THE 3 SURPRISING HEROES OF MY KITCHEN
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I'm not one for conspicuous consumption, but I do believe that a well-equipped kitchen will help you become a better cook. That's why I'm sharing my favorite kitchen essentials in this multi-part mini-series.
No unitaskers, no frivolous splurges, just quality equipment that will (hopefully) last a lifetime. Or, in the case of #2 below, things that will work so hard for you that you use them TO DEATH.
Up first: the 3 low-key items I use every day (that aren't pans, knives, or utensils).
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Oven Gloves
I have very stubby fingers and small hands, so I always felt like I couldn't grip anything properly in large mitten-style oven mitts, and with regular potholders, the backs of my hands always feel too exposed to oven racks, steam, or whatever my general clumsiness might encounter.
With oven gloves, I can use a pair of tongs, lift off a Le Creuset lid, open an oven door, move a casserole dish, all with the ease of my bare paws. Better than basic potholders or bulky mitts, these give you so much more dexterity for grabbing screaming hot lids, handles, and food itself (hello, grilled corn in the husk!) while offering 360-degree protection.
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Breville Smart Oven Air
As I've been evangelizing about the Breville to friends and family for almost a decade, this one isn't a surprise. I've written odes to it on The Kitchn and Today Food. It has changed my life in so many wonderful ways.
In fact, after I wore our first model into the ground after 6 years of hard service (some might say abuse), I went right out and bought the bigger, better, flashier, newer, and yes, pricier model - the Smart Oven Air - because I couldn't go a single day without this magical appliance.
It really truly works as effectively as a full-size oven without heating up my kitchen half as much, and the new model has so much more than toast/bake options. It's also an air fryer and dough proofer, just to name two. Worth every penny and every inch of counter space.
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Mason Jars
Dishwasher safe, non-reactive, versatile as all heck, there's really no limit to how you can use mason jars in the kitchen.
Peek in my fridge: mason jars are holding everything from sun tea to cold brew coffee to homemade salsa to caramel sauce to lime wedges to salad dressing.
In the pantry, they're storing my dry goods like pasta, rice, beans, dried fruit, and snacks like marshmallows or Goldfish crackers and keeping them from going stale. In the freezer, specialty flours, nuts, and more leftover sauces are kept safe until I need them.
The 4-ounce size is perfect for taking single servings of snacks (2 Oreos fit perfectly). And the cats still haven't figured out how to get into them, which is more than I can say for any store packaging.
Bonus: a wide-mouth canning funnel makes it so easy to fill jars with dry goods like rice, cornmeal, popcorn, or anything that might spill all over the counter as you're transferring it from bag to jar.
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RECENTLY ON GOOD. FOOD. STORIES.
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Elote Tater Tots
Elote tater tots do street corn one better, featuring tots covered in fresh summer corn and homemade cheese sauce. And they're made entirely on the grill!
Get the recipe >>
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