Ifyouwanttocookfromscratchmoreoften,startwiththerighttools.Justlikeyouwouldsetupyourworkdeskwithessentialitemslikeastaplerandcalendar,setupyourkitchenwithsomekeypiecesofequipment.ThefollowingaretoolsIuseeverysingledayinmykitchen.Theseitemsmakecookingandcleanupfasterandeasier.Plus,yourfoodwillcomeoutlookingmuchnicer.

　　Offsetmetalspatula,stiffandwide.Thesearegreatforgettingunderthings.Usesinclude:

　　Liftingafriedeggfromapanwhilekeepingthebrownundersideintact

　　Flippingaburger

　　Transferringsomethingdelicatefrompantoplate

　　Slicingquicheorlasagna

　　Scrapingburntbitsfromabakingsheetorsautéepan

　　Finemeshstrainer.Thesearemuchmoreconvenientthanafull-sizedcolander.Usesinclude:

　　Strainingtea

　　Washinghandfulsofvegetablesorfreshherbs

　　Washinggrainsorbeansthatwouldfallthroughtheholesinacolander

　　Skimmingfatoffthetopofhomemadechickensoup

　　Siftingasmallamountofflourorsugar

　　Tongs.Thinkoftheseasanextensionofyourhandsinthekitchen.Usesinclude:

　　Pullingahotpanoutoftheovenwhenyoucan’tfindanovenmitt

　　Liftingasteameroutofapot

　　Sautéing

　　Tossingasaladorstir-fry

　　Retrievingthingsthatdroppedbehindthestove

　　Rubberspatula.Nothingbeatstheseforscrapingeverylastdropoffoodoutofacontainer.Usesinclude:

　　Smoothingonfrosting

　　Scrapingoutafoodprocessororblender

　　Stirringhotfood

　　Foldinganingredientintoabatter

　　Longwoodenspoon,atleast12inches.Thesestaycoolwhileyoucook,unlikemetalspoons.Usesinclude:

　　Reachingintotheovenandtossingroastedvegetables

　　Stirringatallpotoftomatosauce,risotto,orchili

　　Stirringsautéedvegetablesinapan

　　Stirringanythingacidic,liketomatosauce,wheremetalcanalterthetaste