Who cooks without utensils? In my opinion, no one. So, with that said, I have to ask you which are the best utensils you can use for cooking?
Do you know that heat-resistant silicone utensils are considered the best utensils/cutlery to use in your kitchen?
Fruitnveggie.com has embarked on a mission to describe some of the best cooking utensils you can buy. Yes, we are continuously looking at some of the best kitchen utensils in today’s market.
Why plastic utensils can hurt your & kids health international study reveals
A recent study by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BFR), revealed that using bad quality kitchen utensils such as plastic spoons, spatulas and others when cooking could poison you – and also continuously damaging your liver or thyroid.
Also, several other diseases are linked to plastic particles. Children’s growth and behavioral have been linked with high doses of BPA and Phthalates particles released in food.
Ouch, that’s nasty and should be forbidden. Get rid of those right now.
Then ask yourself these important questions:
- How do I recognise which ones are dishwasher safe?
- How do I know if they are free of chemicals such as BPA?
- Should I buy plastic utensils or stainless steel cookware?
- Are non stick heat resistant utensils better than wood ones?
Baby Utensils Ergonomic Bundle Set
If you read the above, then you should know that also applies for all babies and small children. I need to mention it because I’d not be doing a great job if I didn’t.
When should a toddlers use cutlery?
Let’s say when they are a bit older, or under parental supervision. Of course, nowadays, you can buy safe silicone made cutlery for toddlers.
Which is the safer stainless steel grade ?
Plenty of stainless steel sets can be found on the market. But if you care for your 18-month toddler then be sure that you buy high quality 304 stainless steel, it is armless and safer.
FIY, it is good to know that 304 has a higher melting saturation point when cooking with oils, for example.
What are the best utensils (essential) in your kitchen?
When you search utensils online, you will find so many items that you don’t know which ones to buy first. This happens to younger people and students alike.
Which ones do I need? Should I buy wood, silicone, stainless steel or non stick cookware?
There are plenty more reasons you should NOT buy plastic utensils for your kitchen, but that will be left for another day.
You need at least a pair or two of quality stainless steel knives, tongs, potato or carrot peelers, a silicone spoon, and the list goes on. Heavy duty stainless steel cooking utensils are an excellent choice and safe too.
All lighter and not very costly either.
I will show the reasons, keep reading.
Here are the five kitchen utensil set that you need in your kitchen:
- 2-3 Chef’s Knife,
- Shaped Peeler,
- Jar opener,
- 3 piece silicone spatula,
- Juicer/Blender.
When I am cooking or prepping a dish for family or friends, I always need spoons, knives and non-stick spatulas. I can’t cook without them. Apart from when I am barbecuing, I just need a knife and a thermometer.
Which kitchen utensils are most used?
I’ve got four great culinary genes (Portuguese, French, Scandinavian and Italian) in me and this explains a lot about my recipe choices. I like to explore them all.
Well, I do experiment with other cuisines too, whenever possible, specially when travelling.
Of course, in our family, there’s no denying that food reunites us all with the heart of our family. My mum and I even share new recipes when we talk. We often send each other photos of our recent dishes. (My little secret).
I will describe in a later post an old homemade cod recipe and eggs that I love – My mum’s go-to dish.
Moving on…
I don’t like and won’t use plastic utensils, such as tongs or spoons.
In our home we use stainless steel knives, silicone spatulas and spoons, peelers, measuring jugs and a variety of ceramic pots and pans.
At barbecues or indoors, I never use tongs. I use two things – a knife and the best thermometer* to check when the meat and poultry are cooked.
Hint: Use our partner code: finaltouch10 at checkout if you fancy buying it for yourself ( Code only valid for US residents ).
I remember my grandad using his Opinel knife to see if the meat was half done. Many in the family couldn’t eat meat without bringing their own knives!
Years passed, we grow older and some of us turned vegetarian or pescatarian, myself included (now). I guess I am a sort of hybrid when it comes to eating great food. Once in a blue moon, I’d fall for a savoury coq-au-vin or a Piri-piri chicken with french fries, among my favourites.
However, to prep up your favourite meals quickly and easily, or to explore the wide world of international cuisine, you need safe utensils.
For people with food sensitivities, meal prep is even more important, because making your own foods yourself allows you to avoid unwanted ingredients and ensure the healthiest, highest quality foods for every meal.
