Indispensable Cooking Tools

[cattygurl]

What are your indispensable cooking tools?

Global Knives- the best knives I've ever owned, hands down. The knife collection started at a mere 5 knives, it's slowly increasing to 8.
Kasumi Water Stones- keeps the knife in top-notch condition
Global diamond steel- ditto
Shinkansen Ceramic sharpener- for when i don't have time to use the water stone- great little interim sharpening tool

My Silpat and Roulpat the silpat helps me make the best lace cookies ever.

Silicone spatula- my life has not been the same since they came out.

Microplane graters- cheese grating (or grating in general) have never been the same.

[Charlie]

A properly seasoned wok. I've got a lot of knives, but the three that get the most use are a Chinese cleaver a santoku knife and a small paring knife.

[cattygurl]

^^ I do not have a "real" wok- mine is a nonstick (boo!) version.

I am thinking of getting a decent wok. I've heard so much conflicting info- anyone have wok-picking tips around here?

[Charlie]

The only kind of wok to use is the cheap, carbon steel kind. I got mine here: www.wokshop.com. But you can get them at any Chinese market for less. I bought a nonstick one, but returned it, since the coating started coming off after using it once.

Stir frying needs to be done on high heat - full blast on a home stove (which still isn't even nearly as hot as the stoves in Chinese restaurants). With nonstick, high heat destroys the coating.

[ellencho]

Rice cooker, pressure cooker, and kitchenaid stand mixer. Also, all the old Japanese knives my grandma gave me when I first moved out on my own.

[blockthebox]

Can opener, wine/beer opener, microwave, fry pan.

[BIG_Canon]

^^ I do not have a "real" wok- mine is a nonstick (boo!) version.

I am thinking of getting a decent wok. I've heard so much conflicting info- anyone have wok-picking tips around here?

As Charlie said, chinatown is where you get them. The expensive ones are never more than $30-40. Most people get the $15-20 ones are good enough. If you get the high calibre carbon fibre with baked on coating it doesn't come off regardless of temperature. There are stainless steel ones but it doesn't conduct heat as fast as the black carbon fibre woks. The old ladies know which ones are the best. Ask them in the store. Some people prefer the hand made ones. Also, if you get the black coated ones you MUST rub the wok with small amount of oil to prevent rusting after you wash it. Under proper treatment and care, most woks will last 10-15 yrs. on average. My cousin's gramma was very particular about her cooking utensils and her wok lasted 30 yrs plus until she died at 104 yrs. old! :shock:

[wuwei]

This is kinda OT, but Catty, do you know of any big Asian grocery stores in San Diego, besides Ranch 99?

Ranch 99 always carries the same ole stuff, I am sick of it.

[vsoy]

Heard about this on a food board, a rice cooker with a bibimpap setting! Not sure if it is a gimmick or it really can deliver the real deal. Description rather cryptic. When you look at other vendors, most don't mention this feature.
http://www.amazon.com/Sanyo-ECJ-F50S-Fuzzy-Cooker-Steamer/dp/B000I2FO4W

Product Description
Enjoy perfect rice with no hassle, everytime, with this Rice Cooker/Steamer with Fuzzy Logic Technology. The titanium-coated, extra-thick, nonstick inner pot with round bottom provides maximum heat distribution and optimum cooking. The multi-menu selections customize each batch to the specific type of rice you are creating, such as: white rice, brown rice, rinse-free rice, mixed rice, sweet rice, sprouted brown rice. Slow cook function is perfect for soups and stews too! Other features include:LCD Clock and 24-Hour Preset TimerEasy-to-Clean Removable Steam VentAutomatic Keep-Warm FunctionUnique Steaming Plate for Vegetables or EggsDol sot bi bim bap is a quintessential Korean rice dish; bi bim bap combines bits of beef and slivered vegetables. Cooked rice is placed in the pot (dol sot), heated for several minutes and topped with the other ingredients. An exclusive Sanyo feature.Rectractable CordMeasuring Cup, Nonstick Spatula and Manual with Recipes includedHas a 5-c. capacity and measures 13-in. long x 11.25-in. wide x 10.1-in. high. One-year warranty on parts and labor.

[ellencho]

I suppose it makes sense if you're serving for one or two people, but the point of the dolsot is to have the crusty rice on the bottom of your own individual dolsot, so serving six people from that rice cooker wouldn't be as fun.

[DijabutiA]

My rice cooker, small frying pan and spatula! :lol: