CHEFS Catalog

Sous vide cooking can look intimidating, but it’s a rather simple process, no more complicated than roasting or searing. With an immersion circulator, a pan or two from one of your favorite cookware sets, plastic bags, and time, you’re ready to begin.
The Immersion Circulator

The first item is also the most necessary: the immersion circulator. Also called a sous vide machine, this device circulates and heats water, keeping the bath at a consistent temperature. This cooks food precisely and evenly, leading to perfectly cooked food. It basically turns cooking into a more exact science: a certain temperature, for a certain time, with exact control.

Containers for Sous Vide Cooking

You have a couple of options for containing the water. Polycarbonate containers meant solely for sous vide are available and are perfect for larger food items or cooking multiple things at once. Because they are plastic, they also don’t suck as much heat out of the bath compared to metal pots, allowing for better temperature regulation. However, a large pot like a stockpot or a Dutch oven can also hold the bath.

Vacuum Bags and a Vacuum Sealer

Sous vide is French for “under vacuum.” To most effectively cook food sous vide, you need vacuum-sealable bags to hold the food and keep it secure. These are good for high-temperature cooking and can be kept sealed after the food is finished for easy storage. You’ll also need a vacuum sealer to properly seal the bags. Getting all of the air out and attaining a perfect seal is vital to the process. For certain liquid-heavy meals, you can also use specially made zip bags. Just make sure your bags are BPA-free.

Bag Clips to Keep Food Secure

Sturdy metal bag clips (plastic need not apply) can keep the plastic bags attached to the edge of the container, keeping them submerged.

Cookware for Searing

After taking the food out of the bath, it’s time to add finishing touches. Boneless, skinless chicken is ready for eating, as are vegetables. However, using sous vide means no Maillard reaction and no tasty brown crust. Meats like steak need a sear for the ideal crispy crust. A cast-iron skillet or copper cookware both get hot enough to sear in a flash. Be warned that this should not take long, or you risk overcooking, losing out on the perfection of sous vide cooking. So make sure that the cookware is hot enough before adding the food.

Consider a Hack: Ping Pong Balls for Temperature Control

If you are cooking for longer than a few hours, consider adding a layer of ping pong balls on top of the bath. This will help fight evaporation and add insulation, helping with heat regulation, and making your immersion circulator’s job easier. Without the ping pong balls, long-term cooking can lead to enough evaporation that the immersion circulator will automatically turn off.

Tongs for Handling Hot Food

Use a good pair of tongs for retrieving your food from the bath. Some recipes call for using mason jars instead of bags, and tongs are essential to retrieve the jars. After extracting, your food is cooked and ready to eat.

About CHEFS Catalog

Since 1979, CHEFS Catalog has offered the highest quality equipment to the culinary world, from professional chefs to home cooks. CHEFS Catalog’s collections provide practical kitchen solutions with bakeware sets, appliances, cutlery, recipes, advice, and more. With a passion for all things culinary, they understand the need for durable, reliable kitchenware. They started out as a premier commercial catalog, featuring Julia Child on an early cover. In 2017, CHEFS Catalog transformed into the go-to online source for quality cookware, bakeware, and accessories.

To get all you will need to start sous vide cooking, visit Chefscatalog.com

Original Source: https://bit.ly/2zmuXq5

Knives have a long history in the kitchen and were one of the first true utensils to appear at mealtimes. Predating both forks and spoons, knives started as simple rocks, eventually turning into the chef knives we know today.

Prehistory

Knives originally date to prehistory, where stones were smashed together to form a sharp edge—a far cry from the modern blades, like Messermeister or Wusthof knives. Sharp rock fragments turned up in Tanzania and Kenya, dating back about 2.5 million years ago. Later, instead of rock-on-rock, a bone instrument was used to chip away at rocks to make axes and cleavers, as well as serrated edges.

Copper and the Bronze Age

Early metalworking involved bronze, an alloy of copper and tin. It was used not only to create kitchen knives but also weaponry as well. These copper and bronze knives were the first genuine knives. With the mass use of copper for bronze weapons, the metal became scarce enough to require an alternative.

The Iron Age

The next significant advancement came about with iron refining in the Iron Age. This metallurgy allowed for shaping molten cast iron with molds, including single- and double-edged knives. People in the Middle Ages in Europe carried short swords and daggers, often using these as knives at meals for cutting and spearing food.

The Modern Metal: Steel

Iron is a soft metal and prone to breaking if used too much. It also rusts easily. Neither are good qualities for blade edges. To counter this, metallurgists refined iron and added carbon, giving rise to steel and then stainless steel. Knife blades using steel were sharper, stronger, more durable, and resistant to corrosion and rust.

Cardinal Richelieu

The advent of blunt-tip table knives is attributed to Cardinal Richelieu of France in 1637. He was not pleased with dinner guests’ manners, as they picked their teeth with the tips of the blades. Instead, he offered blunted knives, the first instance of the modern table knife.

Solingen and Seki

The modern chef’s knife originates in Solingen, Germany, one of two major knife making centers in the world. Peter Henckels created one of the first knife making trademarks here. Meanwhile, in Seki, Japan, knife makers were taking cues from sword makers to create razor-sharp blades.

The 20th Century

The chef’s knife and santoku knife are now staples of the modern kitchen. Both can be found in a typical blade set, from a Zwilling J.A. Henckels collection or a Wusthof knife set. From paring knife to cleaver, serrated bread knife to nakiri bocho vegetable knife, there’s a knife for every job in the kitchen.

About CHEFS Catalog

Since 1979, CHEFS Catalog has offered the highest quality equipment to the culinary world, from professional chefs to home cooks. CHEFS Catalog’s collections provide practical kitchen solutions with bakeware sets, recipes, appliances such as the All Clad slow cooker, advice, and more. With a passion for all things culinary, they understand the need for durable, reliable kitchenware. They started out as a premier commercial catalog, featuring Julia Child on an early cover. In 2017, CHEFS Catalog transformed into the go-to online source for quality cookware, bakeware, and accessories.

For all your cutlery needs, visit Chefscatalog.com

Original Source: https://bit.ly/33MSSNw

Meal prepping—planning and preparing your meals ahead of time—can save you both time and money while helping you eat healthier. It may seem daunting at first, with up-front time and grocery commitments, but meal prepping is doable with only a few minutes of planning and some extra effort on the weekends.

