Kitchen Gear to
 Make Cooking Easier

Essentials that will make you a better cook

Time saving kitchen tools Time saving kitchen tools

Words by

The Valet. staff

Photography by

Courtesy

Published

September 10, 2020

Updated

September 30, 2021

Cooking is a craft that takes practice and concentration to do well. But it's also a skill. And like golf or fly fishing, your gear can make a big difference in your performance. If you feel like cooking is a drag or takes too much effort, you might simply require an upgrade. You need pieces that pull double duty. Items that work faster than the standard kitchen fare. Investing in a proper kitchen kit is a way of motivating yourself to cook more often and be more experimental. With that in mind, here are five essential pieces that will help you step up your dinner (and lunch and breakfast) game.

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Best Time-Saving
 Kitchen Tools

Proclamation Goods Co. Proclamation Duo

The Proclamation Duo

Don't clutter up your cabinets with a lot of pots and pans. This streamlined set of two pans features an innovative hybrid design—a deep wok/stockpot can be covered with its sidekick skillet to make a modern Dutch oven. The end result offers unmatched functionality, allowing you to sear, sauté, stir-fry, boil, braise and bake with just two pieces. Plus, they're made in the U.S., are induction compatible, chemical and toxin free, oven and dishwasher safe and naturally low-stick and scratch resistant. You can't really ask for more.

$379 by Proclamation Goods Co.

Silpat Mat

Silpat Mat

Never worry about lining a pan with foil or parchment paper again. Because these mats—constructed from layers of silicon and mesh fiberglass—are durable and absolutely non-stick. Cookies, vegetables or sticky chicken wings—nothing will stick to them. So cleanup is quicker too.

$23.49 by Silpat

Miyabi Japanese Chef Knife

Japanese Chef’s Knife

If you want to prep food quickly, you need a capable knife. You don't need to spend a lot, but investing in a quality blade means that it will hold up to repeated use and maintain its sharpness. Crafted in the samurai sword-making capital of the world, Seki, Japan, Miyabi merges Japanese craftsmanship with German engineering expertise to produce the ultimate kitchen knife.

$165 / $94.99 by Miyabi

Zwilling Personal Blender

Personal Blender

Sure you can make smoothies and shakes. But a blender is great for making quick work out of blending soups, sauces and pestos as well. Even grinding breadcrumbs or whipping potatoes. This one is by knife maker Zwilling, so you know the blades will be sharp and get the job done.

$130 / $99.99 by Zwilling

Kuhn Rikon Swiss Peeler

Swiss Peeler

Not all peelers are created equal. Chefs prefer this Swiss brand because it's light and has an easy grip. That, in turn, makes it peel veggies and fruit with expert-level speed and precision.

$9.99 by Kuhn Rikon

Time-Saving Practices

Food storage

Double your recipe

Save pre-portioned meals for lunch or freeze them for an easy future dinner.

Post-meal clean-up

Clean as you go

Toss scraps, clear the counter and fill the sink with soapy water to rinse utensils and dishes as you cook. It’ll make post-dinner clean-up much quicker.

Post-meal clean-up
Recipe

Read the full recipe
before starting

Don’t waste time going back and forth. Don’t let a time-consuming step blindside you. Read it over before you start and it’ll go so much smoother.

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