When it comes to cooking, you aren’t going to get very far without the right tools and utensils. There are lots of different options when it comes to cooking utensils and it largely depends on what you’re cooking when it comes to getting the right ones.
From wooden spoons and metal spoons to spatulas… it’s quite overwhelming to know what you need when you don’t even know where to start.
Luckily for you, we have compiled a list of different utensils you can use in this article. Read on to find out all you need to know about the different types of utensils available to you, what they are good for and how you use them. By the end of this article, you will be a cooking utensils master!
Let’s Start With Spoons
If you’re spending a lot of time mixing and/or baking, spoons are an important tool for you to have in your kitchen. But did you know that there are a few different types of spoons for different jobs? Read on to find out all about them!
Wooden Spoons
Let’s start with a classic: Wooden spoons. These types of spoons are usually the most popular to have in your kitchen.
They have been around for such a long time and avid cooking enthusiasts swear by them. They are usually made from a hard, lightweight wood that can vary from oak to maple to beech to walnut.
Wooden spoons are great because they are so versatile. They don’t get hot when you’re cooking at high temperatures, and because there is no metal on them at all, you don’t need to wear a protective oven glove when stirring.
Because wood is quite a soft material, wooden spoons are also good for scraping or stirring non-stick finishes, glass, and porcelain.
You don’t have to worry about damaging these surfaces with a wooden spoon. Regardless of what you are cooking, a wooden spoon is vital to have in your kitchen.
Metal Spoons
These spoons aren’t as versatile as wooden spoons, but they are great utensils to have in the kitchen. Metal spoons are stronger and more durable than wooden spoons, as well as being easier to clean. They are great for serving food and also for scraping off old food on other cookware.
But the downside to metal spoons is that they can scrape and damage non-stick pans and other related materials. It’s in your best interest not to use them in tandem with this cookware. Metal spoons are best for cast-iron pans as well as uncoated metal surfaces.
Do not use metal spoons for anything that will give off a lot of heat. If you do, you’ll end up burning yourself. The metal heats up the longer it’s exposed to the heat.
Silicone Spoons
Silicone spoons are a lesser-known type of cooking spoon that is starting to become more and more popular. The reason silicone spoons are becoming more popular is that the food-grade silicone is designed to be heat and stain-resistant. They are also non-reactive and non-corrosive.
They are versatile and extremely good for working with food. They are also dishwasher friendly, so you won’t have to worry about cleaning them.
The main downside to silicone spoons is that if they are low-quality silicone, they are usually made with fillers. Silicone fillers can completely compromise the material’s longevity and overall performance and they can break faster.
Luckily, you can test if your silicone spoon is made with fillers yourself. If you gently twist or pinch the spoon and white starts to show through, then your silicone spoon is made with fillers.
If you do decide to use a silicone spoon, make sure you invest in a high-quality one. It may cost a little bit more, but for the versatility of silicone spoons in the kitchen, it’s worth it.
Slotted Spoons
Slotted spoons are different from normal spoons because they have slots or holes in them, hence the name! These spoons are usually used for things like draining out liquid from solid spoons.
If you’re making a vegetable gravy and you want to separate the vegetables from the gravy broth, slotted spoons are a good choice to use.
Slotted spoons come in a variety of different materials and styles, so you’ll want to look into the different types and weigh out the pros and cons when choosing the best one for you and your kitchen.
Choosing The Right Spatula
Now that we’ve covered everything you need to know about the different types of cooking spoons you can get, let’s talk about spatulas!
These are other essential cooking utensils you need in your kitchen, but did you know that there are a lot of different types?
They go by different names depending on the use and material, so icing spreaders, metal flippers, and silicone scrapers are all different types of spatulas! So let’s get into the different types and why they are ideal for your kitchen.
Metal Spatulas
More commonly known as metal flippers or just flippers, metal spatulas are the type of spatulas you’ll see and use when flipping things like burgers or pancakes. They are available in a solid form as well as slotted.
