Fermenting and Preserving

Finding the right kitchen utensils for your needs

Whether you're a casual home cook or a dedicated professional, the right kitchen utensils will make your cooking more efficient and fast-track the time it takes to prepare ingredients for food. From humble potato mashers and innovative salad spinners to basic must-haves like whisks, tongs and can openers - there's a kitchen utensil to make life easier and transform you into a master chef! Before you dive in, consider what type of cooking you do the most, your available budget, your kitchen space and the quality of product you require to get the job done to perfection.

Various types and categories of kitchenware

Kitchenware is a huge category filled with many types of products that make cooking fun, easier and quicker. We've broken them down into the following sub categories:

• Storage solutions. This is where you'll find food and pantry storage containers, drawer organisers and more.

• Kitchen utensils and gadgets. These kitchen tools make food prep a breeze, from zesters, mandoline slicers and scrapers to slotted spoons and chopping boards.

• Mix and measure. This type of kitchenware includes products such as mixing bowls, thermometers, measuring spoons and kitchen scales.

• Tea and coffee making. Here you will find kettles, teapots and everything you need to make the perfect cuppa.

• Grind and spice. From pepper mills to mortar and pestles, make your spices sing with one of the handy kitchen utensils in this sub category.

• Fermenting and preserving. Create tasty pickles, jams and other goods using these jars and accessories.

Measuring your space

Too many kitchen utensils and kitchenware can make a small kitchen look cluttered and disorganised. Make sure that you consider the size you have available and purchase items that will fit neatly within it. Drawer organisers can be used to maximise drawer space and be filled with small items like ice-cream scoops, peelers and can openers. When it comes to cookware and equipment, items such as mixing bowls, colanders and strainers can be stacked inside each other to save space.

Features to consider when choosing kitchen equipment

Considering these features will help you to choose kitchen equipment and utensils that are right for your needs:

• Quality - The quality of your cooking equipment will be a deciding factor in how well it performs and its longevity.

• Material - You can find products made from stainless steel, glass, wood, silicone, non-stick, cast iron, plastic and more.