How to Choose the Right Tools for an Efficient Kitchen
One thing I hear consistently from clients is that they feel their kitchen is not big enough to store all of their kitchen gadgets, tools and utensils. And while I can absolutely commiserate, take it from this avid amateur cook, who lived in three NYC apartments over a decade--it IS possible to have a small yet functional and beautiful kitchen space. It might even be one that you--gasp!--enjoy cooking in. To me, it all starts with intention and a commitment to constantly evaluating what’s working and what’s not working.
Think Before You Buy: I once went to a book signing with Deb Perelman of Smitten Kitchen, and someone asked her “How do you decide when to invest in a new piece of cooking equipment?” Deb, also a long-time NYC resident, answered with one of my favorite comments of all time, “Well, I wait until I really, really need it, and then I wait two more years, and then I get it.” I absolutely loved that. Take advice from this culinary pro (Deb, not me!)--you don’t always need every kitchen tool just because a recipe might call for it. Stand mixer? A hand mixer usually works just fine. 8x8 baking dish but you only have a deep dish pie pan? Try it out and see if it works (but put a baking sheet underneath it in the oven, just in case!). Basically, don’t rush out to stock up on any gadget or utensil. Try some alternatives and wait until you really, really need it and then take the leap--and make sure you know where you are going to store it before you buy it.
Invest in Multi-Purpose Tools: In my opinion, single-purpose tools are rarely worth the expense or the space they take up. Take an avocado slicer, or a kale stripper, for example. A chef’s knife can get the same job done, and also 1000 other jobs. Unless I owned an avocado toast shop, I would rather spend the money on a good knife that will last me years than on a handful of single-purpose tools that add up to the same expense but take up more space in my kitchen.
Consider These Kitchen Workhorses: Here are just a few of my favorite tools that I literally say out loud “Man, I just love [ _____ ] so much!” I hope you love them, too.
A Kitchen Scale: Forget having to wash and store all sorts of measuring cups and spoons--if you cook using a kitchen scale, you can avoid using these tools as much as possible, since everything gets measured in one bowl atop the scale.
8-Inch Chef’s Knife: Like I said, a good chef’s knife can do 1000 jobs. This is the knife I reach for more often than any other. (Make your life even easier and your chopping jobs even faster, by practicing your form.)
Nesting Bowls: You’ll have the exact size bowl you need for any task; they fit within each other for easy storage; and they double as attractive serving bowls. Need I say more?
Quarter Sheet Pan: You may be familiar with the half-sheet pan, but often overlooked is the small but mighty quarter-sheet pan. Quite honestly, this one took some convincing before I bought it--why get a smaller version of a sheet pan when the bigger one works just fine? (Efficiency!) I’ll tell you why: it’s easier to clean; you can store it within the half-sheet pans; it’s great holding your ingredients while prepping; and it fits in your fridge or freezer to, say, chill a batch of chocolate chip cookies before you pop them in the oven. Yum.
Evaluate, Evaluate, Evaluate: The #1 most important thing for you to do is constantly evaluate if a tool is working for you. If you always feel frustrated when using it; if it doesn’t do the job it’s advertised to do, or if you can’t remember the last time you used it, it might be time to say goodbye.
Try some of these tips out in your own kitchen, and let me know how it goes! Happy cooking.