A Chef's Home Kitchen: 4 Items Every Kitchen Needs
Most people, when they’re at home, spend as much as half of their time in the kitchen, and this is why it’s important to make sure your kitchen is well stocked with the most versatile and useful items you could ever need. Who better to give suggestions on the finest cooking implements than chefs? If you want to revitalize your kitchen and toss out those hand-me-down dishcloths and thrift store cutting boards, you might want to consider these items that every professional chef has in their own home kitchen. Chefs are notoriously finicky about their kitchen implements and often spend a great deal of time trying out different brands and equipment until they find exactly what they need. Toss out that Walmart circular advertising sales on cheap knives and dull mandolin slicers, and check out these four items that chefs love to have in their personal kitchen collections.
1. WÜSTHOF Gourmet 8" Serrated Bread Knife
When they see entire knife blocks given as gifts at weddings, chefs often chuckle, knowing that the novice kitchen jockey will likely only end up using two or three of those knives. Only those who prepare specialty dishes that require specific utensils ever need more than three basic knives: the chef’s knife, the serrated knife, and the paring knife. Often cheaper than a full knife set that never sees regular use, these three basic knives are really the only ones a chef needs for personal use at home. The WÜSTHOF Gourmet 8" Knife Set is a great place to start for those basic knives needed for nearly every meal and will cover almost anything you will ever need to cut.
The 8” serrated knife will easily handle any kind of bread or thick meat, while the 8” chef’s knife will make quick work of chopping vegetables, slicing meat, or anything else you might require. The 3” paring knife handles smaller jobs easily, and all three are made of dull-resistant stainless steel. These knives have a durable steel construction and high-carbon blades for strength. The WÜSTHOF Company is a family-owned German business with seven generations of quality behind it.
These knives are a top pick for chefs worldwide because of their durable construction as well as their versatility. Each knife boasts a full tang for enhanced strength, triple riveted to a molded handle for optimal control. Laser precision cuts the knives and grounds them to a 29-degree angle, which is the preferred sharpness angle for kitchen use.
2. Lodge Cast Iron Skillet
Every professional chef has their favorite cookware and brand, but if you ask ten chefs which kind of cookware everyone needs in their kitchen, at least nine of them will say a Lodge brand cast iron skillet. Cast iron is still a popular choice among professional cooks due to its durability, as well as its ability to produce consistent, well-distributed heat during cooking. The downside to cast iron is that it takes longer to heat up, but once it does, it experiences fewer temperature drops during the cooking process than other materials. They also tend to be pricier than other cookware, but they also last longer, with cast iron wares even being passed down in families. You can use cast iron on a variety of cooking surfaces, including stove tops, ovens, grills, and campfires. Many chefs swear that cooking food in cast iron simply tastes better due to its natural non-stick properties.
Lodge cast iron is the preferred brand of cast iron aficionados. The company has been making cast iron cookware since 1896, and their products come pre-seasoned. Seasoning cast iron is a process in which a protective coating of oil from cooking seeps into the porous metal, forming a bond that protects the metal from rust. After each use, the chef must always continue to season the pan with oil, but Lodge brand items come with a base coating to get you started. A basic 13” Lodge skillet is perhaps the most versatile piece of cookware you can own. With it, you can fry chicken on the stove in oil, bake small pizzas in the oven, sear and cook steaks over a campfire, or grill burgers on the charcoal pit. They are even good for whipping up a desert in the oven. Professional chefs are constantly finding new uses for a good cast iron skillet, making it a top choice for both professional and amateur cooks.
3. Mandolin Slicer
For newbie cooks, mandolin slicers might seem intimidating, with their sharp blades capable of cutting vegetables down to paper-thin slices, so much so that many question whether they even need one. However, most professional chefs swear that mandolin slicers are a must-have for both the professional kitchen and the home kitchen. While it is certainly possible to become so proficient with a knife that you can achieve the thin slices a mandolin can deliver, these useful kitchen gadgets save time, pare down vegetables into uniform, thin slices, and are the most efficient way of getting thin apple slices for pies, potato slices for homemade potato chips, or shave sprouts for salads. They save energy in the slicing process but also turn out uniform cuts on fruits and vegetables, which is important, especially when presentation is an issue. Most mandolin slicers are adjustable, and the Grammercy slicer is dishwasher-safe. This slicer also comes with a pair of protective gloves, something many slicers do not, and is made of durable stainless steel.
4. NutriBullet Food Processor
Not every chef would agree with this particular choice, but most would certainly agree that a good food processor is a must-have in their personal kitchens. The NutriBullet got its start as a must-have during the green smoothie health craze but quickly adapted to its role as a space-saving, powerful food processor. It takes up very little counter space but still packs quite a punch when it comes to fine-blending spices and fruits and creating quick purees. Food processors save a great deal of time if your recipe calls for finely chopped ingredients or mixed ingredients, both of which take time and skill to do correctly. The NutriBullet can easily churn out homemade hummus, salsas, pesto, or fruit purees.
The NutriBullet has several features that make it an ideal food processor. It is easy to take apart and clean, and many of its components are dishwasher-safe. For its small size, it is incredibly powerful, and its ease of use makes it accessible when it comes to creating healthy foods. Chefs prefer this smaller food processor for its low footprint on the counter but also for its power and durability.
Every professional chef has their own personal choices in kitchen tools, and not every chef or home cook will have the same needs. However, no matter the type of food you prepare, these four kitchen items are versatile enough to cover your needs regardless of where you’re working or what you’re cooking.
