Must Have Kitchen Utensils and Equipment

A carpenter or electrician uses specific tools for specific jobs. Although a screwdriver can be used as a hammer you may damage your screwdriver or worse the wall you're hammering on! So having the right tools is important to do a good job.

It's no different for people creating a Healing Kitchen. Proper tools are vital and worth the investment. But what are the basics and how do you pick the ones right for you?

Top Ten Must Have Kitchen Utensils and Equipment

1. Knives-The bare minimum number of knives for the healing kitchen, in my opinion, would have to be three. A good paring knife for fine work, a well balanced and comfortable 8 inch chef's knife for cutting vegetables and meats and a serrated blade for slicing breads, etc. Yes, you could have a lovely set of expensive knives like the chefs on TV, but if you're on a budget these, I feel, are the basics. My favourite knife is my chef's knife purchased at Superstore for thirty dollars. I had been eying a Henkel knife for years at a local butcher shop for $110.00, but when I found this one, with the price being very seductive, I bought, and have not regrettedmy decision. Of course, with a good knife you will also need a sharpening stone. I bought one at a used store for $.50, it works great. Chef Ramsay shows you how to sharpen your knife here on this You Tube video.

2. Wooden Spoons- In my Healing Kitchen I create quite a variety of preserves. Preserves and metal don't always mix well so I use wooden spoons. Why? I can leave the wooden spoon in my preserves for regular stirring without worrying about the handle getting too hot, metal can conduct quite a bit of heat and if you leave the spoon in the pot...ouch! I also use wooden spoons for my stir fries, soups, stews and as attractive, naturally looking serving spoons. If you do use wooden spoons however, you should know that they can be a haven for bacteria so proper care is vital.

    Before using your spoons for the first time give them a good treatment with mineral oil. This cures the spoon to prevent cracking. Vegetable oils may become rancid so mineral oil is best. You can purchase food grade quality oil at most pharmacies. Warm the oil first, then wipe on with a cloth. Leave for a few hours and wipe off any excess oil. Repeat every couple of months.

    Avoid putting your wooden spoons in the dishwasher. The high heat can cause dryness which in turn can lead to cracking and openings for bacteria.

    About once a week I put a few drops of oil of oregano on my spoons, massaging it in well with my fingers (I don't want to waste any on a cloth). Let them sit for a few hours then put away. The oregano acts as a disinfectant, killing bacteria and fungus.

3. Cutting Boards-Never underestimate the importance of having several good cutting boards. When I was a teen, my dad made my mom a beautiful maple cutting board. He pieced strips of quilted maple together and made a work of art. When you cut on it there was no wiggle or slide.  It was solid and at just the right height for cutting comfortably. Mom treated that board like china, oiling it regularly.  She still has it!

    It's a good idea to have at least two cutting boards, one for vegetables, fruit, bread and the like and one for meats. This avoids cross contamination with nasty bacteria from the meats to the veggies. I have an inexpensive plastic board for my meat and a solid, bamboo cutting board. The wooden cutting board needs to be treated similar to the wooden spoon, with mineral oil and oil of oregano. The plastic board can be thrown in the dish washer.

4. Spatula-I went years without a spatula, thinking it was unnecessary, I figured a metal spoon worked just as well. Then for Christmas one year, someone gave me a silicone spatula.  How did I ever get by without one!  For getting every bit of batter out of the bowl nothing works better and the silicone is heat resistant so even if you use it to scrap out the last vestiges of heated sweets, it doesn't melt. They can be purchased with a plastic or wood handle. Avoid putting them in the dishwasher as this could cause dryness in the wood and shorten its lifespan.

5. Food Processor-This is a must have in any Healing Kitchen. For blending humus, nut butter balls, quick salsa or even guacamole, this is the machine to use. However, here's where quality matters. If you are a dedicated foodie cooking everything by hand, most days of the week, the investment in a high end food processor will mean you have that machine for years.You may want to check out this consumer search website to find the one that suits your needs.

6. Hand Held Blender-In the twenty-five years John and I have been married, I have used up three of these little babies! When the kids were babies I used it to mush up food. As they got older I used it to mix quick smoothies, now I use it to blend creamy soups, stews and delicious protein drinks.Check out this article for a more detailed description of what you can use hand held blenders for.

7. Coffee Grinder-We don't drink coffee so our coffee grinder needs a new name, more like: spice blender, flour maker, porridge creator, nut mill, and a host of other names. This is a multi-use tool that is indispensable in the Healing Kitchen. In the morning I can make a quick, freshly ground batch of cream of rice by pulsing 1/2 cup of basmati brown rice. You can't get any fresher than that! In the evening, when preparing a delicious curry, I pan roast my herbs, then blend them up in my grinder. For cinnamon toast, nothing tastes more spicy and rich as freshly ground cinnamon! The list goes on. I make quick oat flour to add to breads, cookies, etc., by grinding stone group oats or large flake oats in my grinder. When making nut meal, nothing works faster than the hand blender! The model I purchased had a small brush included to help clean around the blades and a safety start button that won't start the grinding process until the lid is properly locked. It only cost me $25.00, but is one of those tools that I use at least four times a week.

9. Vita-Mix-Yes, you can get cheaper blenders, but they aren't the Vita-Mix. This machine makes ice cream, soups, juices, flour, etc. It's versatile, easy to clean and indispensable. I purchased one before my youngest was born in 1989, I still have it. I made ice cream, nut butter, ground flour, blended juices, and more. With my daughter's many allergies it was a life saver as I could make her special treats like sunflower milk shakes. The only drawback with the Vita-Mix is the noise level. They are loud! Last year our local health food store hosted a contest where the winning entry was a Vita-Mix. Guess who won? Yep, yours truly. My daughter commented on the fact that when she moves out in a year she'd probably get the new one.  I don't know, I like having two!

10. Slow cooker-After a long day of running after kids or from work, it's wonderful to walk in to a house filled with the aroma of a deliciously rich slow cooked meal. I have put a whole frozen chicken in the large slow cooker in the morning with some water and a couple of bouillon cubes, added potatoes and veggies half way through the day and ended up with the most delicious stew my family has ever tasted. Simple! Beans cook up beautifully in the slow cooker and with some beans, you don't even have to soak them overnight. I like easy and simple. Check out the best buys here.

    If you're like me and live in your kitchen, get the right tools. Spend a bit more money on higher quality and reap the benefits. You don't need a ton of kitchen gadgets, just get the basics and make sure they are top quality. You don't want to attempt making flour with a hammer do you?