Choose a Prep Type

Your first order of business is determining which meal prep type you want to use:

· Buffet style: Prep base ingredients and mix and match to create different meals

· Batch cooking: Cook a very large batch and portion out the leftovers

· Individual portions: Mason jar salads, overnight oats, sandwiches

· Assembling ingredients in advance: Preparing a meal for a slow cooker or instant pot but not cooking them until the next day

The choice is entirely yours and depends on how you want to eat. If you are fine throwing together ingredients after work and whipping up a sauce in your saute pan, go for buffet style. If you have little time to make lunch each morning, batch or individual portioning might be right for you.

Plan Out Meals

Next, plan out your meals. Find a recipe that suits your style and food preferences and determine what you will need. How much of a given ingredient will you need? Do you have enough bakeware to prep all the meals at once, or will you need to clean them between batches?

Planning out meals can help when it comes time to go grocery shopping. The shopping itself will take time, so plan efficiently in both meals and moving around the store. It can help to have an app that syncs between devices to make a list for easy reference. Alternatively, you can order online and have someone in the store collect the items, saving you more time. You will need to pick up your order at the store if delivery is not available. If you do shop at the grocery store, remember that the up-front time investment in shopping will save you time later.

Block Out Time

It’s time to prep the meals, which could take anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours. In the beginning, it might take you longer as you learn to multitask. You won’t want to start with prepping for the whole week: Start with just a few meals across breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Along with multitasking, saving time means trying to be as efficient as possible. A santoku knife can do most of the knife prep work, for instance, while pressure cookers can speed cooking times.

Invest in Proper Containers

The right reusable containers are essential for meal prep. They should be freezer-, microwave-, and dishwasher-safe. Popular options usually have lids that snap shut. Airtight containers can help ingredients keep longer, but most meals should be reheated within four days from the refrigerator. Stackable food storage will help save room in your fridge or freezer. Aside from containers, mason jars are a popular option for salads, soups, and oatmeal.

About CHEFS Catalog

Since 1979, CHEFS Catalog has offered the highest quality equipment to the culinary world, from professional chefs to home cooks. CHEFS Catalog’s collections provide practical kitchen solutions with bakeware sets, appliances, cutlery, recipes, advice, and more. With a passion for all things culinary, they understand the need for durable, reliable kitchenware. They started out as a premier commercial catalog, featuring Julia Child on an early cover. In 2017, CHEFS Catalog transformed into the go-to online source for quality cookware, bakeware, and accessories.

To browse all the cookware you’ll need for meal prepping, visit Chefscatalog.com

Original Source: https://bit.ly/2Nn4Bwv

Knives dull through use. It is an unfortunate constant in the kitchen, and blades will always need to be honed or sharpened. Thankfully, some methods make sharpening your knife at home a breeze.

Check Your Knife’s Sharpness with the Paper Test

Even the best knives will eventually dull. For example, chef knives, the workhorse of the kitchen, need to be kept sharp. Given how often they are used they are likely to dull more quickly than other, specialized blades. How do you tell when a knife is no longer as sharp as it should be?

Try the paper test. Take a piece of printer or copy paper and hold it at one end. Holding the blade at an angle to the top edge, slice downward. If the knife does not make a clean cut, it’s time to hone or sharpen.

Use a Sharpening Steel to Hone

Despite the name sharpening steel, the metal rod with a handle that comes with many knife sets does not sharpen; it hones. Honing realigns the metal of the knife, ideal for slightly dulled blades. Sweep the edge at a 15-degree angle along the rod to hone the knife.

Sharpen Your Knife with an Electric Sharpener

If the blade is more than slightly dull, it’s time to move on to sharpeners. The easiest method for the home cook is the electric sharpener. Spring-loaded guides ensure steady contact with abrasives spinning on motorized wheels.

Depending on the model, there might be multiple slots with differing coarseness, allowing you to control the amount of sharpening. Pull the blade slowly and smoothly through the slot, letting the machine do the work for you. Repeat until the edge reaches the desired sharpness.

Manual sharpeners are similar. They are handheld and without motors. Because of this, they cannot repair the same extent of damage an electric sharpener can.

Using a Whetstone

Whetstones are the most versatile knife-sharpening option, but they take practice to master. There are generally two sides to a whetstone, coarse and fine. However, unlike electric or manual sharpeners, there is no angle guide.

Western knives are typically 20 degrees, while Asian-style knives are commonly 15 degrees. Some whetstones require submerging in water before use. Draw the blade across the whetstone in a wide, circular motion while keeping the desired angle until the tip of the knife goes off the opposite edge. Particularly dull knives should start on the course side. Repeat the process on the fine-grind side.

Storing Sharp Knives

Storing sharp knives in a drawer will quickly lead to storing dull knives in a drawer, as they knock around and against each other. Instead, use a knife block on your counter to hold knives in place. If you need to save space in your kitchen, consider a magnetic knife strip to hang on a wall, which can store nearly any size of knife. If you absolutely must store knives in a drawer, use individual knife guards, usually made of polypropylene.

Blades should only need an occasional honing or fine-grit sharpening, but don’t leave it too long. Regular care will extend the life of the knife significantly.

About CHEFS Catalog

Since 1979, CHEFS Catalog has offered the highest quality equipment to the culinary world, from professional chefs to home cooks. CHEFS Catalog’s collections provide practical kitchen solution, from a beautiful copper cookware set to the sharpest cutlery, plus recipes, advice, and more. With a passion for all things culinary, they understand the need for durable, reliable kitchenware. They started out as a premier commercial catalog, featuring Julia Child on an early cover. In 2017, CHEFS Catalog transformed into the go-to online source for quality cookware, bakeware, and accessories.

To browse a wide array of cutlery, visit Chefscatalog.com

Original Source: https://bit.ly/33DQwRb

Correctly treating your cookware can make cooking and cleaning easier while extending the life of your pots and pans set. Some types of cookware have specific cleaning instructions, while others require prep before cooking any food inside. With proper care, your cookware will last for years, and in some cases, generations.

Copper Cookware

Scouring your copper cookware can damage the lining on your cookware set, especially if it’s a tin lining. Instead, wash copper pots and pans with warm water and dishwashing liquid. Cold water in a hot copper pan can warp the metal. If baked-on food is still a problem, soak the cookware in a solution of warm water and dishwashing liquid. Afterward, clean the exterior by polishing with a solution of white vinegar and salt or commercial copper cleaner.

Cast Iron Pans

For many years, the rule of thumb was cleaning cast iron with salt and hot water. Soap was never to touch the seasoning of cast iron, lest the taste of soap soaks into the porous surface. However, the has tide turned, and soap is now acceptable. It turns out that as long as a cast iron pan is well seasoned, the soap does not soak in.