If you cook a lot of things that require flipping, metal spatulas are a utensil you’ll want in your kitchen. They are thin enough for you to hold with no issues but strong enough to flip large, flat items.
Another great addition to metal spatulas is that they usually have wooden or rubber handles, so they deal with heat transfer really well and you can work with hot food without the worry of burning yourself. The metal spatula is a very popular utensil and a great one to have in your kitchen.
Plastic Spatulas
You may know them by the name of flippers, but their true name is “plastic spatula”. They are pretty much the same as metal spatulas, but they are made from plastic instead.
This option of the spatula isn’t as popular or common to find in the kitchen because when they are exposed to higher heat and temperatures, the plastic can warp and melt.
Their main benefit is that they are great when you’re working with a lot of non-stick surfaces, but if you’re planning on doing a lot of flipping, you’ll want to stick with the metal spatulas.
Silicone Spatulas
You’ll probably know them by their more common name “scrapers”. Silicone scrapers aren’t used for flipping burgers, but they are absolutely ideal if you’re trying to scrape cake or brownie batter out of a bowl.
If you’re a baker, you’ll want a silicone spatula in your arsenal. They are designed to ensure all food is scraped out of their containers as they form a seal with the side of your pan or bowl. Silicone spatulas work with all materials and surfaces, from older mixing bowls to the best grade of cast iron.
Icing Spatulas
Icing spatulas are also known as offset spatulas. This type of spatula will only really be ideal for bakers rather than savory food chefs, so if you do bake, you absolutely need an icing spatula in your kitchen.
Whereas you could just use a knife to spread your icing, icing spatulas provide a more precise and accurate way of spreading the icing.
You can get icing spatulas in a variety of materials such as silicone, plastic, and metal materials. Do some extra research to work out which one is best for you.
You Can’t Forget About Whisks
What’s a kitchen without a whisk? Though a whisk is an essential cooking utensil to have in your kitchen, you may not know that there are a number of different types of whisks you can get.
From metal to silicone, to flat to balloon, we’ll go over some of the best types of whisks you can add to your kitchen here!
Metal Vs. Silicone
Starting off, we’re going to talk about the difference between metal and silicone whisks. Metal whisks are the general and most popular type of whisk you can use. Because they are metal, they have a bit more force behind them and they are ideal for making sure your mixture is whisked to perfection.
Silicone whisks on the other hand are actually just metal whisks with a silicone coating. They are better for non-stick finishes because they are more gentle and are less likely to scrape against any surface. Though they are a good choice, they aren’t as effective as standard metal whisks.
Balloon Whisk
Balloon whisks are the most common type of whisk you’ll find in a kitchen. If already own a whisk, it’ll likely be a balloon whisk.
They are great for everyday whisking use. If your balloon whisk has thick wires, it will be able to whisk thicker mixes, such as pancake batter, with ease.
French Whisk
The French whisk is similar to the balloon whisk, but it has a more tapered shape. It’s more closely placed and thinner than a balloon whisk, making it ideal for things like salad dressings and sauces. It’s not ideal for thicker and denser batters though.
French whisks are the other most common whisk you’ll find in a kitchen, so you’ve likely already got one or you’ve come across one before.
Ball Whisk
The ball whisk is quite unique in the way it looks. Instead of a wire cage, it is completely straight with little balls on the end.
A ball whisk is ideal for breaking up things like eggs, blending them from their more solid structure into a liquid with ease. Another great benefit to the ball whisk is that it’s much easier to clean than a balloon or French whisk.
Flat Whisk
Flat whisks do have a wire cage, but it’s completely flat, hence the name! Because it’s flat, it can move around the sides of a bowl or pan with ease.
This is especially helpful if you’re whisking something that has flour in it because it will pick up all of the flour, rather than allowing any of it to get loose. It works well for any dry ingredients though, not just flour!
Coil Whisk
These whisks are also called the “galaxy whisk” or the “spring whisk” because they resemble both a galaxy and a bedspring.
