8 Cheap Kitchen Tools I Use All the Time
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- Опубліковано 18 чер 2024
- Today, I'm going to cover 8 cheap kitchen tools that I think are underrated, but I use them all the time that make me a better cook. Let's begin.
Amazon Links to everything mentioned in this video:
- Micrograter: amzn.to/3vvWjoQ
- FIFO Squirt bottle: amzn.to/3e97K09
- Snap on squirt bottle: amzn.to/3aQCuki
- Box grater: amzn.to/3aQ3Tms
- Mortar & pestle: amzn.to/2PAFNVr
- Small glass bowls: amzn.to/3t6cqb9
- Aluminum pizza screen: amzn.to/2RsuCOU
- Bench scraper: amzn.to/3gPc5af
- Smooth edge can opener: amzn.to/2Rq80yQ
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USEFUL KITCHEN GEAR
🌡Thermapen Thermometer: www.thermoworks.com/Thermapen-...
🥌 Budget Whetstone for sharpening: amzn.to/31MlFDf
🧂 Salt Pig: amzn.to/37Xi5XZ
⚖ Scale: amzn.to/2Cu5HmP
🍴 Budget 8-inch Chef's knife: amzn.to/2QLYvWr
🔪 Nicer 8-inch Chef Knife: amzn.to/2W06SR1
🧲 Magnetic Knife Rack: amzn.to/2YYs5ML
🥘 Cast iron griddle: amzn.to/2BGS5oo
📄 Baking Sheet: amzn.to/3aE9dq3
🛒 Wire Rack: amzn.to/2YeC9lM
🍳 Saucepan: amzn.to/3gBjmY3
🪓 Woodcutting board: amzn.to/2Qkw1UQ
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0:00 Intro
0:32 Microplane
1:03 Squirt bottle - two typees
1:41 Box grater
2:17 Mortar & pestle
2:47 Small glass bowls
3:13 Aluminum pizza screen
3:48 Bench scraper
4:23 Smooth edge can opener
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MISC. DETAILS
Music: Provided by Epidemic Sound
Filmed on: Sony a6600 & Sony A6400 w/ Sigma 16mm F1.4
Voice recorded on Zoom H4n with Behringer Mic
Edited in: Premiere Pro
Affiliate Disclosure:
Ethan is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to [Amazon.com](amazon.com/) and affiliated sites.
FYI for everyone on a budget- The small glass prep bowls, squirt bottles and bench scraper are all available at the Dollar Tree. The small glass bowls come in a set of 3 and squirt bottles come in a set of 2.
I also like the silicone pastry brush at the dollar store. Melted butter/egg wash/milk/olive oil and garlic. Easy to wash.
If you are near a restaurant supply store that can also be a very cheap option. I grab the squirt bottles at about a dollar a pop.
You can get little dessert cups at Costco that come in little glass cups. Buy the deserts and get keep the cups for kitchen prep.
I also use the tiny plastic containers at dollar tree for prep. Three to a pack as well, I believe. But I have been meaning to get some of the glass ones too.
I think I've even seen a micro grater there too!
Thank you for this! I'd love a part 2 where we can see what you use to cook with: pots, pans, utensils and such.
I think you can see a lot of that in Ethan's organization videos. I binge-watched quite a few today and definitely saw quite a bit about his almost minimalistic Utensil Usage.
He cooks with all that stuff
One of the most valuable tools for me has definitely been a food thermometer. Without a doubt. I screwed up a LOT before I got one.
Same here. My thermapen is the MVP of the kitchen
100% agree. I tried to hit tools I hadn't covered in other video!
@@EthanChlebowski a tad expesnive tho.
Thermapen is the best thing I've bought this year. Also, just made your Brioche buns and they were amazing, so thanks dude.@@EthanChlebowski
2:12 I see you Ethan and your puns. Box Grater, "Very Grate Item to Have"
The only supreme tool I would like in my kitchen is Ethan Chlebowski. 💖
simp
U r kinky
SO you're calling him a tool?!
Pay 30k and you can get one!
r/murderedbywords
I reuse a Sriracha bottle for my oils. The tip can be adjusted from drips to a squirt. Precise control of oil is a nice feature, even better it was free.
How adjust
That's a great idea! Totally going to do that.
Microplane tip: If you use it "upside down" you can see exactly where on the citrus you still need to zest and the trough fills up with zest so you can tell how much you've accumulated. Much more accurate and efficient.
