Hello my Foodie Friends!
Thanksgiving is right around the corner. It is time to start the preparations of items needed to create your fabulous feast. At Compliments to the Chef, we have some gadgets which can make your Thanksgiving prep and serve a little easier. Good tools are essential to good cooking just like good tools are helpful to a carpenter building a house.
One tool I think a lot of foodies don’t have or know how to use is the thermometer. It is one of my must haves in a kitchen. Undercooked Turkey is a recipe for Salmonellosis! Your turkey should be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees for 15 seconds. You should check the temperature in at least two places and in the thickest part of the turkey. Do not discount how much this tool means to not just you but your whole family. Pre-school age school children’s immune systems are not yet developed, and elderly people’s immune systems are failing.
Our recommendation is a simple Bi-Metallic stemmed thermometer. There are others, such as digital but this is the simplest, easiest and most cost-effective choice. It’s easy to calibrate and if you stop in to our new place, I’ll personally teach you how. One of our favorite instant read thermometers is the Thermo Pop by Thermo Works. Another holiday recommendation is either an open roaster or a roaster with a lid. Roast meat, poultry, and vegetables to perfection with a large roaster. Open roasters can hold up to a 20-25 lb. turkey. The heavy-duty stainless-steel roasting pan features tall, straight sides, which help prevent splatters and spills, while its upright handles ensure a secure hold when transporting the pan to and from the oven, even when wearing thick oven mitts. The open roaster comes with a V-shaped nonstick roasting rack that elevates large cuts of meat to promote even cooking.
Another cool tool for your feast is a gravy/fat separator. One of our favorites is the OXO fat separator. With the OXO Good Grips Fat Separator, making gravy has never been easier. Place the stopper in the spout, pour pan drippings into the Fat Separator. The strainer filters even the tiniest bits and the fat will rise to the top. Remove the stopper and pour, the cooking liquid comes out first, leaving the fat behind. Measurement markings make following recipes simple, and the splatter shield prevents splashing while you pour. When you’re done, this Separator is dishwasher safe, and there’s on-board stopper storage, so the stopper doesn’t get lost. Available in 2-Cup and 4-Cup sizes.
Also, have your knives sharpened so you do not end up hacking away at your roast. Remember, we have knife sharpening services at Compliments to the Chef. These are just a small list of what can help you this season. Getting ready for the holidays doesn’t have to be a struggle. Consider brining your turkey this year. We carry brining bags and brine mix.
Cherish your moments together. Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place. Let us assist you with your holiday culinary needs. Remember my Foodie Friends, “Life Happens in the Kitchen.”
Take Care, John & Paula