You should season a cast iron pan before first use, and every once in a while. Brush all of the surfaces of the cast iron with a thin layer of oil, such as unflavored vegetable oil, and bake the skillet at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for an hour. This creates a layer of polymerized oil, essentially making the cast iron nonstick.

Never put cast iron in the dishwasher, and do not use any scouring pads to clean the cast iron. Dry the cookware immediately, or it could rust after cleaning. After drying, rub with a thin layer of cooking oil and store the cookware in a dry place.

Aluminum Cookware

Aluminum cookware should not be cleaned in the dishwasher. Untreated or uncoated aluminum run through the dishwasher will speed up the oxidation process, leaving unsightly visible traces. Instead, wash the cookware as soon as possible after use (once it has cooled), and hand-dry it to avoid pitting. Use a soapy non-scratch scouring pad to shine the surface of the aluminum.

Stainless Steel Cookware

Let stainless steel cool down before trying to clean it. To avoid stains, wash stainless steel cookware with water and detergent as soon as possible. Scouring pads can scratch surfaces, making them more prone to staining. Soaking stainless steel cookware for long periods can cause mineral salts in the water to pit the cookware. Acidic food can damage the surface of stainless-steel cookware.

Nonstick Pans

While nonstick pans are among the few types of cookware sets that are dishwasher safe, you should instead hand-wash after it cools down. Use a soft sponge, such as plastic or nylon, with liquid detergent, or a paste of equal parts water and baking soda. To repair the surface, rub it down with a thin layer of vegetable oil and wipe away the excess, then leave it to dry—much like seasoning a cast-iron pan.

When cooking, use a small amount of fat, like butter or oil, before turning on the heat, and distribute the layer of fat evenly. Be sure to use only wooden or plastic utensils, as metal utensils can scratch the surface of cookware.

About CHEFS Catalog

Since 1979, CHEFS Catalog has offered the highest quality equipment to the culinary world, from professional chefs to home cooks. CHEFS Catalog’s collections provide practical kitchen solutions with bakeware sets, appliances, cutlery, recipes, advice, and more. With a passion for all things culinary, they understand the need for durable, reliable kitchenware. They started out as a premier commercial catalog, featuring Julia Child on an early cover. In 2017, CHEFS Catalog transformed into the go-to online source for quality cookware, bakeware, and accessories.

For all of your cookware needs, visit Chefscatalog.com

Original Source: https://bit.ly/2KF6tiz

If you’re worried about what to get new homeowners for their house, think about a theme of renewal and practicality. What might they have not replaced in a while? Or what’s something they might not have yet but that is incredibly useful? You could help ease the transition for them with a practical yet thoughtful gift.
The best parts about moving into a new house are decorating it and throwing a housewarming party to celebrate a new chapter in life. If you’re the one going to the party, here are a few ideas for welcoming your friends into their new home.

Set of Food Storage Containers

A set of high-quality food storage containers is a winning idea. It seems like it’s one kitchen essential that needs to be replaced or upgraded periodically because lids get lost, plastic melts, or food stains the inside of the container. A set that includes glass containers with plastic lids would make a really nice gift for new homeowners. Choose an aesthetically-pleasing set with hinged, snap lids.

Tabletop Spiralizer

Vegetable lovers will appreciate an indispensable tool that can turn carrots, zucchini, beets, radishes, cucumbers, and more into fun spiral shapes. Vegetable noodles are a tasty, healthy alternative to pasta. A tabletop spiralizer is faster and safer to use than a knife for creating uniform spaghetti-shaped noodles. It’s a great gift for anyone who is making an effort to eat healthier or who simply wants to experiment with veggie textures and food presentation.

Jelly Roll Pans

Sometimes recipes call for a jelly roll pan, which is basically a smaller version of a rimmed baking sheet. With a jelly roll pan, you can bake thin sheet cakes or sponge cakes, coat them with cream or jelly, and roll the cake into a cylinder shape. These compact pans are also suitable for roasting vegetables and baking cookies. Chances are the new homeowners could use new bakeware sets that include two jelly roll pans.

Copper Cookware

Copper is not only beautiful, but it also offers superior heat conduction and even heat distribution to maintain the purity of your cooking flavors. Designed for oven-to-table serving, everyone needs at least one piece of copper cookware in their collection of pots and pans. If a full copper piece isn’t in your budget, you could always choose a stainless steel Dutch oven that has a textured copper lid. It’s a beautiful and versatile statement piece.

Professional Kitchen Towels

A nice set of large utilitarian kitchen towels are handy and serve many purposes. They are lint- and streak-free, and made of durable cotton that can handle cleaning, scrubbing, and drying required in daily kitchen use. You don’t see a chef without a kitchen towel in a restaurant setting. If a splash of sauce runs off the edge of a plate, one quick swipe of the towel provides proper touch-up before serving the meal. Home cooks equally appreciate the versatility of these towels.

About CHEFS Catalog

Founded in 1979, CHEFS Catalog specializes in offering those in the culinary world, from professional to amateur, with the highest quality kitchen equipment. CHEFS Catalog aims to provide the finest and most practical kitchen solutions with a wide array of offerings, including cookware sets, appliances, cutlery, recipes, advice, and more. Beginning as a commercial catalog with Julia Child featured on an early cover, CHEFS Catalog has since evolved into the online source for quality cookware and accessories, launching a convenient e-commerce site in 2017.

Upgrade your kitchen with the exceptional quality of kitchenware CHEFS Catalog offers, at Chefscatalog.com

Original Source: http://bit.ly/30V2XG7

Honing the craft of cooking requires a home cook to examine their inventory of kitchen equipment. Is it time to get rid of your scratched skillet? Or get better cutlery, like Wusthof knives? It’s important to take stock because having the right tools will elevate the precision and efficiency of your dishes.
Knowing which essentials to have in your kitchen is helpful for anyone who loves to cook and wants to learn more. Professional chefs will tell you to select a few quality, choice tools. Here are six items pro chefs swear by, and that you should consider adding to (or upgrading in) your kitchen to get the most out of the cooking experience.

Favorite Chef’s Knife

Every chef has a favorite knife. Ask any chef and they will tell you they just can’t live without a particular chef’s knife. For many chefs, this knife is their 8-inch Wusthof because it’s a workhorse of a knife. You can get by on a few knives such as those found in a high-quality Wusthof knife set—or maybe a different knife brand entirely, such as Shun. Having at least three high-quality knives in your arsenal is a worthy investment.

Trusty Knife Sharpener

Dull knives are the worst, so it’s important to know how to take care of them in order for your knives to do their best work. To keep your knives in top condition, you’ll want a knife sharpening stone with different sharpening surfaces. Learning the fundamentals of knife sharpening will empower you to cut, slice, and chop with confidence.

