The big remodeling job is done, and you’ve got a kitchen that’s fit for minor royalty. You’re ready to entertain, and it’s time to start thinking about food preparation and the presentation of the sumptuous dinners you’re looking forward to preparing. Before you put your new kitchen to work, it’s time to get back to the basics. Will your cooking utensils help or hinder your cookery? It’s up to you to make sure they help! Here’s where to begin.
1. Check out Your Knives
No serious cook is without some seriously good knives to slice, dice, chop, and peel. If your knives were high quality, to begin with but are becoming a bit dull, you need a good sharpening stone to sharpen them up again. Master the technique, and you’ll never tolerate a blunt knife again. Do check out the quality of your knives, and how comfortable they are to work with. If you settled for second-best when you bought them, now’s a good time to get some truly stylish chef knives that say you mean business!
2. Chopping Boards: Practicality First, Looks Second
That marble chopping board looks great! There’s just one problem: it’s going to blunt your knives and it may even chip the blades. There’s a good reason why wooden chopping boards never go out of fashion. If you already have wooden chopping boards but they’re starting to look worn, refurbish them. If not, it’s time to go shopping. There are some truly beautiful wooden chopping boards to be had, and your kitchen deserves one. What’s trending? Bamboo cutting boards!
3. Don’t Let Cheap Pots and Pans Spoil the Effect – or Your Food!
Mismatched, cheap pots and pans will detract from the clean, smart look of your stylish kitchen – and they might even spoil the food you cook in them. After all, warped pots and pans that don’t distribute heat well need a lot of minds when they’re on the stove. Stainless steel is the best option. Choose pots with thick bottoms that will absorb and distribute heat evenly. Judge their quality by looking at the gauge of the metal as well as the quality of handles and lids. Looking for something different? Copper pots lined with stainless steel are in the mode, and so is colorful cookware.
4. Add Some Handy Gadgets
You may not actually need them – after all, one can do things the hard way, but there are some fun and quirky items you might want for your kitchen all the same. Tired of dusting up crumbs from countertops with a damp cloth? Half of them seem to end up on the floor! How about a handheld crumb vacuum? Is pizza night a staple in your house? Pizza scissors (it looks like half a normal pair of scissors) give you leverage and cut through in a trice. Or perhaps you’d like some quirky ice molds to make spheres, flowers, and other fun ice shapes for cocktail evenings. Shop your local homeware stores for cute kitchen gadgets with a touch of difference.
Well-Equipped and Looking Great
A good-looking kitchen deserves some equally attractive kitchen equipment. Keep your color scheme in mind, be practical, and choose quality, but have a little fun choosing the right items to bring your new kitchen to life. You’ll enhance your reputation as a good cook and foodie too!