WHAT TO LOOK FOR Flashcards
What to look for: chef’s knife
- High-carbon stainless steel knife
- Thin, curved 8-inch blade
- Lightweight
- Comfortable grip and nonslip handle.
What to look for: paring knife
- 3 to 3-1/2 inch blade
- Thin, slightly curved blade with pointed tip
- Comfortable grip
What to look for: serrated knife
- 10 to 12-inch blade.
- Long, somewhat flexible, slightly curved blade.
- Pointed serrations that are uniformly spaced and moderately sized.
What to look for: slicing knife
- Tapered 12-inch blade for slicing large cuts of meat.
- Oval scallops (called grantor edge) carved into blade.
- Fairly rigid glad with round tip.
What to look for: cutting board
- Roomy work surface at least 15 by 20 inches.
- Teak board for minimal maintenance.
- Durable edge-grain construction (wood grain runs parallel to surface of board)
What to look for: knife sharpener
- Diamond sharpening material for electric sharpeners.
- Easy to use and comfortable.
- Clear instructions.
What to look for: traditional skillets
- Stainless steel interior, fully clad for even heat distribution.
- 12-inch diameter and flared sides.
- Comfortable, oven safe handle.
- Cooking surface of at least 9 inches.
- Good to have smaller (8 or 9-inch) skillets too.
What to look for: nonstick skillets
- Dark, nonstick surface.
- 12 or 12 1/2-inch diameter, thick bottom.
- Comfortable, oven safe handle.
- Cooking surface of at least 9 inches.
- Good to have smaller (8 or 10-inch) skillets too.
What to look for: Dutch oven
- Enameled cast iron or stainless steel
- Capacity of at least 6 quarts.
- Diameter of at least 9 inches.
- Tight-fitting lid.
- Wide, sturdy handles.
What to look for: saucepans
- Large saucepan with 3 to 4-quart capacity and small nonstick saucepan with 2 to 2 1/2-quart capacity.
- Tight-fitting lids.
- Pans with rounded corners that a whisk can reach into.
- Long, comfortable handles that are angled for even weight distribution.
What to look for: rimmed baking sheets
- Light-colored surface (heats and browns evenly).
- Thick, sturdy pan.
- Dimension of 18 by 13 inches.
- Good to have at least two.
What to look for: roasting pan
- At least 15 by 11 inches.
- Stainless steel interior with aluminum core for even heat distribution.
- Upright handles for easy gripping.
- Light interior for better food monitoring.
- Fixed V-rack with tall handles.
What to look for: tongs
- Scalloped edges
- Slightly concave pincers
- 12 inches in length (to keep your hand for from heat)
- Open and close easily.
What to look for: wooden spoon
- Slim yet broad bowl
- Stain-resistant bamboo
- Comfortable handle
What to look for: slotted spoon
- Deep bowl
- Long handle
- Enough holes for quick draining
What to look for: all-around spatulas
- head about 3-inches wide and 5 1/2 inches long.
- 11 inches in length (tip to handle).
- Long, vertical slots.
- Useful to have a metal spatula to use with traditional cookware and a plastic spatula for non-stick cookware.
What to look for: rubber spatula
- Wide, stiff blade with edges that’s flexible enough to conform a curve of a mixing bowl.
- Heatproof
What to look for: all-purpose whisk
- At least 10 wires
- Wires of moderate thickness
- Comfortable handle
- Balanced, lightweight feel.
What to look for: garlic press
- Large capacity that holds multiple garlic cloves
- Curved plastic handles
- Long and short distance between pivot point and plunger
What to look for: pepper mill
- At least 1/2-cup capacity
- Wide, unobstructed filler doors
- Easy to adjust grind settings
What to look for: can opener
- Intuitive and easy to attach
- Smooth turning motions
- Magnet for no-touchlid disposal
- Comfortable handle
What to look for: vegetable peeler
- Sharp, carbon steel blade
- 1-inch space between blade and peeler to prevent jamming
- Lightweight and comfortable