Well-Loved Cast Iron Pan

You need several types of pans to cook with, but nothing beats a well-seasoned cast iron pan because they last forever, conduct heat like a champ, and can sear a steak perfectly. The versatility of a cast iron pan is unbeatable. You can fry a perfect egg, bake cornbread in it, and caramelize onions. If you have a lid, you can braise, simmer, and steam with your cast iron pan as well.

Quality Cooking Spoon

Does your sauce need salt? Taste it to find out. You don’t have to spend a ton of money to get a great multipurpose spoon that’s invaluable in the kitchen. You use it to baste items in a pan, taste food, plate a sauce, serve delicate proteins, stir sauces, and more. Find a durable, stainless steel spoon that’s roughly 9 inches long for a truly versatile tool in your kitchen.

Handy Metal Tongs

If you do a lot of grilling, you need dependable stainless steel tongs to flip juicy meats and vegetables. Look for 12-inch locking tongs that allow you to securely grip food. If you are cooking inside, you want tongs that won’t scratch your pans, so look for tongs with silicone tips.

Versatile Immersion Blender

You might already have a regular blender, but an immersion blender is a convenient hand-held blender that can whip up smoothies, mix cake batter, chop up garlic and onions, and mash potatoes. It’s a handy tool for many quick jobs.

Some other kitchen necessities include measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowls, a can opener, and baking sheets. Even the simplest tools can make the difference between mediocre and fantastic food.

About CHEFS Catalog

Founded in 1979, CHEFS Catalog specializes in offering those in the culinary world, from professional to amateur, with the highest quality kitchen equipment. CHEFS Catalog aims to provide the finest and most practical kitchen solutions with a wide array of offerings, including appliances like an All Clad Slow Cooker, cutlery, recipes, advice, and more. Beginning as a commercial catalog with Julia Child featured on an early cover, CHEFS Catalog has since evolved into the online source for quality cookware and accessories, launching a convenient e-commerce site in 2017.

Upgrade your kitchen with the exceptional quality of kitchenware CHEFS Catalog offers, at Chefscatalog.com

Original Source: http://bit.ly/2M42VY5

Kitchenware can run the gamut from cheap and low-quality to very expensive and built to last. Many of these cooking items are investments for your kitchen. Upgrading to better quality kitchenware or appliances can save you time cooking, provide additional features, and become something to pass on to multiple generations of family cooks.
Knives

There are two routes to upgrading knives: getting new, specialized knives, or upgrading the quality of a knife you already have. Specialized knives like a santoku knife are perfect for chopping, slicing, and mincing, while a paring knife handles delicate tasks like cutting garnishes with precision. Knives meant for specific tasks can make all the difference when you’ve only relied on a chef’s knife to do most of your work. If you already have a variety of knives, upgrading quality, such as to a Wusthof or Zwilling J.A. Henckels knife—both world-renowned for their excellent craftsmanship—can significantly extend the longevity of the blade.

Air Fryer

If you’re still using vast amounts of oil to fry food, it’s time for an upgrade. Air fryers use significantly less oil than a standard deep fryer, sometimes not requiring any oil at all. Instead of using oil, super-heated air is evenly circulated in the air fryer, cooking all sides at once. The lack of oil means less fat. Air-fried food, as a result, is much healthier than deep-fried food, while still producing browned and crisp fare. Some of the best air fryers can serve as a multifunction appliance, toasting or baking food as well as frying.

Bakeware

Upgrading quality often means upgrading durability and the materials used to make an item, as well as its efficiency. If you prefer to bake casseroles and cookies, having exceptional bakeware is a must. With higher-quality materials, your casseroles will heat more evenly. A high-quality Dutch oven made of aluminum, for example, not only heats evenly but the best are also easy to clean up and dishwasher-safe. Properly taken care of, a baking dish can easily be passed on to the next generation of chefs.

Sous Vide

Old sous vide machines were big and bulky. When Chef Richard Blais used one on Top Chef, it was a revelation to many home chefs. Now, sous vide machines—also called immersion circulators—are widely available to the home chef. They are much smaller, can clamp on to any pot, and often come with features such as WiFi or Bluetooth connections. They work by heating and circulating water, keeping it at a precise temperature. While this approach can take longer than regular cooking, the wait results in evenly cooked food. It’s an easily repeatable method: Poached eggs and steaks at your exact level of doneness are a snap.

About CHEFS Catalog

Founded in 1979, CHEFS Catalog specializes in offering those in the culinary world, from professional to amateur, with the highest quality kitchen equipment. CHEFS Catalog aims to provide the finest and most practical kitchen solutions with a wide array of offerings, from your next saute pan, knife, or cookware set, to recipes, advice, and more. Beginning as a commercial catalog with Julia Child featured on an early cover, CHEFS Catalog has since evolved into the online source for quality cookware and accessories, launching a cutting-edge e-commerce site in 2017.

Upgrade your kitchen with the exceptional quality of kitchenware CHEFS Catalog offers, at Chefscatalog.com

Original Source: http://bit.ly/2YlkVDU

With cheese as the star ingredient, hosting an appetizer soirée at your home this summer is bound to be a hit with friends. For inspiration, think air fried goat cheese and fig jam wontons, bite-sized cheesesteak sandwiches, three-cheese fondue, and a specialty cheese and charcuterie board.

After you plan your menu, the next step will be taking inventory of your kitchen. For smooth preparation accompanied by a wonderful presentation, you’ll want a few essentials to set yourself up for a successful cheese appetizer party. Here are five kitchen items any cheese lover can appreciate.

Guilt-Free Air Fryer

If you haven’t discovered the magic of the air fryer, it’s time. You can enjoy flavorful fried foods without feeling guilty. High-quality air fryers, such as one of the Cuisinart models, are specially engineered to ensure golden brown, crispy foods without tons of oil or a splattering mess. A great stainless steel unit complements any kitchen décor. Your air fryer will probably be the talk of your party, right behind how delicious those goat cheese wontons taste.

Gourmet Cheese Knife Set

Find a precision set of three knives made to cut soft cheese, hard cheese, and parmesan. A cheese knife set is especially valuable for preparing a beautiful cheese board or platter. For those who enjoy cooking, you can never have enough high-quality knife sets for the various tasks at hand.

Marble Serving Board

An elegant serving board adds a touch of class to your party whether you’re using it to serve artisanal cheeses, hors d'oeuvres, or snacks. A round marble board with an accent of teak wood is a beautiful piece to have for food presentation. To stand alone or serve food, a round marble board makes a statement on the table.

