Kitchen Tips and Tricks: Cooking, Baking, and Cleaning
Food is love. Well, not really, but making delicious, nutritious meals for the people I care about is a tangible way I can express my love for them. The kitchen is my happy place. I’ve always loved spending time there, from when I was young standing next to my grandmother in her little kitchen. I learned how to make Italian staples like meat sauce and lasagna, bread, cookies, and other sweets. Over time, my chronic illnesses and daily pain have limited what I can do on my own in the kitchen, but I’ve tried to find workarounds, gadgets, and other products to help me continue to cook and bake like I want to.
I use many of these modifications and products because of my chronic illness, but quite a few of these items would help just about anyone in the kitchen. Once I got started, the list of useful stuff in the kitchen got really, really long. It was so long, I decided to split it into two posts! This is the second post on my favorite kitchen tools and covers baking, cooking, and cleanup. You can find the first post that covers general workarounds and gadgets here. Let’s get into it!
Baking and Cooking Aids
Measuring Cups
I have two sets of measuring cups, one for dry goods and one for wet. Now, do you need two separate sets? No, of course not, but I do find having both helpful. The liquid measure ones have features that make that job easier and faster. The dry goods cups are designed to make it easy to level off things like flour and sugar for accurate measurements.
These cups are perfect for measuring liquids. The measurements don’t go all the way to the top, so I don’t have to worry about spilling when I move the cup like I do with standard measuring cups. The angled interior surface lets me read measurements from above. The cups are dishwasher safe and BPA free. The soft handles are perfectly positioned to easily lift when full, and they’re easy to read, either from the top or from the side. They have measurements in ounces, cups, and milliliters.
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| These innovative measuring cups are perfect for liquids. |
Oxo also has a nice set of standard measuring cups and spoons, available in stainless-steel and BPA-free plastic BPA-free plastic. I have had a plastic set for ages. The measurement markings have started to come off, but I still know which ones to use. The metal ones have the measures permanently etched on, so that’s one advantage. They stack very nicely, have those great OXO handles, and are easy to use and store.
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| These cups stack nicely for easy storage. |
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| These cups have magnets to keep them together in your tool drawer. |
Digital Kitchen Scale
Of course, if you want better accuracy, a digital kitchen scale is indispensable. They come in lots of different price points, and this one is very reasonable. Kitchen scales are especially helpful when baking, where measuring by weight is more important and accurate than volume. I replace white flour with wheat in most of my baking recipes. I try to avoid white flour as it increases inflammation for me. The white whole wheat flour from King Arthur Baking is a great replacement for all-purpose white flour, but there are some things I have to keep in mind when using it. It can be kind of tricky because a cup of wheat flour has a different weight than white. Wheat also absorbs liquid differently, so there have been some hit-or-miss recipe attempts. I’ve found that weighing the flour and other ingredients helps improve the outcome. I just made a batch of peasant bread. My last few tries before this one, when I’ve measured by volume, have turned out, let’s say, a little more brick-like than I’d prefer. A cup of white wheat flour weighs 113 grams, where a cup of white all-purpose flour weighs 120 grams. Since it weighs less, when I was using volume to measure, I was probably using too much flour, resulting in my bricky loaf. This time I weighed out the flour and made sure the dough was well hydrated. It made a huge difference, and the bread turned out delicious, light, and moist.
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| A digital scale is really important for accurate baking. |
Rolling Pin
This rolling pin is specially weighted for the handles to stay upright. They are also raised to keep hands and knuckles off the countertops. You can chill it as well for dealing with delicate pastries where the temperature is important. It’s not too heavy, and easy to use.
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| This rolling pin has lots of little features that make it easy and comfortable to use. |
Scrapers
Another great tool for baking is a scraper. There are a few different varieties that come in handy for different situations.
I have these flexible plastic scrapers for getting doughs and batters out of bowls easily and shaping dough. They’re only a few dollars, and really useful. I find that using these scrapers to clean out a bowl is easier than using a spatula. It covers more area at once and puts less strain on my hand and arm. They have a curved side that cleans out the bowl well, and a straight edge for use on a table or counter.
