Gilly’s Blog Thoughts: Kitchen Tools

Let’s talk about tools and the importance of good tools in the kitchen. Here’s a story about Gilly in the kitchen from many years ago.

I once had a skillet I’d been using since college and never gave it’s quality a second thought. One day I rinsed it while it was still hot, and it bent radically. I had to laugh as I also realized I needed to buy a new one and soon.

I had purchased high-quality kitchen pots and pans for a friend who loved Calphalon but had never felt I could be extravagant that way for myself. I was using some pretty crappy tools in my kitchen. However, now I needed a new pan, and Williams-Sonoma was having a sale, so I purchased three sizes of Calphalon pans for myself. Well, It’s been 23 years since that day, and I’m about due for new ones. Immediately, I noticed my cooking improved. It blew me away. Now my eggs cooked evenly didn’t stick to the pan, and I wasn’t worried my skillet would buckle or burn the food on one side. When I purchased good quality, cooking became more enjoyable, and the meals far tastier.

I have a version of that same story on every object in my kitchen, from blenders to knives to my favorite wooden spoon. Each story funny as it continues to inform my decision to buy the best and keep it for years. My recommendations not only come from my personal preferences but research on the subjects. I love research and am always happy and open to new ideas and suggestions.

At the end of all my recipes, I list purchase notes with a few of my favorite things. It is wise to prepare yourself for success. Cooking should not be complicated, and good tools make things simple. Yes, you will spend more today, but I guarantee you the joy you will get using high-quality versus money wasted buying junk that won’t last is no comparison. I have learned this from personal experience.

Check out my Purchase Essentials page. You will see what I use, and feel free to ask me why I prefer using a particular thing if I haven’t mentioned it already. You will notice which items you may need and what items you may own but (like my terrible pan) deserves to be replaced.

Now, let’s get into it and get cooking!