Copper Fondue Set

Dazzle your guests by presenting a handcrafted copper fondue set that’s designed for making gourmet-quality fondues, dessert sauces, and more. An elegant, heirloom-quality set allows your sauces and fondues to stay velvety smooth. A classic gruyere fondue will not separate because copper helps contain heat and moisture. A timeless copper fondue pot makes an excellent addition to your copper cookware set.

Bonus Item: Colored Stemless Glassware

Party guests will most likely expect wine to go with their cheese. If you do in fact plan on serving wine at your cheese appetizer party, make sure your wine glass collection is ready to party as well. A set of stemless wine glasses with pastel hues will not only look softly glamorous, but guests will also know which color is theirs. Of course, not all of your wine glasses have to be stemless or match, but you want everyone to feel special with glassware that makes a statement. Above all, enjoy your cheese (and wine) party with people you care about—and celebrate the joy of good food.

About CHEFS Catalog

Founded in 1979, CHEFS Catalog specializes in offering those in the culinary world, from professional to amateur, with the highest quality kitchen equipment. CHEFS Catalog aims to provide the finest and most practical kitchen solutions with a wide array of offerings, including chef knives, appliances, cutlery, recipes, advice, and more. Beginning as a commercial catalog with Julia Child featured on an early cover, CHEFS Catalog has since evolved into the online source for quality cookware and accessories, launching a convenient e-commerce site in 2017.

Upgrade your kitchen with the exceptional quality of kitchenware CHEFS Catalog offers, at Chefscatalog.com

Original Source: https://bit.ly/2SmbVc8

Whether you have been lugging pots and pans around since college and now want a new cookware set, or are merely looking to expand your knife collection, upgrading your kitchen tools can help you improve your technique and make cooking easier. From a full new cookware set to completing a pots and pans set made with higher quality materials, to a pressure cooker that drastically cuts down on cooking time, these upgrades will help you reach the next level of cooking in your kitchen.

Copper Cookware

Not only will copper cookware add a touch of timeless beauty to your kitchen, but it will also heat quickly and evenly. It is the opposite of the other workhorse material of the kitchen: cast iron cookware. Cast iron heats slow and holds on to heat, while copper, as a conductor, heats quickly but loses the heat soon after being taken away from the stove. Copper cookware is ideal for fish, sauces, eggs, and other instances where overcooking in a still-hot pan is all too easy. It does share one important quality with cast iron: If properly cared for, a copper cookware set will last for generations.

Specialized Knives

The chef’s knife is among the most versatile of knives in the kitchen, able to handle a dizzying variety of jobs. There is little a good chef’s knife cannot do, and it is an absolute necessity in every kitchen. Specialized knives aren’t able to tackle as many broad tasks as the chef’s knife, but they carry out particular jobs remarkably well. Nakiri knives, for instance, can help you finely slice vegetables, while santoku knives are second to none for chopping, slicing, and mincing. A small paring knife can peel fruits and vegetables while handling delicate work like deveining shrimp.

Digital Meat Thermometer

Digital meat thermometers will give you the most accurate reading for meat, ensuring that your main dish is perfectly cooked. You will know precisely when your steak is medium-rare. There is no more relying on the old touch test; simply knowing the temperature will help you reach your desired doneness. With a digital oven thermometer, you can even keep the thermometer in the meat while it cooks, getting real-time readings. You’ll never overcook your meal again.

Pressure Cooker

Today’s pressure cookers are smarter and safer than the pressure cookers of old, and a valuable upgrade to any chef’s kitchen. Cooking time is drastically cut down by using heat and pressure, which also means better retention of vitamins and nutrients, without sacrificing taste. What used to take half a day will now only take an hour or two before it can be enjoyed. A bonus is that many pressure cookers can also be used for preserving food, specifically canning, either adding to your repertoire or making the task easier.

About CHEFS Catalog

Founded in 1979, CHEFS Catalog specializes in offering those in the culinary world, from professional to amateur, with the highest quality kitchen equipment. CHEFS Catalog aims to provide the finest and most practical kitchen solutions with a wide array of offerings, including cookware sets, appliances, cutlery, recipes, advice, and more. Beginning as a commercial catalog with Julia Child featured on an early cover, CHEFS Catalog has since evolved into the online source for quality cookware and accessories, launching a cutting-edge e-commerce site in 2017.

Upgrade your kitchen with the exceptional quality of kitchenware CHEFS Catalog offers, at Chefscatalog.com

Original Source: https://bit.ly/2NZGmXa

Incredible kitchen knives are made all over the world. Still, ask most professional chefs where the best kitchen knives in the world are made and you’ll virtually always get one (or both) of two answers: Germany and Japan. It’s not just geography that separates a Zwilling J.A. Henckels or Wusthof knife set from a Shun or Miyabi set. In fact, it’s arguably barely geography, as there are Japanese style-knives made in Germany and vice versa. It’s that by forging technique and design, there are generally Japanese-style knives and German-style knives. So, what are the differences and which style is best?
The Shape of a Chef’s Knife

German knives traditionally have more curve than their Japanese counterparts. That curve facilitates the style of chopping referred to as “rocking.” Rocking is the motion you’re either familiar with or have likely witnessed from professional chefs who chop vegetables into perfect little segments faster than seems possible. The shape of a German chef’s knife does much of the work, which is what makes the rocking technique so efficient. Japanese knives have less of a curve, which means they can’t take advantage of the rocking technique in the same way. They are more suited for chopping clean, precise slices.

How Weight Differs Between Knives

German knives are generally heavier than Japanese knives. There’s not a clear benefit from a heavier or lighter knife. Some chefs insist on heavier knives, convinced their weight is a preparation asset. Others believe that lighter Japanese knives preclude fatigue. This is something of a theme, but whether you, or any chef, prefers Wusthof knives or a Miyabi set is largely determined by preference.

The Thickness of a Chef’s Knife Is a Cultural Difference

Unsurprisingly, Japanese knives are lighter than German knives because their blades carry less metal, being thinner. They also tend to be shorter. A thinner blade means that Japanese knives are usually sharper. German knives, being thicker, are better suited for heavier work, like cutting through the joints of chicken bones, or chopping a hard-rind melon more easily. This feature broadly reflects the sort of cooking being done in each location and culture: European cooking involves more meat from birds and larger mammals, like cows, pigs, sheep, and so on. Japanese cooking more often involves precise slicing of fish, vegetables, and generally smaller, thinner cuts of meat.

