With the right tools, you can cook up anything. Which is why it’s important to surround yourself with handy utensils that’ll make cooking up a storm a breeze. Where do you start when it comes to choosing these kitchen must-haves? We’ve narrowed it down to the key essentials so you can kit your kitchen out with confidence.
Got your spatula confused with your skimmer? Don’t worry. We’ve pulled together a handy guide that explains what each utensil does. So there’ll be no more using your mixing spoon for whisking or spatula for stirring.
Ladle
- Designed to be used for serving soups, stews or sauces
- The long straight handle allows you to work with hot liquid at a safe distance
- The deep bowl allows you to scoop up liquid without twisting
Masher
- Features a flat base with slots that squeeze and squash whatever you’re mashing
- An essential tool for making mashed potato, baby food or guacamole
- Using a masher tends to give you a fluffier, lighter texture compared to other methods of mashing
Slotted Spoon
- Use this spoon for serving food that cook in liquid but do not need to be served with it
- Perfect for retrieving potatoes, vegetables or pasta from boiling water
- The long handle and well position slots ensure your hands are kept well away from hot water
Skimmer
Spatula
- Used for lifting, flipping, or spreading
- The long handle will keep your hand away from what is being lifted or spread, as well as away from a hot surface
Tongs
Turner
- Similar to a spatula but the thinner shape allows more precision when turning
- Slides easily under food
- Ideal for flipping burgers or fish
Whisk
- Can be used to blend ingredients quickly or incorporate air into a mix
- Excellent for whisking egg whites or heavy cream to increase the volume
- Some whisks have different shaped loops dependent on their function
- The standard balloon whisk is suitable for most kitchen tasks
Materials
Kitchen utensils can be made from a variety of materials, so it’s important to purchase ones that’ll suit your pots & pans. If you’ve got non-stick equipment we’d recommend you go for silicone as this won’t scratch and damage the surfaces of your pans.
Stainless steel
The most common material used, it provides strength & durability as well as a sleek finish. Not recommended for non-stick pots & pans.
Wood
A classic favorite and won’t scratch your pots & pans. It’s tough and won’t break easily, but over time it can become warped and stained.
Silicone
The darling of the modern kitchen. Available in a rainbow of colors, it won’t stain easily and will keep its like-new appearance for a long time. As it’s soft & flexible it’s the best to be used on your non-stick pans without fear of damaging them.
Take a look at our kitchen utensils and make sure you’ve got all the basics covered.