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Chef’s toolbox
37
items I enjoy cooking and especially charcoal grilling so unfortunately I can’t really do that here in NYC but luckily I got my fill of that back when I lived in the suburbs. Still everyone has a different dishes and cuisine so tools may vary. These in the...
Sections
4
Basic kitchen essentials
My additions
Butane cooking
Backyard cooking
Basic kitchen essentials
One of the three essential pans to have, stainless steel, cast iron, and a nonstick. This one is a cheaper alternative to all-clad. Since their patent to their triply system is expired you can get similar quality for cheaper like this. No need to go ...
Tramontina Signature 12-Inch Frying Pan
Cast iron is fantastic. Great for getting that sear as it gets way hotter but they are heavy and the rubber handle does wear down and get loose over time. You’ll need to learn some techniques to take care of this but it gets better over time and gets...
Lodge 10.25" Cast Iron Skillet with Red Handle
It’s always good to have a nonstick pan as it takes away the hassle of stainless and cast iron. I wouldn’t spend more than this on a nonstick as they should be replaced when the coating starts to come off.
OXO Good Grips 12" Hard Anodized Skillet
When you’re buying a knife you’ll need to which type you prefer as your main knife. A chefs knife or a santoku. These differ from the curvature of the knife and it’ll vary based on your preferred cutting technique. Santoku for an up and down motion a...
Tojiro Professional Santoku Knife 6.7"
This is a classic chefs knife. More of a curvature but some things are easier to cut with a rocking motion so it’s also nice to have on hand not definitely not a necessity.
Victorinox 45520 Fibrox Pro 8-Inch Chef's
Nice board without having so spend hundreds on a giant wooden block. I’ll eventually upgrade to one when my kitchen has enough space to have one but in the meantime this one fits my criteria. Please stay away from glass cutting boards and metal espec...
BOUMBI Hinoki Wood Reversible Cutting Board
It’s a fish turner but i use it as a spatula. Just avoid using this on nonstick and be gentile on cast iron as it can ruin the seasoning if you scrape at it too hard (you’ll have to strip and re-season the whole thing)
OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Fish Turner
Y peelers are superior. Feels better in the hand and just easier to maneuver whatever you want to peel.
OXO Good Grips Y-Peeler
Fancy salt pig for quick access to salt when you cook. Don’t worry about it being exposed as nothing will grow in it since it’s salt.
Emile Henry 4" Salt Pig |Clay
Get this salt holder if you don’t like the open concept design. Really nice accept piece in the kitchen and it has a lid to keep anything from dripping in.
ZERO JAPAN Salt Box White 15oz 420ml
It’s a strainer, keeps things you don’t want out that’s pretty much it. It’s fine mesh so a pain to clean but very useful getting things out
Hiware Stainless Steel Fat Skimmer Spoon
Essential in a kitchen. These are great but get any that fit your budget and use case. Must have for cooking
Cuisinart CTG-00-12TNG 12-Inch Tongs
This one is on the expensive side but well worth the investment. It uses a battery so it last a long time and the temperature is near instant so you can probe multiple spots without worrying if it’s still calibrating like some of the cheaper models.
Thermapen® ONE
My additions
I’ve literally had a zojirushi rice cooker everywhere I lived. Grew up with it and it makes fantastic rice. Just rise it out and get rid of some of that starch to make it better. This one is a premium one that looks way nicer but only comes in Japane...
ZOJIRUSHI NW-SA10-WA IH Rice Cooker 5.5go
Gotta have rice around if you’re investing so much in a rice cooker. This stores it and comes with a lid so you don’t need to keep a separate measuring cup around. These “cups” are not standard cups so don’t use that as a guide!
TBMax 4 Lbs Rice Storage Container Grey
The 5.5/6qt is what I would recommend getting. Only reason I’d get it from their official site is the selection of color, otherwise Costco is definitely the way to go with their warranty though You’ll probably not need it.
Bowl-Lift Stand Mixers
Splatter guard and also keeps unwanted turning of food *cough bacon*. Size is adjustable so you can use it from any size pot and pan. There’s a little ring on the top to move it but it gets hot so i usually just scoop it with a fork
Shimomura Tamahashi FO-1 Drop Lid 5.5-9.1in
These are a mix of a cotton towel and a paper towel. Strong enough to be rough with it and you can just throw it in the top rack of the dish washer and it’ll come out clean. I still use paper towel to clean really nasty stuff as I don’t want that mix...