A tip: empty plastic ice cream containers are like the perfect containers both for storing food and to hold ingredients during prep.
They come with a lid, they stack inside of each other, they're easy to wash and reuse and you get them by eating ice cream. What's not to like?
Plastic ice cream containers? Like Talenti gelato?
@@kaypotter9097 talenti containers are my shit but they don't nest so I don't know which ice cream this guy is referring to
The folks I live with save any empty plastic container, especially any of the multiple country crock spread containers. Or containers from chinese food. Very useful to have around.
Margarine/olive spread containers here. They stack in the freezer almost perfectly
@@spazzwazzle uh oh the cool UA-camR arrived! What's up buddy!
i can enjoy that kind of can opener with ALL MY HEART. they're a game changer. worth their money in every aspect!
Such a good list! My one tweak would be metal bowls instead of glass. I tend to drop things and like how resilient and light-weight metal bowls are. I'm not worried about chipping the edges either. I might add a set of flexible cutting boards to an essentials list too; they make moving ingredients around really easy, keeping meat and veg separate, and cleaning up after a multi-ingredient prep super easy.
Tip from Chef Jean-Pierre: Hold the lemon/orange fixed while scraping with the micrograter on top. That way, you can easily control that you only grate the zest and none of the bitter pith (the white stuff under the skin).
That smooth edge can opener also allows you to put the top back onto a can that you havent completely used, like tomato paste...or pet food.
Time to follow up with Moderate and Expensive Kitchen Tools videos next!
i don't feel like there are any except maybe waffle maker etc.
@@AdamHildebrandt-qq1ti Good point, I just removed the number now, but a Kitchen-Aid Mixer is certainly a great tool to have and opens up a lot of other easier methods to cook otherwise difficult and laborious things.
Under $25,
Under $50,
Under $75
Under $100... ?
I have a great counter-top Convection Oven.
Perhaps he can do a "Best of" Series?... and
Two Sushi-Master sushi makers.
Both worth their weight in gold, for home and entertaining, potlucks, etc.
My son is allergic to seafood, but we do some fantastic fruit (dipped in jam, jelly or fruit compote), eggs w bacon (with a good mayo or other dip), and vege rolls, steak/meat vege mix "sushi"...
Great for the kids or grandkids in the kitchen.
Hey, momma is not looking now, hehehe... 😎
Play w your food, peeps, right?
⚘🙏❤🙏⚘ 🥢
@@DarthCyfe6 When buying a KitchenAid or other stand mixer, pay attention to the engine power, the Wattage.
Spend the extra $, and you'll never look back.
I'll definitely do one of those at some point. I recently picked up a Vitamix and while certainly not necessary and very expensive, it does an amazing job and opens up possibilities in the kitchen.
Unlike many vids of this type, these all look helpful for the average home cook. Great vid.
I put off buying a lot of these for a long time because I was always cheap when it came to food and kitchen stuff, but I adopted the buy once cry once mentality and for a lot of these nice-to-haves it really makes cooking a lot more enjoyable. In that way it's helped me save a lot of money by not eating out lol.
Yeah can pretty much save for two of those by not eating out once or twice
Got 'em all. It's gratifying to have tools on hand that make cooking easier.
Thought that this was going to be the same list Ive seen on every channel but the pizza screen is something I never considered.
A kitchen scale is probably the thing I use the most. It's so easier to follow a recipe or separate portions when you don't have to guess or dirty a measuring cup
a proper pair of kitchen tongs are super invaluable. im talking stainless steel. im talking multiple sizes. im talking comfortable rubber grip. im talking quality.
Seconding the bench scraper. Very useful and as soon as it is on your counter it may never leave.
Prep bowls as well, even if it creates more dishes, I really like having my mise in order and mobile when I start cooking.
Thought that is was mis en place?
"The microplane has made my garlic press obsolete"
*Proceeds to smear garlic all over microplane*
exactly
You still do get some wasted garlic with a garlic press tho
@@SloppyTroy no. (⌐■-■)
@@SloppyTroy true, it just seems easier and more efficient to me.
@@Rainersherwood it's just harder to clean, unless you have a dishwasher I hate cleaning blades makes me uncomfortable... (⇀‸↼;)
Microplane tip:
For zesting, I personally use the microplane upside down (curved edges up) and move the citrus in a wedge by wedge motion against the blade.
