Smart Way to Build a Functional Kitchen
Third set of kitchen essential will focus on the importance of good quality. Items and equipments in the kitchen should be of good quality that would mean it last a lifetime, which in a human lifetime is about 30-50 years. A thing that has a great quality will last more than one lifetime, where it would be passed on and utilized to its fullest from one generation to another. The ultimate money saver is when an item has fully depreciated, in accounting-financial term, and lasted a lifetime but very much functional and efficient.
The first kitchen essentials reflects the initial items one needs in a kitchen to get one starting not only just cooking but also appreciating good healthy food. The second set of essentials discuss versatility, a bonus it also to set up so one could cook, a basic but delicious meal, Carbonara. This current set hope to convey that good quality is important. Price tag and/or a known brand are not signs of good quality; it takes mindfulness and critical desertion with the help of information from material and manufacturing process use, honest reviews, verifiable experience of other and oneself in order to conclude that certain item is of good quality. Let us sharpen that sensibility with the following kitchen essentials.
1. Kettle
Kettle, or teakettle, is a type of pot used in cooking, specifically for boiling water. Classically it is made from metal, with main structures of a lid, a spout and a handle. Considering kettle will be used every day, functionality wise a lighter weight stainless steel is practical than a cast-iron kettle. Copper kettle is another light weight but quite tedious to clean, similar with a cast-iron. Hence such types are not ideal for daily use, but would be fine as a cooking ware collection, like a Japanese cast-iron kettle called Tetsubin [1].
Another quality I consider in selecting a kettle that has a circular structure with a heavier the bottom, as it will conduct more heat. A long thin spout kettle would be ideal for coffee drinkers who used dripper, like me, but I will forgo for more utilitarian purpose of a goose neck spout. Then, for the rest of the appearance it is all purely for aesthetic reason, preferring a more classic look would mean it will never go out of style and it would outlive modern trends.
Plastic components are a concern in anything that is subjected in intense environment, like heat or cold. These are the parts that break easily and/or deforms and making a kettle looks unpleasant and harder to clean, hence functionally, quality and beauty wise it is a great letdown. So, it is more preferably having no or limited plastic component as much as possible.
Owning a kettle would be a money and time saving measure as you can make your own coffee and minimize buying over-priced, waste accumulating and high-sugar content commercial coffee. Making your own coffee or tea will help in reducing garbage and increasing your savings. It will also help in predicting what kind of food you will be preparing in the future.
2. Dripper
This is a must for all the coffee drinkers aka caffeine addicts out there. A wide range of designs and princes are available. An alternative item for tea and/or non coffee drinkers would be a small metal deep cone-shaped fine mesh sieve with long hooks and handle to strain tea leaves and herbs for making tea; strain seeds and/or clumps for making sweets, custards and other pastries.
3. Paring knife
The essential 8 inches chef knife is meant to be use on the cutting board, the 3-3.5 inches paring knife is meant to be use off the cutting board, like for peeling, coring and the likes. One could still use it on the cutting board for small work, but it meant to be use for the hand [2].
4. Flatware
Flatware denotes to flat tableware, such as dishes and saucers made of metal, but it is refer especially to eating and serving utensils, such as forks, spoons and knives [3]. It is basic cutlery but made of stainless steel, compare to silverware that is made of or plated with silver. Stainless steel flatware is produced with different alloy quality described by percentage of chrome that range from 18/10, 18/8, 18/0 to 13/0 [4]. The first number represent chromium, which gives the flatware rust and stain-resistant qualities, while the second number refers to amount of nickel, as there is more nickel the shiner it is, mimicking the sheen of silverware. There have been speculations that 18/10 doesn’t exist and it is just a marketing strategy, if you want to know more about this issue, let me know from your comment below. Another factor to consider is the finish, pertaining the comfortable edges, and smoothness.
5. Dishware
These are dishes used for serving food, a wide range of variety based on function, on material and manufacturing process. Since this article pertain to essential choosing for the purpose of kitchen aesthetic and/or entertainment might be better covered in another article. Dishes material and process varies from ceramics, fine china, bone china, stoneware to glass, would depend on its availability and affordability. The very basic items one needs are dinner plate, salad plate and soup bowl, and maybe a couple of serving plate. For the basic design and size of dishware would depend on the number of housemates. White is classic and safe to assume it is lead-free, hence a lot who like it simple are partial to the brand Corelle.
6. Glassware
Glassware is another type of drink ware, together with a couple of microwavable mugs, these are few essentials to add on, starting with tall highball glasses and short old-fashioned glasses. These are everyday glasses like the highball or tumbler type could contain 240 to 350 ml, the more volume the better. It is ideal for drinks with lots of ice and volume, like sodas, iced teas, iced coffee, shakes and smoothies, while the short old-fashioned glasses are for fruit juices. Other glassware like wine glasses, beer glasses and the likes are collections that would be suited under barware.
Good quality synonymous to durability. Kitchen essential should be made for everyday use, and with basic care should last a lifetime. However, with profit-oriented industries and corrupt politicians who aims to deregulate quality standard due to vested interest the honesty to manufacture good quality product is becoming rare. With great hope this post provided good information for better decision making and inspires ideas that could help in assembling and/or improving one’s kitchen.
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As always enjoy cooking!
Reference
1. California Academy of Sciences. (n.d.). Tetsubins: Iron Treasures of Japan. [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/anthropology/tetsubin/index.html
2. Hiroyuki Terada - Diaries of a Master Sushi Chef. (2017, July 9). How To Choose The Perfect Knife - 4 Things To Consider. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nTBEbMQBGQ
3. Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary (10th ed.). (1993). Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster.
4. Crate&Barrel. (n.d.). Everything You Need to Know About Choosing Flatware. [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.crateandbarrel.com/ideas-and-advice/flatware-buying-guide
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