Knives:

Probably one of the most important tools in your kitchen, and we opt for investment on this one. A good knife will outlast other equipment you get for your kitchen. However if you are on a tight budget, just make sure you get a stainless steel knife because they don’t rust.
What you need, is a set of 3 knives, a big 15 to 20 cm knife for cutting meat, poultry, vegetables… an 8 to 10 cm knife for more precise cutting, peeling, carving… and a bread knife.
It is very important that you hold the knife in your hand make sure it is not too heavy or too long for you to manage easily, before making the purchase.

Cutting Boards:

There are different materials used for cutting boards, a few things to look for:
• Material: try a cutting board made from polypropylene; it is durable plastic that is easy to clean.
• Handles: to make it easy to lift the board of surfaces
• Non slippery and non sticky: this is more of a safety feature that of inconvenience, you don’t want your board doing trick while you’re holding knives.
• Indents around on the edges of the board to prevent spilling
You should highly consider getting 3 different boards differentiated by color or size, to avoid cross contamination; one for meat, the second for poultry and a third for vegetables.

Vegetable peeler:

There are two kinds of peelers, the Y shaped peeler and the traditional peeler. After peeling our way through pounds of potatoes we’ve found the Y shaped easier to handle. Same as with all your kitchen tools, go for stainless steel blades to prevent rust, and hold the peeler in your hand, make sure it is comfortable for your grip. A lot of peelers come with a scoop on one side, used for removing damaged parts of fruits and veggies, go for that.

Can Opener:

It should have a strong grip and a sharp blade to hatch through the can easily, the knob should turn smoothly. Go for stainless steel, it lasts longer and doesn’t rust.

Grater:

You’re going to need this for grating carrots, cheese, chocolate just to name a few, so pick one that has several surfaces or handles depending on what you pick. Stainless steel is the best option for durable tools and to prevent rusting.

Blender/Mixer:

This is a very important appliance as it takes difficult tasks off your hands, choose one that has multiple heads; mixing, chopping, whipping. There are two kinds of mixers, handheld mixers are easier to store and clean, plus you can use it in different bowls.

Squeezer:

There are two kinds of squeezer, the electric and a manual squeezer both come in different sizes. Depends on how often you’ll be using it and the quantity of fruits you’ll be squeezing. Regardless of your choice, make sure you pick a steady squeezer that won’t slip and slide.

Vegetable Corer:

This tool will come in handy especially in the Middle Eastern cuisine, as there are a number of tasty dishes that require the use of this tool. We recommend stainless steel to prevent rusting and for its durability. Select one that feels comfortable in your grip.

Garlic Smasher:

Polypropylene plastic is durable, easy to clean and odor resistant. Some smashers come in other materials like wood, but the odor tends to stick around. Usually all smashers come with a deep bowl so that it prevents food from spreading around.
As for the handheld smasher, select one that has a firm grip and is stainless steel to prevent rusting and for durability.

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