The curved edges of the microplane collect the zest so it doesn't fly everywhere and you don't need a big bowl to catch just a little zest, plus you see exactly which spots you're going over to get the most bang for your buck, without pith. 😎💯
Bench scraper is IMHO the most underrated tool in cooking ever.
Micrograter is my jam, right next to my flute. Great video Ethan!
Much appreciated!
@@EthanChlebowski hello.. yeah I believe you made this video off of a question I asked about a single plane cheese grater you were using in a deep dish pizza video I didn't get my answer by watching this video and I also believe you owe me executive producer credits for inspiring this particular video..thank you.. also you should do a video on the Halal chicken over rice and birria
I didn’t think I’d see you here.
Something I would add is a decent thermometer as well as a food scale. Being able to know your temperatures and have accurate measurements are huge when doing things like baking.
Yes! The smooth edge can opener! Works great and keeps another appliance off my counter!
"I'm not a very adventurous guy. I've only used one side of a grater. You all know the one. Big Holes!" -James Acaster.
love how practical these suggestions are. great video!
My birthday is coming up next month and I was already making a list of kitchen tools to ask for. This is really useful!
Instead of the small glass bowls, I have a bunch of stainless steel ones in various sizes. Good for prepping, say toss and coat meat cubes with flour before pan searing.
I've been looking at FIFO bottles lately, they seem pretty handy for sauces. But something that I didn't know before was that apparently the color of the nozzle is for what types of sauces it can hold (based on thickness of the sauce)
Very interesting, I did not know that either. I'll have to look into it and test some with different nozzles.
The scraper and the small bowls are amazing. I use them everyday
this is what i need, i love these guides
This comes at the perfect time, i was just thinking about getting several of these
Definitely have been thinking of the squirt bottles, and I should pick some up.
I just made the Nihari. Used turkey thighs since we tend to avoid beef and lamb. It still worked well! Had all the spices and ingredients except black cardamom. Pita bread, some cucumber and leftover rice for the band tonight.
Very different and hits taste buds that haven’t been hit for a while…thanks Ethan. I know I’m skipping videos…this is a great vid also. I am pretty decently organized now.
I can say that the box grater is a very GRATE item indeed
I need to get a mortar and pestle! I love to use them! 😍
My number 1 is definitely a fine metal mesh strainer, it does so much: Rinsing rice, draining canned foods like beans, draining leftover oil, draining pasta and macaroni, and even steaming veggies.
Do you buy dirty rice?
@@koshermal no but you always wash rice to remove starch.
@@mdel310 oh right. Never done that. Never had a problem. I wonder if something different happens to the rice we get here.
protip for zesting citrus with a microplane, instead of pulling the citrus back and forth, use the microplane kinda like a peeler; hold the citrus in place with one hand and with the microplane upside down drag it over the citrus; the zest gathers on top of the plane, you can way more easily control where you're hitting to get all the zest with none of the pith, and there's pretty much zero chance your hand slips and grates your knuckles (we've all been there)
Thanks, got a few things I need to add my Amazon list and to pick up when I'm at the store.
Love a lot of your kitchen tools uses the microplane, box grader, and squeeze bottle all the time. Just picked up a Molcajete in Mexico last week love it for salsa and guacamole. Something you might want to add is a Japanese mandoline slicer.(use it for thin long cuts of vegetables slices or strips).
I picked up those deli containers you use for prep / storage. Pretty much changed my life since the lids are all the same size.
Great list! Other cheapo tools I find helpful are: bowl that I keep as a “trash can” next to cutting board, wooden salt well with lid, scotch brite scrubber, and my favorite (but priciest at like $25) is the Rosle tweezer tongs
I like using a bowl as a trash can when I'm chopping veggies or fruits (i use old bowl that is already looking not appetizing for food, because it's so old, but works as a trash can perfectly)
I'm quite surprised that the digital kitchen scale isn't in there. You can get a good 1g resolution scale for less than many of the prices you list.
He probably omitted it because he links to one in the description of every video. I think he also has another basic kitchen tool video that includes it as well
Great, simple video.
Actually this is the most useful kitchen tool video I have seen. Sweet!
this was super useful! Great video topic, thanks for sharing :))
My favorite kitchen tool - tweezers (those big ones). IV seen that Joshua and Babish did use those and I bought mine about two years ago - great kitchen tool, highly recommended!
I haven't used the Aluminum pizza screen.
But yes you did, it got like 5s screen time in your roti video (besides your already shown footage).
