Culinary Tools Review

A serrated vegetable peeler is my latest and greatest newly found time-saver in the kitchen. You can peel tomatoes, ripe mangos and papayas, as well as the usual, carrots, potatoes, etc. with this handy little guy. No more boiling water and coring and scoring tomatoes to remove the peels; with a serrated peeler it’s just like peeling a potato. They retail under ten bucks and can be found at your favorite cook store.

As much as I rail against trendy gadgets that, for the most part, replace basic knife and cooking skills, there is one inescapable fact: proper, good quality kitchen ware is essential. Cookware is like wine: if you saw it on TV, it’s probably not the best quality. There are some solid brands of stainless steel cookware that will last a lifetime. When purchasing pots and pans, avoid thin-walled construction, make sure any special surfaces are scratch-proof and if the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

A sharp, well-balanced chef’s knife, along with the skills to use it, is an absolute must. Spend the few extra dollars on sturdy, good quality kitchen tools like spatulas, tongs, wire whisks, peelers, graters, micro planers, serving spoons, etc. Cutting boards should be wood, bamboo or polyethylene; not glass or marble, as hard surfaces will destroy the edge on your knife.

Use this same rule of thumb for small, electric kitchen appliances and bake ware.