I'm a pretty serious foodie. My love of food started at an early age and only grew as my abuelita and mami taught me how to cook. To this day, whenever I go home to visit my mom, she's always got a cool new kitchen tool. Sometimes it's something silly (like a watermelon knife) and other times it's something that I now use almost all the time (like my avocado peeler).
No matter what the brand new gadget I'm eyeing, I definiltey have my top 10 kitchen tools that I absolutely, positively could NOT live without. These are the tools that make me happy, help me make great food and keep me coming back for more…food, that is!
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What are your favorite kitchen tools? Share with us in the comments below!
8" Chef's Knife
Ever since I took my vegetarian cooking classes back in June, I have really fallen in love with my 8" chef's knife. Once I learned how to properly use it (most of us actually use knives incorrectly!), it's become my favorite tool. In fact, I pretty much ignore all of my other knives these days. This one's all I need!
Pressure Cooker
What kind of Latina would I be if I didn't have a love affair with my pressure cooker? My mom taught me how to use one early on and it's pretty much the only way that I know to prepare frijoles negros (Cuban black beans) and my abuelita's delicious moros y cristianos. I've even made bean soups in it!
Lemon-Lime Juicer
Do you cook with a lot of lemon and lime? I know I do! I squeeze the stuff into salads, on top of fish and chicken. On yea, and of course with steak! Really, citrus juice goes into probably 80% of my recipes and I couldn't have a kitchen without this thing, since it helps me get the most out of the tropical fruit.
Metal Tongs
Metal tongs have become a major part of my cooking ever since my mom gave me a pair a few years ago. They're what I use whenever I cook any kind of animal meat, whether I'm making my abuelita's steak recipe or cooking up my dad's fried shark (one of my absolute favorites). It's seriously the easiest way to do it!
Rice Cooker
This one's kind of a DUH, isnt' it? I know that it's pretty easy to make rice on the stovetop but I can honestly say that I have NEVER done that because I have always owned one of these beauties. I mean, there's just nothing simpler than coming home, pouring in some rice and waiting for it to be done. I've now even started to make quinoa this way!
Mesh Colander
I used to have a plastic colander back when I just didn't know any better, I guess. The mesh colander has been my savior lately, though. I use it to drain pasta and veggies. Sometimes I just use it as a display for fresh fruit (one of my favorite things to do when I'm having company over) and it goes with pretty much any decor. I just love it!
Tea Strainer
This is one place where you'll probably think I'm the worst Cuban ever but, I have to admit that I really don't like coffee. I don't know why but it always just tastes to bitter to me. I know, I know, my family yells at me about it, too. But I just can't help it! Instead, I drink a TON of tea–and also use my trusty tea strainer to add flavor to sauces and even sometimes dessert.
Slow Cooker
Not a lot of people I meet know that you can actually use a trusty crockpot to make delicious Latin slow cooker meals but, let me tell you, I am OBSESSED with doing it. I can't even begin to tell you how many times this tool has saved my dinner because I was able to just load it up in the morning and come home to a warm meal. It's seriously my favorite by far.
Baking Tray
I'm definitely the baker in my family. Sure, my aunt makes a pretty good flan and Cuban torrejas but, whenever we all get together, I tend to be the one to do the baking. I'm always inspired to try something new and it's often some sort of Latin take on a classic cake. I don't know why this gives me so much joy, but it does. And I wouldn't be able to do it without my favorite baking tray!
Tupperware Food Storage
At the end of the day, what do I do with all the delicious food? I store it! The smartest thing that I do (at least in my belief) to keep the weight off is make huge meals on the weekends–but then put them all away for lunch later on that week. My kitchen just wouldn't function without my tupperware because I use it to store (and often freeze) lunches for months at a time.