Is there a gadget or piece of kitchen equipment that you can't live without? —Lauren F., St. Louis
Yes, several. One is basic, one’s sentimental, and the other is an invaluable shortcut tool introduced to me by my wife.
Most cooks would say their chef's knife is indispensable, and my J.A. Henckels with a polypropylene handle is testament to that. An occasional trip to Bertarelli Cutlery for sharpening and regular use of a sharpening steel has kept it in near-perfect condition for 35 years.
Close behind is an oversized, 2-inch-thick walnut cutting board, procured at a mid-Missouri emporium called Walnut Bowls. I paid $35 for it in 1980 (an almost unjustifiable splurge), but today it's almost always in use if I’m in the kitchen.
While chopping aromatics on that cutting board one evening, my then-new wife asked, “Why not use the Slap Chop?” As I gave her the side eye, she produced a small, manual food chopper with super-sharp stainless-steel blades and proceeded to mince more garlic and shallots in 15 seconds than I’d knocked out in minutes. While most home cooks still enjoy slicing, dicing, and trying to create the perfect brunoise, there’s no harm in yielding to this bit of gadgetry when time or laziness becomes an issue. (Pro tip: In my experience, the Pampered Chef Food Chopper is the most reliable and durable option.)
The bottom line: When it comes to kitchen utensils and equipment, don't pinch pennies. Quality goods last a lifetime.
Do you have an indispensable kitchen tool, gadget, or implement of destruction? Let us know in the comments section below.
Follow George on Twitter @stlmag_dining or send him an email at gmahe@stlmag.com. For more from St. Louis Magazine, subscribe or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
