Accessories
Having a proper kitchen knife makes cooking so much easier. There are knives, and then there are cooking knives. I’ve been a fan of Wüsthof knives for over three decades—and I’ve used the same knife the whole time! Yes, that’s right. I bought a professional-grade knife decades ago and still use it daily. Look for a knife with a thick blade that extends all the way through the handle. It’s called a “full tang.” Yes, it’s more expensive. However, it will be more secure and cut better. You’ll especially appreciate this feature when slicing tough roots like yucca. The eight-inch classic is great for nearly everything. Note the rounded area where the blade meets the handle. This feature allows for a proper hand grip. Beware of knives with a sharp angle at that spot. If you can’t afford a Wüsthof knife, at least look at one before buying so you can get similar features on the knife you choose.
Wüsthof 8" Chef Knife
Cutco supershears
Good kitchen scissors are very helpful. This pair from Cutco is an investment, but they will last forever. The best part is that the blades easily separate for cleaning. It’s important that kitchen scissors separate to avoid contamination between the blades.
A strong stainless steel spatula is great for scraping stainless steel pots and pans to loosen bits of flavor. Always use steel on steel, but never use steel on nonstick surfaces. I like this one from All-Clad, but any strong spatula will do. Hint: Check eBay for used ones at better prices than you can find for a lesser-quality new one.
All Clad Stainless Steel Spatula
Kitchenaid Lemon Squeezer
Yes, it’s a bit silly, but this avocado squeezer is great! I make traditional guacamole with avocado, lemon, and salt all the time, and it’s a pleasure to have the seeds captured by the basket without juice spurting from the sides. Other squeezers leak or spurt out the sides. I haven’t found a better one, and this one isn’t expensive.