Different Forging Processes, Different Types of Steel

Japanese knives are sharper because thinner blades allow for lower edge angles. They are also traditionally made from harder steel than German knives. That may sound like an unequivocal “pro” in the Japanese knife corner, but not necessarily. German kitchen knives can still be made razor sharp. They do require sharpening and honing more often, but there’s a certain point at which the sharpness of a knife becomes less practical and more academic.

On the pro side, the “softer” steel of German knives also makes them marginally less brittle. This means that they are less likely to chip or shatter than their Japanese cousins, making them better for tougher work such as deboning meat.

Which Is Better: German or Japanese?

That brings us to the question posed by this article: which is better, a Japanese kitchen knife or knife set, or a German one? As suggested earlier, the answer is the one that works better for you and your style of cooking. Do you have smaller hands? Do you prefer boneless cuts of meat and poultry, and do a lot of lighter cooking with fish and veggies? If so, a high-quality santoku knife is very likely the way to go. If, however, you like working with bone-in roasts and cutting up whole cooked chickens and thwacking melons in half, opt for a solid German chef’s knife. Or, cover your bases and get one of each!

About CHEFS Catalog

Since their founding in 1979, CHEFS Catalog has provided the culinary world, amateur and professional, with the highest quality cookware and kitchen equipment available. CHEFS Catalog features an incredible selection of the most reliable and dependable kitchen solutions. That selection includes the finest cutlery, cookware sets, cooking appliances, an All Clad slow cooker, recipes, advice, and much more. Originally a cookware catalog—with Julia Child featured on an early CHEFS Catalog cover—they launched a leading-edge e-commerce site in 2017 to further share the finest-quality cookware and culinary accessories with the world.

Sharpen your skills and hone the craft of a true gourmet with the help of CHEFS Catalog, at Chefscatalog.com

Original Source: http://bit.ly/31TxCEY

It may not seem like the seasons would necessarily have specific cookware associated with them. After all, cooking is cooking regardless of what the temperature is outside, right? Actually, that’s not really the case—just tell that to a barbeque! There are a few other season-specific items of kitchenware, cookware sets, and cooking accessories that either have summer-specific uses or make the most sense in warm weather. Take a look at these if you want to step up your summer food game.
Better Grilling on Grill Pans

No doubt the most obvious of the cooking that requires good weather (without being miserable) is grilling. There’s something about cooking over coals that simply seems to improve the flavor of everything the heat touches. Case in point is the grill pan, terrific for a number of reasons. They allow you to grill (on open flames outdoors or on your stove) smaller foods that would fall through the grate, keep foods prone to burning away from the open flame, and support fare like fish that’s prone to fall apart when cooked. A grill pan (or two) is an invaluable addition to any griller’s repertoire.

Pizza Grilling—Yes, Put a Pizza on Your Grill

Speaking of taking grilling to the next level, until you’ve had pizza that you grilled yourself, you haven’t had pizza. Well, at least you haven’t had pizza in quite the same way. That special something that makes everything grilled taste better definitely applies to pizza. If you’re considering getting into pizza grilling, look for a pizza grilling pack that includes a pizza stone and a pizza peel, at least. You’ll never regret it.

Stay a Cut Above with Professional Knives

Although it’s not summer-specific, anyone hoping to take their cooking game up a few notches needs to browse through some high-quality kitchen knife sets and find one that speaks to them. Professional-grade kitchen knives are one of those investments that pays off for a long time. A professional-quality knife set from brands like Wusthof, Zwilling J.A. Henckels, Global, Shun, Mayabi, and Messermeister, if properly maintained, can last a lifetime. In addition to making the culinary process that much easier and more intuitive, many find that simply having high-quality knives motivates them to use them for a variety of homemade haute cuisine.

Coal-Cooked Camping Delights with a Dutch Oven

Anyone who has ever ended a day of camping by enjoying a meal cooked in a Dutch oven that’s been buried in the coals of the campfire is aware that they operate by the same flavor principle grilling does. Namely, everything cooked in a Dutch oven simply tastes better than the same food prepared by another means would. In addition to being innate flavor-enhancers, Dutch ovens are an extremely versatile piece of cookware. They can be heated by the earlier-mentioned hot coal-burial, by the flames of the fire itself, on top of a stove, and even in the oven. While coal-cooking in the summer may be the most fun way to use them, Dutch ovens are handy to have around all year long.

About CHEFS Catalog

Since their founding in 1979, CHEFS Catalog has provided the culinary world, amateur and professional, with the highest quality cookware and kitchen equipment available. CHEFS Catalog features an incredible selection of the most reliable and dependable kitchen solutions. That selection includes the finest cutlery, cookware sets, bakeware sets, cooking appliances, recipes, advice, and much more. Originally a cookware catalog—with Julia Child featured on an early CHEFS Catalog cover—they launched a leading-edge e-commerce site in 2017 to further share the finest-quality cookware and culinary accessories with the world.

Sharpen your skills and hone the craft of a true gourmet with the help of CHEFS Catalog, at Chefscatalog.com

Original Source: http://bit.ly/2X6wiQa

Despite all the work involved, there’s something appealing about throwing a dinner party. Whether your dinner party in question is likely to be more jeans and joking than tuxedos and martinis, who doesn’t want to impress their friends with a beautiful spread of amazing food? To ensure that your dinner party, whether formal or casual, goes off without a hitch, make sure you have the kitchen gear you need to properly execute dinner party prep work. The following is a selection of some of the culinary equipment that can help.
A Zwilling Smart Ridge Chef’s Knife

For chefs, their knives are as close to sacred as anything in the kitchen can be. They are the most important tool for pre-cooking prep work and are treated with the reverence their importance earns them. The most important of these knives are the chef knives (not to be confused with the chef’s knives collectively). A chef’s knife is generally 8-10 inches long and is used for most of the preparatory cutting, chopping, slicing, and julienning for any meal. A chef’s knife is an absolutely essential tool in professional and home kitchens alike.

One recently released chef’s knife has taken the culinary world by storm. It is the Zwilling J.A. Henckels Pro 8-Inch Smart Ridged Chef’s Knife. It features a ridge about an inch above the blade that pushes cut food away from the blade, increasing the efficiency of food-chopping considerably. It is now widely considered among the most user-friendly chef’s knife on the market today. And Zwilling J.A. Henckels’ knives rank among the best in the world.

A Copper Cookware Set

Copper cookware has the seemingly magical property of improving any cooking space it inhabits. They look perfectly at home hung up above a rustic wood-fired stove in a cabin, adding to the rustic charm. And they look just as much at home lined up neatly in the most advanced, efficient, professional 5-star kitchen, adding to the bustling modernity.

