The only thing worse than wasting a precious counter or a cupboard space is to waste money over it. No one knows it better than professional chefs, which is why I asked several best culinary professionals on cooking tools to jump and what to use instead.
Instead of giving in to gadgets, it is smarter to build your kitchen around reliable multifunctional equipment. We asked the chefs and the cuisine of the pros which gadgets they consider completely useless – and which tools really draw their weight around the kitchen. If you are ready to unclutter and rationalize your space, knowing what not to buy is just as important as you know what to keep.
These career cooks are the ultimate authority on which kitchen gadgets should get the boot – especially when the closet, counter and drawer area is limited. Everyone has listed their least favorite kitchen tools and offered their favorite method or tool to accomplish the cooking task that it is supposed to do.
Masaharu Morimoto
Famous chef, restaurateur
Masaharu Morimoto shared his choice for the most overrated kitchen tool.
1. Mandolin
Chef Morimoto encourages the strengthening of your knife skills to make slim and uniform vegetable slices.
For what: “Although it brings good slices, mastering the appropriate knife skills gives you more control, precision and long-term security. Mandolins can be bulky, difficult to clean and risky if you are not extremely careful. Takes too much on a mandolin, or tools like a two-in-one or a tomato cup can remember from the development of the real technique.
What to try instead: 8 -inch mac Japanese chef knife.
Eric Rowse
Main Institute of the Culinary Education Chefs, Los Angeles
The Eric Rowse culinary instructor is experiencing a gadget kitchen tool when he sees one.
2.
For what: “These resemble a weapon for the aspirants Wolverine; it is supposed to help you hold a whole onion and to” chop “. Instead, cut the onion in half to create a flat surface so that it does not roll. If you try to cut the rings, save the $ 14 and glue a fork in the root and hold the fork.”
What to try instead: Learn to properly decide an old -fashioned onion.
3. Onion goggles
Save your money – and a certain dignity – and jump on the onion glasses.
For what: “A waste of money, because they do not form an excellent seal around the eyes to prevent the compounds of sulfur from reaching your eyes and getting cry. Keep your knife and open a window or light a fan instead.”
What to try instead: Peter Butler of Cnet Share advice to cut the onions without crying.
4. Cutting plates in metal, glass, stone and acrylic
The glass, stone and metal boards are ok to serve, but during the slice and clears, the wood is the way to follow.
For what: “Cut on hard surfaces is Bad for your knives; Instead, opt for wood or poly. “”
What to try instead: Our list of The best cutting boards offers many knife options.
5. Childder Pouleur
For what: “I cannot think of anyone who needs a tool dedicated to chicken shredding outside a restaurant and even restaurants do not use it. This article has only one goal, so I would jump it.”
What to try instead: Two forks.
6. Strip in herbs
For what: “I love thyme but I hate to remove it. When I was young, I made myself believe that this tool would help me … He has been sitting in my closet, laughing at me for almost a decade now.”
What to try instead: For more hearts herbs Like rosemary and thyme, simply use your fingers to slide on the stem, in front of the growth of the leaves.
7. Wireless Bluetooth thermometer Probe
Instant reading meat probes operate quickly and do not require a picky Bluetooth connection.
For what: “These are an excellent tool but can be very expensive. I can be lost, break, drop, accidentally throw away or drop it into the coals.”
What to try instead:: Lightning Thermopro instant reading thermometer
Peter like
Author of cooking books and lifestyle expert
The author of the Cooking Book Peter Som did not retain when he asked him questions about his least favorite cooking tools.
8. Electric Open
An opener’s manual is cheaper, works very well and is less likely to break.
For what: “Most of us have grown up with an electric opener-parked on the kitchen counter, as if it were a vital device. But truly, they are more nostalgia than need. They take up space, can be a compact to clean and often struggles with irregular work or a good manual manual.”
What to try instead:: Oxo-gently handle.
Richard Ingraham
Dwyane chief of Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union and author of Love: my love expressed through food
Richard Ingraham avoids certain cooking tools when cooking for celebrities like Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union.
9. Slicent at Avocado
For what: “A knife and a spoon do the job just as easily and the specialized tool rarely adapts to all the avocado sizes. It is a pony in a turn that cottates drawers.”
What to try instead: A good automatic knife like This Wusthof of $ 35.
10. Egg separator
The separation of an egg by hand is not as difficult as it requires equipment.
For what: “A tool just to separate the yolks is not necessary for most cooks at home.” The only exception can be this oneAnd even it’s just for the yolks. Uh, I mean Yucks.
What to try instead: Crack an egg and use the halves of the shell or your fingers works as well.
11. Garlic paint tube
For what: “Rounding of garlic cloves in a silicone tube can work but requires storing a single -use gadget.”
What to try instead: Kissing cloves of garlic with a chef’s knife is faster and more reliable.
12. Scissors pizza
The ungrateful chef says he skips the scissors of the Pizza evening.
For what: “A pizza cup or a knife works better and faster. These scissors are gimmicky, clumsy to clean and take up more space than they are worth.”
What to try instead:: Kitchenaid stainless steel pizza wheel.
13. Herbs scissors
For what: “They are difficult to clean and do not offer a huge advantage on the knife of a sharp chief. In addition, they tend to crush delicate herbs more than slice them.”
What to try instead:: 8 -inch chief knife made in.
14. Electric egg cooker
For what: “The boiled eggs in a jar are simple and flexible. The electric version simply adds jumbles unless you constantly do eggs and hate using a stove.”
What to try instead: This 1 minute hack To make poached eggs in the microwave.
15. Cutter and butter distributor
A good butter knife works as well and requires less space and maintenance.
For what: “It contrasts butter sticks in tapping … But why? A knife works instantly, and you don’t have to load and clean a plastic gadget for that.”
What to try instead:: Blade of Breakfast butter Williams Sonoma.
16.
For what: “It’s a plastic disc with holes to tell you how many spaghetti cooks.
What to try instead: A cooking ladder For specific measures.
17. Oil sir
For what: “Often obstructed, spray unevenly and requires constant cleaning. A small spoon or brush does the job with less frustration.”
What to try instead:: Olive oil raw on the world market.
18. Electric peeler
A peeler of pointed vegetables is everything you need to skin a lot of potatoes.
For what: “Takes a surprising quantity of space and slower signs than an ordinary peeler. In addition, it is exaggerated unless you lure dozens of potatoes at the same time.”
What to try instead:: Oxo swivel peeler.
19. Bagel Guillotine
For what: “Sold as a safer way to decide the bagels but takes a ton of space and is embarrassing to clean. A serrated knife does the job very well.”
What to try instead:: 8 -inch Opinel bread knife.
Jackie Carnesi
Executive chief, Kellogg’s dinner
Jackie Carnesi
20. Four mitts
There is a reason why pro chefs do not use the oven gloves.
For what: “Four mittens are the most useless element in a home kitchen! Robust cuisine does the same job, and it is likely, it is more likely to be washed regularly. I do not know many people who wash their oven girons quite frequently … It seems that many have considered it an article which does not justify regular cleaning.” This is the case. “
What to try instead: Store a plethora of Kitchen towels.