This is one of the less common whisks you’ll find in an everyday kitchen, but if you’re mixing things a lot and in smaller quantities, you’ll want to consider bringing a coil whisk into your arsenal.
A unique feature of the coil whisk is that it can blend things in a cup rather than a bowl, so if you’re making homemade hot chocolate or chocolate milk, this is an ideal whisk to have.
Dough Whisk
The dough whisk has a bit of a surreal look to it, being one long, thick looping piece of wire. It almost doesn’t look like a whisk at all!
If you haven’t already guessed by the name, a dough whisk is perfect for mixing and blending thick bread and pastry doughs.
If you’re an avid bread or pastry maker, the dough whisk is absolutely essential for your kitchen! They will make your life a whole lot easier and will save you a bit of time when you’re mixing your bread or pastry dough.
A Kitchen Needs Its Knives
We can’t really wrap up an article called “Best Cooking Utensils” without including knives! There are so many different types of knives you can get specifically for the kitchen, they deserve a whole article dedicated just to them really!
We can’t really wrap up an article called “Best Cooking Utensils” without including knives! There are so many different types of knives you can get specifically for the kitchen, they deserve a whole article dedicated just to them really! But we will give a brief rundown of the different and best knives you should have in your kitchen here!
Chef Knife
The Chef knife is a long, curved blade that gives it the ability to rock back and forth on a chopping board, making chopping a whole lot easier. It is a versatile knife that can be used for a lot of things in the kitchen, so it’s essential to have one for yourself.
Utility Knife
Though it’s similar in shape to the Chef knife, it’s a lot smaller. The utility knife is most ideal for chopping up smaller foods and vegetables, making chopping up these smaller foods easier and more efficient.
They are great for complimenting other knives. The utility knife is great to use in tandem with other knives, rather than using it as your main one.
Paring Knife
Like the utility knife, the paring knife is small and used for precision. It is ideal for cutting up fruits and vegetables, but it can be used for many different food prep tasks.
Though they may be small, paring knives have no issues working with harder foods such as potatoes. They can also be used for peeling, trimming, and removing seeds.
Bread Knife
Bread knives are long and rather big, but not as thick as the Chef knives. They are primarily used for slicing thick bread, hence the name, but they can also be used for slicing up things like cakes with soft and fluffy textures.
The bread knife is extremely versatile in the types of bread you can use it for. From crusty bread to bagels, to baguettes to bread rolls, if you have some bread that needs cutting, a bread knife is the most ideal knife you can use.
If you use another style of knife for this job, it’s likely to ruin the shape of the bread or cut it unevenly, whereas bread knives are literally designed for cutting bread.
Other Essential Cooking Utensils For Your Kitchen
There are many other cooking utensils that you most definitely need to have in your kitchen. Though they haven’t had their own sections in this article, here’s a list of some of the other best cooking utensils you should consider adding to your kitchen if you don’t already have them:
- Tongs
- Grater
- Potato Masher
- Ladle
- Basting Spoon
- Strainer
- Measuring Cups & Spoons
- Garlic Press
- Pizza Cutter
- Cooking Utensil Holder
- Cheese Knife
- Tea Strainer
If you want to go the full 9 yards with having the best cooking utensils, these are the extra ones you’ll want. They come in a variety of different materials and sizes and lots of them can be compared in the same way the different spoon materials can.
Do some research into these utensils, get a good feel for the type of cooking or baking you mostly do and you’ll know exactly which cooking utensils you’ll need.
Conclusion
So as you can see, there are a lot of different cooking utensils that exist. Most of them you’ve heard of or seen, but some of them might not be so obvious.
Everything we’ve covered in this article we think is the best and most essential cooking utensils you should have in your kitchen.
You may have to do a bit of extra research and you may have to trial and error some of the materials, but once you know which are best for you and your cooking methods, you’ll be an unstoppable force in the kitchen!