Apart from its attractive appearance, copper is an incredibly efficient conductor of energy, including heat energy. (Considerably more efficient than steel and aluminum, in fact.) Copper cookware can cook food far more quickly, more evenly, and with far less heat necessary. There are even some recipes that can only be prepared properly with copper.

When you’re cooking with copper cookware, make sure you have everything ready to go. High heat performance means a much quicker pace, and you may want to keep the heat lower on your stove than you would for other pans. Your friends at the dinner party will be extremely impressed when they see you have a set of copper cookware, and are also sure to benefit from the quality of dishes you’re able to make with it.

An Air Fryer

It’s probably unnecessary to describe how popular (and delicious) fried food is. Traditionally, frying that food involved submerging it in boiling oil. It’s probably also unnecessary to point out that the result was an oil-dripping treat that generally tasted great but wasn’t exactly great for you. And when the food was gone, a considerable quantity of used oil remained to clean up (including the oil that often splashed or popped out of the fryer). The saturation of the food in oil and the cleanup has always limited the widespread popularity of deep-frying food in the home. But the air fryer has changed all of that. Air fryers produce sinful-seeming fried food without large amounts of oil to deal with. And what dinner party guests were ever unexcited by fried food?

About CHEFS Catalog

Since their founding in 1979, CHEFS Catalog has provided the culinary world, amateur and professional, with the highest quality cookware and kitchen equipment available. CHEFS Catalog features an incredible selection of the most reliable and dependable kitchen solutions. That selection includes the finest cutlery, cookware sets, bakeware, cooking appliances, recipes, advice, and much more. Originally a cookware catalog—with Julia Child featured on an early CHEFS Catalog cover—they launched a leading-edge e-commerce site in 2017 to further share the finest-quality cookware and culinary accessories with the world.

Sharpen your skills and hone the craft of a true gourmet with the help of CHEFS Catalog, at Chefscatalog.com

Original Source: http://bit.ly/2Y7gFo8

A great Japanese santoku knife is like a copper cookware set — it’s not like terrific cooking can’t be done without one, they just make cooking that much better, easier, and more professional. Santoku knives have become as popular as they are because they’re perfect for making thinner, precise cuts of meat, fish, and vegetables. They are also known for world-renowned craftsmanship. The 7-inch santoku from the Miyabi Artisan 10 Piece Knife Block Set is the example that will be focused on here as it’s a blend of traditional, artisanal Japanese knife-making and modern material and technology.
The Japanese Santoku Blade-Forging Process

There are three famous, historical centers of bladesmithing in the Western world: Toledo, Spain; Sheffield, UK; and likely the most distinguished, Solingen, Germany—The City of Blades. For the Eastern world, there’s just one—Seki, Japan—where blades have been forged for samurai for generations. Miyabi’s knives are hand-forged in Seki using methods perfected over centuries, with the benefits of modern technology.

For instance, the blades themselves are layered SG2 micro-carbide powder steel, one of the finest and most durable in the world. The thin blade profile is initially forged at a great temperature, given a momentary quench at room temperature, and then ice-hardened at -196 degrees Celsius—the CRYODUR® method. The result is a blade that ranks a stunning 63 on the Rockwell hardness scale. That is among the strongest steel found in any knife, while retaining enough suppleness to preclude over-brittle.

The Traditional Japanese Sharpening and Finish

Every Miyabi Artisan santoku knife is honed to a razor’s edge (at least) with the traditional three-part “Honbazuke” honing method. It is first coarsely ground on a spinning sharpening stone, and the edge is then refined on a finer rotating sharpening stone. To lend it an incomparably sharp edge, the blade is then polished and finished with a hone on a leather stropping block. It is then that a santoku knife is imbued with a true samurai edge like a scalpel.

The Miyabi Artisan knives are also given a “Tsuchime” or hammered finish. The hammered effect of the finish gives the blade a contoured surface, contributing to its unique beauty and individuality. The finish is not purely an aesthetic touch, however. The contouring of the Tsuchime finish acts like the “hollow ground” divots now so common above the edge of many kitchen knives, which helps to prevent food from sticking to the blade.

The Iconic Santoku Knife Handle

The beautiful, hammered, scalpel-sharp, incredibly strong blades are seated in an artful and utilitarian handle. D-shaped for superior ergonomic comfort, the handle is made from cocobolo wood. Cocobolo is an extremely beautiful, aromatic, super-tough, water-resistant tropical hardwood prized as a component for knife (and gun) handles due to its toughness and water-resistance.

To increase the handle’s toughness further, the cocobolo is processed as “pakkawood.” Pakkawood is wood that’s undergone a process of pressing, sanding, and polishing, cocobolo in this case, and impregnating the wood with an epoxy that increases its strength and durability considerably. It is then set with high heat and pressure, ground to shape, sealed, and polished to a silky sheen. The result is a knife handle that can take anything the kitchen environment can dish out.

About CHEFS Catalog

Since their founding in 1979, CHEFS Catalog has provided the culinary world, amateur and professional, with the highest quality cookware and kitchen equipment available. CHEFS Catalog features an incredible selection of the most reliable and dependable kitchen solutions. That selection includes the finest cutlery, cookware sets, a top-tier saute pan line, bakeware, cooking appliances, recipes, advice, and much more. Originally a cookware catalog—with Julia Child featured on an early CHEFS Catalog cover—they launched a leading-edge e-commerce site in 2017 to further share the finest-quality cookware and culinary accessories with the world.

Sharpen your skills and hone the craft of a true gourmet with the help of CHEFS Catalog, at Chefscatalog.com

Original Source: http://bit.ly/2RBOwmU

Chefs may not agree on whether a santoku or a chef’s knife is preferable for cutting beef, or whether Wusthof knives or Miyabi knives hold a better edge. But you’d be hard-pressed to find one of them that didn’t passionately extol the virtue of good tools and lovingly describe the virtues of their knives.
Part of the reason for both those disagreements and their loyalty to their knives is the sheer variety of extremely high-quality kitchen knives available and the innovations continually improving them. So, if you’re passionate about cooking, take a look at the following innovations in culinary cutlery and consider choosing one, or more, to begin or improve your own set of cherished knives.

Respect the Ridge

For much of the culinary community, the seemingly-simple innovation brought by the Zwilling J.A. Henckels Pro 8-inch Smart Ridge Chef’s Knife sparked a collective “Why hasn’t anyone thought of that before?” As the name suggests, that innovation is a ridge in the blade about an inch above the edge. As food is cut, the ridge pushes it away from the blade, precluding it from sticking.

