultry, cutting crustacean shells, opening tough food packages, and many other kitchen tasks. How to choose: Shears should be stainless steel to prevent rusting, and the handles should be large enough to fit your hand comfortably and offer protection against slipping. Straight (not curved) blades are the best for most jobs, and a bolt between the blades that can be removed to separate them will allow for easy cleaning, Left-handed people should look for shears designed specifically for them.
AN ACCURATE THERMOMETER
A good meat thermometer is the best way to ensure that your foods are cooked to the proper temperature for safety and peak flavor. How to choose: We recommend that you use an instant read thermometer; not only will it give you a reading in a matter of seconds, most models are small enough to fit in your pocket for quick access. Select a model that specifically designed for meat and poultry (not candy or oil) and has an easy-to-read dial or digital readout.
