Food Prep made easy
Hello my Foodie Friends!
During the holiday season shopping, many of our foodie friends talked about the tools they use or need for food prep when they are cooking. So why prep ingredients ahead of time?
1. It’s easier than full-scale meal prepping. If the thought of completely preparing multiple meals in one day exhausts you, then just prep the ingredients.
2. It makes dinnertime prep quicker and easier. Batch chopping vegetables is much more efficient than the cumulative time it takes to chop things before every meal.
3. You’ll make healthier meal choices. Pulling out your cutting board and chopping a bunch of stuff can be a big a hurdle when trying to eat more healthy. If everything is prepped ahead of time, that hurdle disappears.
4. Reduces food waste. Most of the time ingredient prepping reduces food waste because if it’s prepped, it’s more likely to get used.
Setting up to chop and peel food as you cook involves organizing your station with a sharp knife, sturdy board, and focusing on prepping ingredients in batches (wash, peel, chop) for efficiency, and using proper knife for safety and uniform cuts, ensuring even cooking and faster prep. Tools to consider when setting up your prep station:
1. Sharp chef’s knife, a stable cutting board, and a peeler. Knife skills are very important. Use your knife safely. The most important point of knife ownership is having a sharp knife. Always wash your knife by hand. Do not place it in the dishwasher. This dulls the blade and can ruin the handle. Sharpen your knife after each use. Use a steel to help keep the edges of your blades aligned.
2. Wash all your produce first, then dry it before cutting for better grip and less mess.
3. Peel vegetables like carrots, potatoes, or garlic (sometimes after a quick smash with the knife).
4. Process ingredients in stages: first wash, then peel, then chop (dice, slice, mince) into uniform sizes so they cook evenly.
Other tools to consider are tongs needed for flipping meat, removing items delicately and stabilizing food for cutting. The use of a whisk is also another tool to use for food prep. Whisking is a way to combine dry or wet ingredients while infusing air; whisks also emulsify sauces; and lastly whisks are your friend when you need to get lumps out.
Don’t’ forget about wooden spoons and using spatulas.
Every kitchen needs a Microplane grater, famous for its precise, fine blades that effortlessly zest citrus, grate hard cheeses (like Parmesan), mince garlic/ginger, shave nutmeg, and even create delicate curls from chocolate, making it an essential, versatile tool for adding intense flavor and texture in food prep.
This year, stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place to find those cool tools that can help you as you plan out your menus and get prepping. Remember my Foodie Friends, “Life Happens in the Kitchen”.
Take Care,
John & Paula
