Preparation is the key to running a successful grill party. Buy good quality fresh foods and take plenty of care when preparing sauces and marinades as they add a great deal of flavor. For preparing your sauces, you will need to have a set of good quality kitchen tools to do the job properly. Tools are not the be all and end all but they can make a difference to your cooking.
Food Processor
This versatile appliance works faster than a blender. With most processors, you can add ingredients while the machine is running. Try the same thing in a blender and have fun doing lots of cleaning up!
Saucepans
Most kitchenware experts recommend the use of either heavy-duty enamel or stainless steel pans in several sizes with lids. Avoid using aluminum, which will react adversely to highly acidic content of tomatoes, mustards, fruits, and vinegars. Cheap, thin metal pans are notorious for having hot spots, which scorch food or heat unevenly.
Knives
The best quality steel knife you can purchase is the hot-dropped, forged, and ice-hardened carbon steel variety. This type of knife holds its sharpness extremely well. If a carbon steel knife is too expensive for your budget, a well-made stainless steel knife is your next best choice. Purchase plastic guards to protect the blades. A steel for sharpening knives is also a very good investment. Have your knives routinely sharpened twice a year by a local cutlery store.
Cutting Board
A cutting board is essential. There has been a lot of discussion in the food safety industry lately about wood versus polyethylene boards. Some people now recommend wood over plastic. Wood boards should be routinely sanded and oiled.
Poly boards are easier to maintain and clean than the wooden ones. In fact, many cook offs require that the contestants only use poly boards for cutting their meats. Should your poly board become stained by tomato paste or paprika, place it in a sink or tub filled with hot water and a capful of bleach, let it sit for a few minutes; rinse it off carefully, and it will look as good as new.
Other Kitchen Tools
You'll also wind up using plastic measuring spoons, glass or plastic measuring cups, a food mill, strainer, colander, sieve, slotted spoons (preferably food-grade plastic), grater, ginger grater, citrus zester, garlic press, pastry brushes, various sizes of nylon whisks, spatulas, and a sauce mop. These items are relatively inexpensive and may be purchased at most stores. There are also a number of mail-order catalogs that feature a wide assortment of gourmet kitchen tools and items.
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