Big Fan of your videos by the way. They are always so well structured and easy to follow.
Pizza screen is great for catching oil spatter too when frying (but your wok trick is obviously great for preventing that spatter from escaping in the first place) 👍🏾
Great listing of useful tools, Ethan!
The small glass bowls are so incredeably useful, i use them weekly 💙
I didn't really expect Ethan to feature anything for zesting, but then BOOM! First thing.
Love your channel. I couldn’t stop staring at the paper towels by the stove. 🔥
I worked in a variety of pizza places over the years and more than a few used those screens (I own 3!) and they always make the best crust!
When using the microplane for zest, grate with the microplane on top. You'll be able to see where you've grated and lessen the chance for bitter grated pith. With this method move the grate, rather than the fruit. This is the intended proper way to zest, most other foods should be grated on top.
Yes, but how can I not grate off my fingertips?!
@@Scranny Not sure how big your hands or the fruit is, but keeping them about the middle of the fruit should be fine. You should be aiming for short strokes not long ones. When you try it, it should be fairly simple, don't over think it.
Surprisingly I already own all of these, but nontheless the vid gave me some new ideas of what to do with the tools. Keep it up Ethan!
Hey, your style of putting the music background into the video is fantastic.
A big note on the can opener: with that style, they also last forever. No gunkiness, no dulling. And, no metal flakes. Highly recommend
Love the videos! Can you go over some of your frequently used knives?
Box grater, very GRATE item to have in the kitchen
Most underrated tool imo is an infrared thermometer. When frying it lets you instantly see how hot your pan or oil is which is incredibly useful for staying consistent with cooking. I don't think I could cook nearly as well without it as there really is no other way nearly as reliable for knowing what heat you're at. They can easily be found for €10-15 online.
I’m definitely getting the aluminum pizza screen and the micrograter.
I picked up a bench scraper recently and it's one of the best purchases I've made in a long time lol. it's super handy and i think I've used it daily :P
Big tip: buy one of those camping plates with compartments for your mise en place
Can you make a segment of a video showing how you avoid setting off the smoke alarm in your apartment? It blows my mind how well your ventilation system works in such a small space, my kitchen could never.
oh he definitely takes the batteries out to film
@@JeremyForTheWin Ha! You are most likely correct. Even when I think ahead to remove my smoke alarm my house still fills with smoke... In all of his videos his work space seems nice and clear, without that layer of “fog”. Have you experienced this?
@@evanmnbishop sounds like you might be cooking with the wrong types of oils, thats the problem i was having anyway. If you get olive oil pretty hot it starts to burn and create smoke very quickly. You shouldn’t use it when using high heat settings on your stove. Use vegetable oil’s instead when cooking in high heat. Hope that helps!
different oils have different smoke points. use the right oil for the right situation
Use high smoke point oils like coconut/grapeseed/avocado/ghee and prep all of your food beforehand. If you are trying to multitask it is easy to let the food go a little long on the heat and the smoke from that extra time makes a big difference over the course of 10/15 min.
Nice gadgets, my favourite is a Tube Squeezer.
I may need to get that can opener.
Another great video Ethan, glad to see that microplanes come so affordable i'm used to seeing them for upwards of £20 in the shops!
Get a decent brand, some are not that sharp. A dull grater is useless.
Depends upon the metals/composites used. Can buy them in the disposable form at the Dollar stores, lol.😎
We have about 3 of those Box Graders at home (here in South Africa) and we use it to grade anything from veggies to potatos even the famous cheese
You left out one of the better benefits of that style of can opener: It leaves a lid that you can easily close the can up with again if you aren't going to use the whole can.
I'm super wary of can openers because I've had like three of them crap out on me. I got my grandma's old opener recently that works like a TANK. Thing is so clean.
But the smooth edge feature looks pretty nice, not gonna lie.
I love Alton Brown. He's coming to Toronto on his tour next year. Been a fan since his TV show was broadcasted when I was 15 or so.
do you watch qq?
@@JeremyForTheWin Yes! I look forward to them even though I sometimes get dizzy.
I love my silicone spatulas (two, one big one small). Can't do without them.
I would add a Y peeler to the list. Great video as always.
A scale and a digital thermometer are a must if you go beyond just basic cooking.
I'm surprised not everyone uses those can openers already
I'm surprised people still use can openers at all! I haven't seen a can without a pull tab in 15 years... Is this a US thing?
