A chef uses a variety of tools to prepare, cook and present food.
Here is a list of essential kitchen tools, including a selection of professional kitchen utensils, that a chef might use in the kitchen on a daily basis:
Kitchen knives and peelers: chef's knives, paring knives, carving knives, peeling knives and other knives used specifically for food preparation.
Chopping boards: these can be made of wood, plastic such as polyethylene, or even stainless steel, which is a surface that does not absorb liquids or odours and does not present a risk of bacterial growth.
Kitchen scissors: handy for cutting herbs, opening packages, etc.
Mandolin: This cutting tool can be used to slice and julienne vegetables and fruit in small or large quantities, saving time. The mandolin can also be used to slice cheese.
Graters: for easy grating of cheese, vegetables and more or less hard foods such as nutmeg, carrots, potatoes, peel, etc.
Electric mixers and whisks: for mixing or whisking ingredients quickly and evenly. Electric whisks save valuable time.
Blender: for making soups and smoothies. It can be used to blend, chop and even emulsify different foods and liquids. It's a versatile tool that's widely used in cooking and baking.
Kitchen scales: to make sure you weigh the ingredients in your recipes accurately, often to the nearest gram.
Food processor: for chopping, mixing, grating, etc. A food processor can replace several small, specialised food processors, allowing you to carry out a task with the utmost precision.
Colanders: for washing and draining vegetables, draining pasta, rice and vegetable cooking water and cooling food.
Pots and pans: in different sizes to suit your different preparations.
Frying pans: stainless steel, non-stick or cast iron, for cooking a wide range of foods. The shape of the frying pan can have specific features depending on its use: crepe pan, grill pan, blini pan, etc.
Baking trays: for roasting or browning food in the oven. It can be made of stainless steel, enamelled cast iron, glass or aluminium.
Kitchen thermometers: to check the temperature of food and ensure optimum cooking results. Meat thermometers are used to check whether your meat is done, but can also be used to check the temperature of fish, pâtés, custards, chocolate, etc.
Kitchen tongs: very useful for turning food while it's cooking, whether it's pieces of meat, vegetables or fish fillets in the pan. Easy to use, kitchen tongs allow you to handle food safely without touching it, whether your meal are hot or not. There are also tongs for precise plating.
Ladles and skimmers: indispensable in the kitchen and perfect for serving, ladling or draining food. Available in a range of materials including wood and polypropylene.
Trays: eat with your eyes! Pay attention to the presentation of your food and choose the right utensils for your food.
Wood and silicone utensils: very useful in cookware with a non-stick surface to avoid scratching;
Citrus juicers: for quick and easy extraction of juice from citrus fruits, oranges, mandarins, lemons, grapefruit, pomelos and pomegranates.
Mixing bowl: this semi-spherical pastry bowl makes it easy to mix ingredients with a whisk and whip egg whites and cream quickly and easily.
Pastry board: for working dough and baking desserts. Rectangular, made of wood, smooth plastic or silicone, it can be used as a work surface for dusting flour, rolling out pastry, chopping ingredients, etc.
Baking moulds: these allow you to give your pastry preparations a variety of shapes: stainless steel, silicone, iron, glass, aluminium or ceramic.
Pastry cutters: ideal for decorating your cakes and desserts. The "decorating" tips come in a variety of shapes and the different tips allow you to create a wide range of decorations.
Kitchen brushes: for applying glazes and marinades to meat and fish, and for egg yolk gilding.
Sharpening stones: for regular maintenance of your knives and to sharpen their blades.
These different tools are essential for any cook and cover a wide range of tasks in the kitchen, from preparing ingredients to cooking and presenting meals.
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