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| These flexible scrapers are useful all around the kitchen when baking. |
My first scraper was this stainless steel bench scraper stainless-steel bench scraper. It’s one of those tools I use for a bunch of different things. It’s great for portioning doughs, sectioning crusts, scraping baking sheets, chopping veggies, and more. I use it to clean up flour and dough residue after baking too. It’s got that great OXO non-slip ergonomic handle, and it’s dishwasher safe.
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| This bench scraper has that great OXO handle for ease of use, and a useful little ruler etched on the blade. |
Cutting Board
This cutting board is made from bamboo, which is stronger, more sustainable, and easier on knives than other hardwood cutting boards. It has 7 brightly color-coded cutting board mats that make clean-up easy. The flexible cutting mats are BPA-free and designed to fit snugly into the top surface of the cutting board; use them with the cutting board or separately, and store them inside the board when not in use, so everything stores neatly and stays together. Non-slip silicone feet prevent the cutting board from slipping and sliding on your kitchen countertop or food prep surface; use the board to serve bread, crackers, cheese, and cocktails. It’s a really pretty and functional piece for the kitchen.
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| Storage space on the bottom of this bamboo cutting board keeps all seven flexible liners together, so they're easy to find when you need them. |
Food Processor/Blender
Food processor/blender: A blender and food processor is a valuable work-saving duo for the kitchen, saving on chopping effort and time. I need my blender for easy smoothie making, and I always make pie crust in the food processor. If you have two separate appliances, they take up a lot of countertop real estate. I was happy to find one that combines both into one, so it has a smaller footprint. I have a larger set, the 72-ounce pitcher blender, and 8 cup food processor. It also comes with two smoothie cups with lids, which is great for making individual smoothies. If you need something smaller, or at a lower price point, Ninja also makes this 48-ounce blender set with a 5-cup processor bowl and 2 cup chopper bowl. All pieces are dishwasher safe and BPA free.
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| This set has been so useful and having one base saves so much space. |
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| This smaller set has its motor on the top, so it takes up even less space! |
Pots and Pans
OXO offers two different styles of pots and pans, an anodized nonstick style, and stainless steel. Both sets have the same overall design, with nicely distributed weight, well-balanced handles that are just the right length, and ergonomic styling.
I know folks have issues with nonstick pans, but they are still popular. These have a PFOA-free coating that is safer than other coatings. America’s Test Kitchen America's Test Kitchen calls this its favorite nonstick skillet. It has a comfortable stainless-steel handle riveted to the anodized body of the skillet. The durable, hard anodized body delivers excellent heat conduction and scratch resistance. It is oven safe up to 430°F/220°C and dishwasher safe. One drawback is since it is anodized aluminum it is not compatible with induction cooktops.
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| The ergonomic design of these pots and pans in addition to being great at heat conduction, oven-safe and dishwasher safe makes them a great choice for a nonstick pan. |
The stainless steel variety has all of the same design features but comes with two 18/10 stainless steel layers with a heat radiant aluminum core. It has handy measurement markings on the stockpots, saucepans, and sauté pan for easy reference when cooking. It is oven safe up to 430°F/220°C, dishwasher safe, and compatible with all stovetops, including induction. It comes in a large set or individual pieces.
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| This set could outfit your whole kitchen. |
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| These pans have all the great OXO design features in 18/10 stainless steel. |
Kitchen Thermometers
Kitchen thermometers are an essential tool in the kitchen for food safety. I hate to guess whether my food is fully cooked, so I often rely on a food thermometer. There are two types: an instant-read thermometer and a probe thermometer. The probe thermometer is inserted into the food at the beginning of cooking, and the display sits outside the oven, so I can keep an eye on the temperature. It has a magnetic back so it will stick to the outside of the oven and stay out of the way until I need it. I can even set an alarm to go off when the food reaches the appropriate temperature, so no more guessing if dinner is done!
