Kitchen Essentials:

Your Vegetarian Kitchen Needs Specific Equipment

Kitchen Essentials: A Must Read For Serious Vegetarian Cooks.

In your vegetarian kitchen for example the knives and cutlery in it ought to be designed to handle fruits and vegetables rather than meat, fish or fowl, so you can immediately get rid of your slicing knife, your boning knife and all those serrated steak knives. They are actually dangerous to have around because they were designed to do a specific task which has nothing to do with vegetables, fruits or bakery products.

In choosing the cutlery for your vegetarian kitchen you will want to purchase the finest quality knives you can afford. Good kitchen cutlery is an investment in a lifetime of good food. Like a knight's sword, the well crafted knife is a family heirloom, to be cared for properly and treasured knowing it will be passed on to, and coveted by, your children and grandchildren as well.

As this is a lifetime investment you should purchase the best quality knives you can afford. There are several excellent companies that craft good kitchen cutlery for your vegetarian kitchen. Most of them are European. Wusthoff and J.A. Henkel are German, while Sabatier is French. I have a vintage Sabatier of carbon steel which holds its edge better than any of my fine German knives. Unless you know what you are looking for it appears dull and uninteresting. However, it is wonderfully thin and sharp; it fits my hand perfectly and it is exceptionally well balanced.

Shun is a Japanese offering with blades which have been forged in the classic manner of folding the heated steel back on itself repeatedly as it is being pounded and tempered. When looking at these blades you can see the legacy of the Samurai in each. They are beautiful, incredibly sharp, hold their edges well and are tremendously serviceable.

Additionally you will find Ceramic Knives crafted by Kyocera. These are Japanese and made of Zirconium Oxide. They resist corrosion and hold their edge for months and years without sharpening. They make a Santoku knife, similar to a Chef's knife but it is shaped differently and requires a different action for chopping. Kyocera also produces a paring knife.

The Chicago Cutlery Company produces some knives for your consideration too.

As you select your cutlery do be mindful of these factors:

• How does it feel?
• Does it fit your hand well?
• Is it balanced?

Knives your vegetarian kitchen needs:

A Chef's Knife: 6" to 12" depending on your height and grip. This knife has a curved cutting surface for ease of cutting and chopping. Keep the point on the surface of the cutting board as you chop and mince.

A Paring Knife: This is a small knife that fits comfortably in the hand. It is used to peel vegetables and fruits and to slice them.

A Bread Knife: This is a serrated or scalloped knife.

A Tomato Knife: This is a small yet long thin serrated knife that will slice tender tomatoes without bruising or crushing them.

A Garnish Knife: This is a very small, very sharp knife with a thin blade for ease of making tiny cuts and slices in the fruits and vegetables.

A Steel: This is a sharpening tool which is used before each use of each knife.

Kitchen Shears: This is a must have for snipping herbs, opening packages and cutting parchment to size. It also doubles as a lid flipper and jar opener, having those tools built into the handle.

Vegetable Peeler: This is an obvious must have. My choice is available at Williams Sonoma and is shaped like a wishbone with the cutting edge suspended between the legs. It has a scoop built into its side to remove potato eyes. It is made in Germany of plastic and has an amazingly sharp steel blade. It costs under $4.00 and is used with wrist action. Once you use it you will never go back to the other variety.

To complete your essential cutlery collection, consider acquiring a knife block to hold your cutlery on the counter in an ever ready position. These blocks protect the edges of your expensive cutlery as well. A magnetic strip on the wall will do the same thing, though usually they are not placed as conveniently to your work area. What you do not want to do is store your fine knives away in a drawer as that creates a safety issue for unthinking moments and also small grasping, groping hands.

Also, try CHEFS. This is another great place to find good deals on your next cutlery set.

Other Essentials For Your Kitchen:

1 Quart Pan Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless-Steel 1-1/2-Quart Saucepan with Cover 2 Quart Pan All-Clad Stainless 2-Quart Saucepan 4 Quart Pan All-Clad Stainless 4-Quart Saute Pan 12 Quart Pan Cuisinart Chef's Classic 12-Quart Stockpot with Cover Bamboo Skewers Charcoal Companion 6-inch Bamboo Grilling Kabob Skewers, Package of 100 Bean Pot Pomaireware Clay Bean Pot with Lid, 3 Quarts Biscuit Cutters Ateco 5357 11 Piece Plain Round Cutter Set Bread Pans Cuisinart Chef's Classic Nonstick Bakeware 9-Inch Loaf Pan Bundt Cake Pan Nordic Ware Platinum Collection Original Bundt Pan Cake Pans Cuisinart Chef's Classic Nonstick Bakeware 9-Inch Round Cake Pan Canisters Signature Housewares Sorrento Set of 3 Canisters, Ruby Chop Sticks Totally Bamboo Twist Chopsticks Clay Cooker VitaClay VM7900-6 Smart 6-Cup Programmable Multi-Cooker Colander For draining pasta, and washing lettuces and other vegetables and fruits. OXO Good Grips 5-Quart Stainless-Steel Colander Cookie Cutters Progressive International 24 Piece Cookie Cutter and Stencil Set Cookie Sheets Nordic Ware Bakers Half Sheet, 13 X 18 X 1 Covered Casserole Dishes CorningWare French White 2-1/2-Quart Round Casserole Dish with Glass Cover Crepe Pan Lodge Logic L9OG3 Pre-Seasoned 10-1/2-Inch Round Griddle Crock Pot Cuisinart PSC-350 3-1/2-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker Cutting Boards At least two one wooden, one plastic Totally Bamboo 20-7930 3-Piece Cutting Board Set Double Boiler Farberware Classic Series 2-Quart Saucepan with Double Boiler Insert and Lid Dough Scraper Oxo 73281 OXO Good Grips Pastry Scraper Doughnut Cutters Ateco 3-1/2-Inch Stainless Steel Doughnut Cutter Flour Sifter Mrs. Anderson's 5-Cup Stainless-Steel Crank Flour Sifter Food Processor Cuisinart DLC-4CHB Mini-Prep Plus 4-Cup Food Processor, Brushed Stainless Steel

