Differentiate Kitchen Tools, Kitchen Utensils And Kitchen Equipment
Sometimes, it’s difficult to choose the correct goods to equip your kitchen. You may wonder what the difference is between a kitchen utensil, a kitchen tool, and kitchen equipment in an attempt to simplify this.
We’ve broken down the meaning of these terms to provide you with the solution.
Kitchen Tools, Kitchen Utensils & Kitchen Equipment: What Are They?
A tiny hand-held instrument used for food preparation is known as a kitchen utensil. Cutting food items to size, cooking meals over an open fire or on a stove, baking, grinding, combining, blending, and measuring are all common culinary operations; distinct equipment is developed for each operation.
Handheld kitchen tools are referred to as kitchen tools. Kitchen tools are everything you can handle in your hand. Because kitchen utensils are portable, they might be classified as kitchen tools.
Kitchen equipment refers to anything that requires power to operate in the kitchen. The bigger, either manual or mechanical, items in your kitchen are referred to as kitchen equipment. Food processors, cooks, bakers, and freezers are examples of this equipment.
Examples Of Essential Kitchen Tools
Spatula made of metal
For flipping, tossing, and serving many types of dishes, a robust metal (or high-quality plastic) spatula is essential.
Whisk
Metal whisks come in a variety of forms and sizes. Choose a whisk that is medium in size and has a handle that fits nicely in your hand.
Spoon with slots
A perforated spoon, whether wooden or metal, functions as a micro strainer, separating particles from liquids—think of extracting potatoes or little pasta strands from boiling water.
Shears for the kitchen
You’ll use shears every day to open packages, clip herb stems, and cut the fat off meats. You may use them to chop up a whole chicken or trim the crust off a pie now and again.
A thermometer
This is a device that measures temperature. Check to determine if your meats are cooked thoroughly (and promptly). More information may be found in our food-safe cooking temperature guide.
Skillet made of cast iron
Cast iron pans have thick, heavy bottoms and sides that can uniformly heat to high temperatures and maintain heat for an extended period. They give a steak or scallops a lovely sear. Use them to make cornbread or cobblers since they go straight into the oven (and all these other delights). They have a rustic appeal that may be used from the stove to the table. Last but not least, they’re practically unbreakable.
Preparation bowls
Although it may seem obvious, having a range of mixing bowls is essential. Metal or glass is better than plastic because they are less permeable. Stains and smells will not be picked up by them.
Timers
When it comes to cooking, timing is everything! It’s critical to keep track of specific cooking times if you’re creating many dishes at once. Our test kitchen cooks wear timers around their necks, but you can put one on your microwave if you don’t want to buy one (or phone).
Examples Of Essential Kitchen Utensils
Cutlery
Get a chef’s knife if you only have money and space for one knife. You’ll be using this knife for 90% of your meal prep, so invest in a good one and take care of it. We do recommend acquiring a serrated knife and a paring knife, though, because they serve distinct functions. Serrated knives are fantastic for slicing through tomatoes and bread while paring knives are perfect for smaller, more delicate work when a larger knife just won’t cut it.
Cups for measuring
Measuring cups are essential for bakers, but they’re also useful in regular cooking. A 1-quart glass measuring cup makes measuring liquids easier and faster, and you can prepare sauces and vinaigrettes right within it before pouring it into whatever you’re preparing.
Turner for fish
While this versatile tool is marketed as a fish-turner, it may be used for a variety of tasks. This tool’s broader base makes flipping burgers, fish, over-easy eggs, and even pancakes a breeze.
Peeler
This is a tool used to peel potatoes. When you’re getting your kitchen ready, make sure you have a nice, sharp peeler on hand to remove vegetable skins, shave off cheese, and produce veggie ribbons.
Tongs
Tongs act as an extension of your hands and are quite handy in the kitchen! They’re not only for flipping large portions of food; they’re also for moving ingredients about in a frying pan or on a sheet pan without risking burns.
Examples Of Essential Kitchen Equipment
Ovens
The oven is one of the most important pieces of kitchen equipment. The sort of oven you’ll need is mostly determined by the sort of restaurant you’re opening and the cuisine you’ll be serving. You might not require the same sort of oven as a fine-dining restaurant if you operate a bakery.
Ranges
A range combines a stove with an oven, allowing you to prepare food in several methods at the same time. Boiling, frying, pan-searing, baking, broiling, and roasting are all examples of this. A small venue may only require a two-burner range, but a high-volume venue may require a range with up to 12 burners, allowing for the simultaneous preparation of many meals.
Refrigerators and freezers
You should invest in excellent freezers and refrigerators to keep your food fresh for as long as possible (and to minimize any chance of food safety and health code breaches).
Microwave
Microwaves will be useful for steam cooking, reheating pre-cooked foods, and defrosting.
Read More:
Cuisinart vs Kitchenaid Food Processor: A Detailed Comparison
FAQs (Differentiate Kitchen Tools, Kitchen Utensils And Kitchen Equipment)
What is the safest material for cooking utensils?
Glass, high-quality 304-grade stainless steel, cast iron, and Xtrema ceramic cookware are among the safest materials for cookware and bakeware. Know that highly scratched and pitted stainless steel cookware can allow metals (nickel and chromium) to migrate into food at trace levels.
What are the 4 categories of kitchen equipment?
To summarize, kitchen equipment categories are divided into four types: food storage, food production, maintenance, and special equipment. Knowing the kitchen utensils that fall under these categories will allow you to better organize your kitchen.
How to choose the perfect knife?
Check out this video for an ultimate guide on how to choose the most suitable knife for you:
Conclusion
I hope this article has helped you tell the kitchen tools, kitchen utensils and kitchen equipment apart. Knowing this basic knowledge will make choosing things for your kitchen much easier and less time-consuming. Now, let’s create your dream kitchen full of desirable tools, utensils and equipment!