As a result, the Zwilling J.A. Henckels ridge knife is being hailed as one of the most user-friendly models on the market. Since it’s manufactured by the legendary Zwilling J.A. Henckels knifemakers, the Smart Ridge Chef’s Knife’s quality, edge, and balance are practically guaranteed to be among the best in the world.

Rise of the Santoku Knife

In all fairness, the santoku knife isn’t exactly a recent innovation or a just-arrived newcomer on the Western cuisine scene. They’ve been incorporated sufficiently that a Classic 18-piece Wusthof knife set includes a santoku. Not to mention that they’ve been the Japanese equivalent of the chef’s knife for decades. However, they’re new enough in the West that many still aren’t sure about their purpose or how they differ from a chef’s knife.

Basically, a santoku knife is the shorter, lighter Japanese equivalent of a chef’s knife. The santoku’s blade profile makes it less suitable for the “rocking” chopping style at which chef’s knives excel—its lean and lightweight construction, however, makes precision slicing a snap. Whether the chef’s knife or santoku is superior—while an increasingly popular debate among professional chefs—comes down to a matter of personal preference.

The Dynamic Ceramics

Whatever innovations, shapes, or features knives took, however, a blade could be trusted to remain steel. At least, that’s what most chefs thought before the introduction of ceramic knives. It’s an innovation that’s created a fair amount of controversy and resulted in some fervent pro and con camps among chefs. On the pro side, the characteristics of ceramic mean that it makes for incredibly sharp blades that last. Their blades don’t corrode or rust and don’t brown or change the taste of oils, acids, or other foods due to the absence of metallic ions. They’re also considerably lighter than steel (resulting in some being weighted to mimic the heft of steel). Doubters cite that lightness as a drawback and the fact that a special diamond tool is needed to sharpen ceramic knives. Whether or not ceramic is for you, once again, is a matter of preference. Consider giving a ceramic knife a try to see what you think of it.

About CHEFS Catalog

Since their founding in 1979, CHEFS Catalog has provided the culinary world, amateur and professional, with the highest quality cookware and kitchen equipment available. CHEFS Catalog features an incredible selection of the most reliable and dependable kitchen solutions. That selection includes the finest cutlery, cookware to complete a pots and pans set, cooking appliances, recipes, advice, and much more. Originally a cookware catalog—with Julia Child featured on an early CHEFS Catalog cover—they launched a leading-edge e-commerce site in 2017 to further share the finest-quality cookware and culinary accessories with the world.

Sharpen your skills and hone the craft of a true gourmet with the help of CHEFS Catalog, at Chefscatalog.com

Original Source: http://bit.ly/2FofwB8

It’s tempting to buy fancy kitchen tools and novel accessories, but when it comes to setting up your very first kitchen, it’s best to stick with the basics and first purchase long-lasting, high-quality, reliable essentials.

Once you have all your essential tools dialed in, then is the time to go about expanding your collection to include a milkshake maker and a sous vide cooker, and so much more. For now, let’s look at 10 must-have kitchen items that you need for your culinary creativity to flourish.

Chef’s Knife

If you only use one knife, choose a perfect chef’s knife that fits you like a glove. It’s designed to perform many different tasks, including mincing, slicing, and chopping. A premium-quality chef’s knife can handle everything from garlic to veggies to large cuts of beef with ease.

Cookware Set

An excellent cookware set is both versatile and durable without compromising on style. When you already have the essential cookware pieces, then buying others individually to complete your pots and pans set makes sense. However, if you are starting from scratch, then you might find it more economical to buy a set with everything you need included. At a minimum, you’ll want your set to include two different-sized saucepans, a stock pot, a saute pan, and a skillet.

Sheet Pan

Choose a quality multitasking sheet pan that’s good for roasting veggies, cooking fish, and baking cookies. It shouldn’t warp over time or become stained or corroded. Opt for a commercial-grade, heavy-gauge aluminized steel half- or quarter-sheet pan that’s easy to clean, and if you care for it, it will last for years.

Tongs

For those of you who end up purchasing nonstick cookware sets, you'll want to make sure you buy tongs that won't scratch up the surface of your pots and pans. Metal spatulas, whisks, and tongs are not suitable to use on nonstick pieces and can scratch and mar the nonstick coating after only a few uses. Heat-resistant silicone tongs are ideal for use on all cookware and will keep it safe.

Utensil Set

Once again, be sure to choose a nonstick-suitable set of utensils, including a spatula, solid spoon, slotted spoon, and a ladle. Prep, stir, and serve with a functional nylon set of kitchen tools and you can handle any dish from pasta to chocolate mousse.

Cutting Boar

Whether you’re slicing up an apple or cutting a steak, you need a cutting board that won’t slide around or dull your knives and that will keep your kitchen countertop scratch-free. Wood cutting boards are nice and classy, but make sure to pick up a product to condition and "oil" the cutting board so it will last for many chopping and slicing sessions to come.

Measuring Cups & Spoons Set

No more eyeballing your measurements for your famous pot of chili. You can find functional yet elegant stainless steel stackable sets of four measuring cups and four spoons together, so your recipes turn out just as tasty every time you make them.

Colander

A mesh strainer is an excellent tool for rinsing rice, sifting flour, or straining sauces, but isn’t a substitute for a colander. Whether you’re washing fruit, straining spaghetti, or draining cooked potatoes, you need a good-sized colander.

Can Opener

A quality, dependable can opener can be surprisingly hard to find. Look for one that’s easy-to-use and doesn’t leave jagged edges to avoid any accidental cuts. Also, just because it’s strictly utilitarian doesn’t mean it can’t look sleek while getting the job done, so look for one in a finish to match your other kitchen tools.

Bottle Opener/Cork Screw

To celebrate the purchase of all your new kitchen items, you’ll either want to pop the cork on a nice bottle of wine or pop the top off a bottle of beer. If that’s the case, you’ll need one handy tool that gets both jobs done.

About CHEFS Catalog

Since their founding in 1979, CHEFS Catalog has specialized in offering those in the culinary world, from professional and amateur, to at-home chefs, kitchen equipment of the highest quality and performance. CHEFS Catalog strives to provide the finest and most practical kitchen solutions with their vast offerings including an amazing copper cookware set selection, along with recipes, advice, and more. CHEFS Catalog remains passionate about everything culinary, so they understand the need for long-lasting and reliable kitchenware. They began as a commercial catalog, featuring Julia Child on an early cover. Since then, CHEFS Catalog has evolved into the source for quality cookware and accessories, launching a cutting-edge e-commerce site in 2017.

Learn more about the incredible selection of kitchenware CHEFS Catalog offers, at Chefscatalog.com