Untesils & Hand Tools

Spoonulas are very important in any kitchen on so many levels.

What is the difference between a spatula and a spoonula? A spoonula is a spatula with an improved ability to scoop (the shape of blade reminds me of a spoon).

You can buy basic plastic versions (usually white), which are not heat proof, but work great:

1. Icing
2. Pastry cream
3. Batter
4. Scraping a bowl
5. Mashed potatoes
6. Stirring a salad
7. Great for scooping too

A heatproof spoonula offers all the benefits of a regular spoonula and as a bonus, it is heatproof up to 500°F. This is useful for any kind of meal, but is especially beneficial when cooking sauces and other heat sensitive products which stick to the bottom of pans very easily. A heat proof spoonula is simply worth a little extra money thanks its versatility.

For most households, the most convenient size is 10”. I would recommend purchasing a few to have them available at any time.

You should purchase commercial versions since they last significantly longer than those made just for household use.

Tongs are very important in any kitchen. They will become handy, not just for cooking and grilling but also for serving.

I would recommend selecting only a professional grade made from stainless steel. They will last a long time in any household and be of great use.

I would recommend purchasing at least one of each of the following sizes:
7” – short size convenient for serving
10” – medium size convenient for cooking
12” – long size convenient for cooking and grilling

Then I would also recommend purchasing at least one 12” stainless steel tongs with heatproof silicone tips which are very gentle for your food preparation. They can also be used directly in the pot or pan while still cooking. They will be very helpful during your pasta preparation because the silicone tips are gentle when handling pasta, but you can also use these as regular tongs as well.

Turners are very important in any kitchen.

If you are using stainless or aluminum pans, it is best to purchase only stainless-steel turners since they last longer. They will be more durable, so you can use them with your grill, too, but you can also use nylon turners with those pans too.

With nonstick pans, it is better to use nylon turners since they will not scratch and damage the surface. Nylon versions unfortunately get worn much faster and will need to be replaced sooner than stainless (when the front part starts falling apart).

I recommend owning at least one from each of the major sizes:

1. Regular turner with a short turning part (usually about square size) – for turning steaks and small objects (the overall length is usually about 12 – 14″)
2. Fish / Egg Turner with a long and skinny turning part, which is great for preparation of fish, eggs and any longer object.

If you prefer to not peel your vegetables, it is very convenient to have a special brush for cleaning them. You can buy a vegetable brush in most regular stores. Using a vegetable brush will help you thoroughly clean your vegetables.

Whisks, sometimes called whips, are perfect for stirring sauces, soups, and liquid mixtures or for whipping ingredients to get more volume.

There are two major kinds:
Piano whisk (read more here)
French whisk (read more here)

The most convenient size for a household is about 12″ (including the handle). The piano whip will have significantly more use so that should be the first type to buy. It is good to have at least a couple of piano whisks since they will be used often. And then it is good to have at least one 12” French whisk that will be irreplaceable for thickening content.

Whisks are better to buy in a professional grade (full stainless steel) since they perform much better and last significantly longer. The great news is that commercial whisks are not significantly more expensive than those for households.

A wooden spoon is a great helper in any kitchen mostly for stirring in a pan or pot while cooking.

You can buy wooden spoons of multiple sizes, but the right size for most households is a 12” spoon since it will be long enough for any home-size pot and still not too big to be used with a small pot or for storage.

Always select natural and untreated wood so you do not end up adding chemicals to your meal.

Since it is a very useful and inexpensive tool, I would recommend owning at least 2.