Nordhus Large Swedish Dishcloths 10 Pack Grey
It’s a giant chopstick I use to handle more delicate things I can’t grasp as easily with a tong. Longer so I’m not directly exposed to heat or oil if I’m frying.
Donxote Wooden Noodles Frying Chopsticks 16.5"
Very sharp so be careful. Very compact but I’d recommend putting it something else so the blade isn’t exposed.
Benriner Mandoline Slicer w/ 4 Blades, Stainless
Clean the cast iron without fear of damaging it
Lodge ACM10R41 Scrubbing pad, One, Red
I’m sure there are other ones out there but this one I’ve used and it works. I don’t really care for the reduced soap feature but it’s great for cutting into the grease of hard to clean areas since it’s a brush and it’s easy to grip.
Full Circle Bubble Up Bamboo Dish Brush & Soap Dispenser Set
I use this drain stopper for the sink. Keeps the food from going down the drain but I wish the basket was a little more durable
BAOLSLS 3-in-1 Kitchen Sink Stopper & Strainer
Perfect for frying. This has a thermometer to monitor temperature and an upper dome that catches most of the oil splatter. Keeping the temp at the right level when frying is essential to keep it from absorbing the oil or burning the batter. Just make...
Yoshikawa SJ1025 Tempura Pot w/ Lid & Thermometer
Gotta store fly oil somewhere and I find this the best.
Tellshun Bacon Grease Container 1.25L SS
Seals the mason jars to make them airtight. Great for storing things so they keep their freshness.
Electric Mason Cordless Vacuum Sealer Kit
Everything machine needs power even these machine we don’t use all the time. Stick this to the back and wrap up the cable for a cleaner look.
Upgraded Kitchen Cord Organizer for Appliances
This was really the only product that fit my requirements for a small meat slicer. I’ve only used it a few times so at least it works. Honestly I’d say just buy what you need from a market or get an industrial version if you really need to slice meat...
Foldable Electric Meat Slicer with 6.7" Blade
Butane cooking
This is expensive but for a reason - this line of Iwatani stovetop is wind proof and it has a consistent burn till the canister is empty. This is something that cheaper ones don’t address and you just have small fire till it runs out or you waste the...
Iwatani 35FW Single-Burner Butane Cooktop
This one has the same tech but not wind proof. I use this one in my nyc apartment since it’s smaller and I’m not dealing with wind
Iwatani EPR Cassette Feu-EcoPremium Butane Stove
This is a tray I use to grill at home. Doesn’t get exposed to flame so it’s not as flavorful but it does the job. There is a spout that drains the oil so no need to worry about that when cooking and eating.
TECHEF Korean BBQ Nonstick Grill Pan
If you like to grill kbbq style then this is for you. Keep some water to maintain moisture and grill over the fire. Just don’t use this inside as it can get smokey when the fat drips into the fire. Learned that the hard way when I set off the smoke d...
Iwatani Korean Aburi Stove Top Grill Pan
Backyard cooking
If you got space this is the one to go. The 22in is too small and the heating elements aren’t designed as well compared to this one. You ca create more zones to move food around as you cook
36" Griddles
This is the tried and true standard charcoal grill. There are reviews, guides, and recs all over for this one.
Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill 22"
This addition makes grilling and smoking so much better. This tray contains the charcoal which is nothing new but has a pocket for water to create a nice hot steam to keep the food moist. Simple concept but what a game changer.
SnS Grills Slow ‘N Sear® Deluxe Insert - 22in
This one is priced but I really like this one. One thing that Weber really overlooks is the placement of their thermometer and the vent holes. To create a nice flow of air when covering the grill the vent should be on the other side where the food is...
Slow 'N Sear SnS 22" Charcoal Kettle Grill
Lighting charcoal can be a pain but this makes it so much easier. Throw charcoal in chimney, find some (paper / wood chips / whatever that lights easily) and place it under the chimney. Light the fire then boom your charcoal will be properly lit. Add...
Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter, Standard, Silver