The aluminum pizza thing is really similar to the grate in the air fryer!
Smooth can opener, I didn't know that. Gotta get one!
Those micrograters are super easy to clean too!
The only thing I don't have is the aluminum mesh. I've never even seen one in stores (I'm probably not paying attention). Another option, and what I use, are those cheap aluminum long sheet pans with the holes in them, advertised as "grill" pans for vegetables. You can pick those up at the Dollar store for well, about a $1 for 2 in the disposable pan section. I use them for crisping, and for dehydrating herbs and bread for bread crumbs and they work perfectly. They're supposed to be disposable but I've been using them for over 6 months for all kinds of things and they're still fine.
I would add a set of 16" tweezers to that list. The super thin profile and long handle makes them a tool I use quite often. I would also add the '5 in 1 Multi Jar Opener'. This handy tool allows you to pop the seal of those impossible to open jars without damaging the lid.
And don't forget a quality knife sharpener!
The pizza screen can also be used as an anti-splash screen when you are frying stuff. Some foods have moisture content and when you fry them will result in popping oil splashes. Use the pizza screen over the frying to prevent the oil getting everywhere.
For the tiny bowls, I use rammequins. They go in the microwave, oven and are great for holding small quantities of food. They also can be free if you buy frozen crème brûlée, most of the time, they come in glass containers.
Definitely get the squeeze bottles at a restaurant supply store if you can, the regular ones will be around a dollar or less, and the sauce ones shouldn’t be much more than $2 each. bench scrapers can also be found for less than $5 a lot of times, and they might even carry a mortar and pestle for less than $25 (i got a 6” granite one for about $18 but they also had an 8” molcajete for around $23 at my local shop)
I also have a stack of small bowls. (Not glass, and a little smaller than the bowls shown.) They're also good for: serving hard-boiled eggs (after peeling, you can add salt+pepper to the egg in the bowl, then roll it around a bit), single servings of salsa, spoon rest, acting as a base for my pepper grinder and oil bottle (to keep any mess contained), and serving apple slices. They don't take up enough room in the dishwasher or cupboard to matter.
Bench scraper is the real MVP here
The thing I use my mortar and pestle most for is salt. There are some things (almost always popcorn) that I want very fine salt for, so I'll just grind up kosher salt. You can also grind in other spices to flavor it (oregano is common in my house)
Just use table salt.
Great ideas, thanks for that!
I got a cheap mortal and pestle from the dollar store for like 4 bucks.. it's super small (like, the size of my fist), but I use it mostly for mojitos, to crush up the mint leaves with the lime juice. Works super good for what I need it for, never really needed a bigger one because I buy pre-prepared spices mostly but I imagine it'd be worth getting one in the long run if you're going to use it frequently enough.. kinda like a cast iron pan, expensive but so worth it if you plan on cooking decent steaks on it
Pro tip for mortar and pestles: get them at your local Chinese supermarket. They’re super common in Chinese households and I got one for $10
Rice cooker and mandolin are my top two tools in the kitchen
Funny thing about the car opener. We all just use it wrong. Your regular can opener can give you a smooth edge
The microplane has certainly been a helpful tool ever since I picked one up.
If you want to save some money, squirt ketchup bottles are literally just front refilling FIFO squirt bottles. I've used it to store sauces and even oil before, it controls fairly well and doesn't leak.
Must heat some water and add baking soda to cut the flavours that may have been absorbed in the plastic, if inserting different sauces.
Sweet, savory, etc.
I just buy new bottles every 6 months. Reduces any residual rancidity, etc.
Front refilling FIFO? That sounds like the opposite of FIFO.
That box grater is from Target and it’s 🔥
Gotta add benchscraper's pal, bowl scraper. Such a dynamic duo. Also may I recommend the specific-sounding but insanely-useful Danish dough whisk?
Very GRATE item
I use the potato masher more than I thought I would. Helps a lot when you want to make some vegan foods like black bean burgers, or just to mash up some of the soft starches in your soup to make a thickener.
Have you tried potato press? (not sure if it's called that way) it's basically a scaled up version of garlic press with small holes, it makes wonderfully fluffy mashed potatoes and it doesn't leave any lumps
I'm always recommending a Chinese chefs knife as my most versatile cooking tool. Would recommend adding one to your knife collection.
Kinda wonder if shops don't sell them because people might realize they don't need to buy 10 different knives...