ESSENTIAL SMALL ELECTRIC
TOOLS
There’s no shortage of fun gadgets for the kitchen, but there
are only a few that you absolutely need. Here’s your basic
starter kit, in descending order of importance. Notice that
the three most important items on this list are tools used for
measuring. That is not an accident.
- Instant-Read Thermometer
This is it, folks: the one thing that more than any other
purchase you can make will really revolutionize your
cooking (especially if you often cook, or have ever been
afraid of cooking, proteins). A good instant-read
thermometer is the only way to ensure that your roasts,
steaks, chops, and burgers come out that perfect medium-
rare every time. Forget about poking meat with your finger,
relying on inaccurate timing guides, or the nick-and-peek
method. Buy a high-quality digital instant-read thermometer,
and never serve a piece of over- or undercooked meat
again.
The Splash-Proof Super-Fast Thermapen by
ThermoWorks has a hefty price tag ($86), but it’s money
well spent. It’s head and shoulders above the competition,
with a stunning range of –58° to 572°F (–50° to 300°C),
one-tenth of a degree precision, unparalleled accuracy, and
a read time of under three seconds. Because of its wide
range, you won’t need separate meat, candy, and deep-fry
thermometers—a single tool does all three tasks, and how.
Aside from my knives, it’s my favorite piece of kit. For