Fry Pan T-Fal Professional Total Nonstick 12-1/2-Inch Fry Pan, Black Funnel Norpro 3-Piece Stainless Steel Funnel Set Grapefruit Knife Trudeau Stainless Steel Grapefruit 5-Piece Set, Yellow Grater For shredding cheese and vegetables Oxo Good Grips Box Grater Griddle Presto 07046 Tilt 'n Drain Big Griddle Cool-Touch Electric Griddle Hand Held Mixer KitchenAid KHB100OB Ice Cream Scoops Get two or more sizes Norpro 3 Piece Stainless Steel Cookie Scoop Set Juicer Juicer Reviews and Recipes.com Lemon Squeezer Amco Enameled Aluminum Lemon Squeezer Liquid Cup, Pint and Quart Measures Liquid measure and dry measure are not the same, you will need both Pyrex Prepware 2-Cup Measuring Cup, Clear with Red Measurements Measuring Cups and Spoons These need not be expensive, often you can find them in your supermarket! Progressive GT-3520 International 19-Piece Measuring Cup and Spoon Set Melon Baller Calphalon Easy Release Melon Baller Mixer KitchenAid K45SS Classic 250-Watt 4-1/2-Quart Stand Mixer, White Muffin Tins Farberware 52106 Nonstick Bakeware 12-Cup Muffin Pan Nested Mixing Bowls Preserve Nested Mixing Bowls, Set of 3 Nutcracker and picks Good Cook Classic Nutcracker with Picks Openers For jars, cans and bottles Oxo 58081 Steel Can Opener Evriholder EasiTwist Jar Opener, Assorted Colors Pancake Turner A wide ended spatula for flipping burgers, patties and pancakes Calphalon Nylon Pancake Turner Pastry Bag With Assorted Tips to pipe everythig from mashed potato to frosting Ateco Extra Wide Pastry Decorating Tip, Set of 3 Pastry Brushes At least two 3 COMMERCIAL PASTRY BRUSH SET Pie Plates Pyrex Grip-Rite 9 1/2 Inch Pie Plate, Clear Pizza Cutter Oxo SteeL Pizza Wheel Potato Ricer Oxo Good Grips Potato Ricer Pudding Mold Fox Run 2 Quart Steamed Pudding Mold

Rectangular Baking Dish Pyrex Grip-Rite 3-Quart Oblong Baking Dish Clear Rolling Pins Fox Run Marble Rolling Pin and Base Rubber or Silicone Spatula For scraping bowls clean Wilton 570-1121 Easy Flex 3-Piece Silicone Spatula Set Salad Spinner Oxo Good Grips 1155901 Green Salad Spinner Seive Oxo Good Grips 3-Inch Mini Strainer Polder 6631-75 Stainless-Steel Sink Strainer with Extending Rubber-Grip Arms Skillet Lodge Logic L10SK3 12-Inch Pre-Seasoned Skillet Skimmer Helen's Asian Kitchen 5-Inch Spider Skimmer Slotted Spoon For draining vegetables Oxo Good Grips Brushed Stainless Steel Slotted Spoon Small Coffee Grinder Used for spices Proctor Silex E160B Fresh Grind Coffee Grinder, White Spatula A long slender 1" and 2" wide steel spatula for spreading frosting and carving tofu Oxo Good Grips Stainless Serving Spatula Spring Form Pan Cuisinart Chef's Classic Nonstick Bakeware 9-Inch Springform Pan Square Baking Dish Pyrex Grip-Rite 8-Inch Square Baking Dish, Clear Steamer Aroma ARC-733-1NGR 6-Cup Rice Cooker & Food Steamer Tea Kettle KitchenAid 2-Quart Gourmet Essentials Brushed Stainless Steel Kettle Terrine Mold World Cuisine Rectangular Pate Terrine Mold, 1-1/4 Qts. [World Cuisine] Tongs Rachael Ray Tools 2-Piece "Lil' Huggers" Tong Set, Blue Vegetable Brush Oxo Good Grips Natural Bristle Veggie Brush Wire Racks Wilton 2105-459 Excelle Elite 3-Tier Cooling Rack Wire Whisks You will need several sizes, small, medium and large Norpro 3 Piece Stainless Steel Balloon Whisk Set Wok T fal Specialty 14-Inch Nonstick Jumbo Wok, Black Wonder Bar ! magic metal bar that removes the odor of onion and garlic from your hands! Amco Rub Away Bar Wooden Spoons You will need several sizes and shapes Lipper International 826 Set of 6 Bamboo Kitchen Tools, in Mesh Bag