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| An instant-read thermometer is such a useful tool in the kitchen. |
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| A probe-type thermometer takes all the guesswork out of cooking in the oven. You can cook based on temperature rather than time. |
If you really want to get fancy, there’s even a Bluetooth thermometer you can control and monitor through your phone. The instant-read thermometer is good for quick testing when things are just about done, or if a sauce has to get to a certain temperature. The probe folds out from the handle and gives me a reading in a couple of seconds.
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| Want to get the newest tech for your kitchen? How about a thermometer that connects to your phone? |
Cleaning
For folks with sensitivities, cleaning products can be a minefield. I know my skin and respiratory system do not like heavy fragrances or strong cleansers. For my countertops and other surfaces, I use a 10% vinegar solution. I usually add a little essential oil, either lemon or orange. When I mix cleaning liquids, I always use distilled water to dilute them, because there are fewer contaminants and the solution lasts longer. If more scrubbing power is needed, I will often mix up a paste of baking soda and water.
Clean Concentrate
Next to my vinegar solution, I like to use a solution made with Biokleen concentrate. It’s a lovely soapy mix that cuts through grease and grime easily. It’s super concentrated, and one gallon makes 64 gallons of cleaner. It has no artificial fragrance, color, or preservatives. It uses citrus and grapefruit seed extract to clean and is gentle for most surfaces. With tough dirt, I often spray and leave it for a few minutes. When I come back to wipe, the grime has usually broken up easily. I use it in the kitchen and bathroom and have used it for wiping down walls as well.
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| This cleaner is super-concentrated, with no artificial fragrance or preservatives. It also does a great job of cleaning! |
Microfiber Cloths
What do I use to wipe down all these cleaners? I like microfiber cloths. They are reusable, soft, and highly absorbent. I find they do a better job of cleaning than regular terrycloth rags or paper towels. They’re good to use dry for dusting as well. They tend to hold on to the dust, rather than just push the dust around like some cloths do. They’re washable and reusable, so they cut down on waste as well.
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| Microfiber cloths are great for cleaning all over your home. |
Cleaning Dishes
Cleaning dishes is another high-energy activity that I can’t get away from in the kitchen. Even with a dishwasher, there are always dishes that don’t fit or can’t go in the dishwasher for one reason or another. When things have to be washed by hand, I have a couple of go-to tools for the job.
Stuck-on food is always annoying. These little pot scrapers are very good at getting a lot of that stuck-on food off. They’re stiff and the edges do a great job of scraping without damaging surfaces. The four corners of the scraper each have a different shape to get into every nook and cranny. They are food-grade nylon and BPA-free.
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| These scrapers have differently shaped corners to get everything clean. |
These sponges, or “scrunges” are great for doing dishes. The wavy scrubbing surface does a terrific job of getting dishes clean. It rinses cleanly after using, to prevent bacterial growth and smells. Though they are disposable, they last for a really long time if you rinse them and let them dry out well between uses. They can even be put in the dishwasher to clean and disinfect them, so they can continue to be used. The manufacturer recommends that they be replaced every 30 to 60 days.
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| These scrunges might have a funny name but do a great job cleaning dishes. |
One item I won’t get rid of, though it doesn’t really fit with all the ergonomic, lightweight tools I’ve been covering here, is my Marseille Blue Le Creuset Dutch oven. I had always wanted one, and we saved and splurged on one a few years ago. This pot is enameled cast iron, so it is definitely not light or easy to move around. It’s not my everyday go-to pan, but when browning foods and making soups and stews, it just can’t be beaten. To keep it easy, its home is on the corner counter, right next to the stovetop, so it only needs to be moved a few inches to use it. Sometimes, when you have something you love, you just have to find a way to use it.
Thanks for joining me to check out all my favorite workarounds, gadgets, and tools for the kitchen. Don’t forget to check out the other half of my list here. Did you see anything that can make your life easier? Do you have any suggestions of things that I missed? Be sure to let me know in the comments.
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- Kitchen Tips and Tricks to Make Life Easier: Workarounds and Gadgets
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