For me, there is nothing more annoying than not having a good knife or silicone spatula at hand when I need it. You may want to invest in different kitchen accessories, specially if you have a family dish coming up.
This is an honest list of the best or most useful and versatile tools that anyone would be proud to have in their kitchen. These will be helping you prep, cook, bake, and much more.
What are the best 10 kitchen utensils (used) in general?
You might say that there are plenty of kitchen tools and small gadgets you can buy, making it very hard to decide. Fair enough, however, most are poorly made, and it would be quite difficult to name them all here.
So, I will list the best quality top 10 followed by my top 5 that I like to use.
- Electric mixer
- Cutting board
- Can openers
- Pyrex glass jug
- Juicers
- Jar opener (For people with Arthritis)
- Grater
- Measuring cups
- Stainless steel knives
- Silicone spatula
Here are my top 5 kitchen utensils
Very easy for me to pick my top 5 when cooking. I would go for:
Blender/Juicer
One of the tow favourite blenders, is the Kitchen Aid. I can make delicious daily recipes or make my favorite smoothie.
Stainless steel knives
The Cutluxe 7” Santoku knife – Is a respected high-carbon stainless steel German made knife. Ideal to keep a sharp edge and long life, rust resistant. Comes with Pakkawood handle (0.5% carbon and 15% chrome), which is great to handle. Lasts longer that a decade.
Budget: around 40 bucks. Or £34.
Pros:
- Chefs use it for its quality vs budget,
- very lightweight for a large knife,
- comfortable to use in your kitchen,
- High official hardness rating (HRC) of 56-77)
Cons:
Almost none. Apart that you need to sharpen the knife after 3-4 weeks of intense usage.
Spatula
Pyrex French jug
BBQ grill tool set
Japanese Musashi super high quality Funayuki (舟行) multi-purpose knife.
“Musashi” brand is considered a high-grade chef knife made in south of Japan and has a quarter of a century blacksmithing history. All made by hand.
Top rated kitchen utensils
Wow, that is very difficult to say. I can’t, and I couldn’t express myself about it. Why?
That is a very subjective matter. Some brands are better at design, others produce super well-made items with an eye on the sourced components. Plenty more out there will sell stainless steel.
Unknown or new brands target cheap and or affordable utensils.
You see what I mean, but I can look into it.
What other useful cooking utensils?
Having a quality set of utensils in your home is just as important as having good cookware.
For example, we love Le Creuset cast iron pans – because they represent the highest grade in this market, never recycled from other materials. They are very expensive, but the food taste is memorably tasty.
I find that these are needed if you like to cook or are an amateur chef:
- Iron cookware or cast iron
- Funny shaped mixing bowls
- High-powered blender
- Heat non-stick resistant spoons
Which ones are the most essential and not?
A modern kitchen needs a minimum of quality useful cookware including pots and pans. You have the choice, such as carbon made knives and heat resistant spoons and spatulas. Then, you have highly useful tools like chopping boards making specific jobs a whole lot easier.
You also see plates, spoons and glasses that are often made from polyethene (PE) or Melamine – these are thermoset work surfaces that provide hard-wearing, work surfaces that are resistant to heat and water. Made of almost unbreakable material and easy to clean.
Then, if you fancy buying highly specialised tools like a panini or burger press, herb scissors or meat shears. These, honestly are not essential, but they can still make your life a whole lot easier.
These include things that you don’t think about too often, but you’ll really wish you had once you try to make something.
I will be creating other relevant pages whenever I can. Meanwhile, you might want to read, and discover what we have to say about the premium silicon kitchen utensils.
FAQ’s
What type of utensils do I really need?
For a first time kitchen owner go for the most practical utensils and do not buy cheap staff. All depending on your culinary skills, for example, if you prep a pasta sauce pick a silicone spatula.
For more complex dishes, read some suggestions above. And remember, be wise and stick to quality only.
* Is the Chef thermometer accurate and safe?
I recommend it highly as it is waterproof, super accurate and will help you cook any type of meat (steak, chicken, fish, etc. ( This is a partner affiliate link, if you buy through them, I get a little commission to help us pay the web hosting and other tools).
Should you only buy kitchen utensils that are BPA free?
Yes. All plastic utensils release harmful toxic products that are poisonous and can get into your food when they are used at high temperatures. Example: BPA and phthalates at these stages of life might have an impact on the development of metabolic diseases even many years later. (See link above)
Happy cooking! 🙂