Keto Essentials – Top 10 kitchen utensils
I’ve spent years perfecting my keto-friendly kitchen, trying all manner of gadgets and utensils. Some of these have become irreplaceable, while others have been quickly recycled! This article lists my top 10 favourite kitchen utensils that I use almost every day on keto.
Why 10? Well, I could do a complete list but no one wants to see a complete inventory of my kitchen. Instead, I’ve narrowed down the list to the kitchen utensils I couldn’t do without and that have been pivotal in aiding my keto journey.
Related – this article is part of our keto essential series. Check out the others for more keto tips & tricks.
Note – I use the term kitchen utensil loosely to cover a range of small handheld tools and products that aid in the preparation and cooking of any food. I’m not including bakeware, cookware, knives and electrical gadgets/appliances.
So without further ado, let’s take a look at my favourite utensils (in no particular order).
1 – Measuring spoons & cups
If you’ve ever read a recipe from America, it probably lists the ingredient serving sizes in cups and spoons. It’s not the most precise method compared to using a set of kitchen scales but it is so widespread that you need to have a good set.
Your main choice when deciding on what to buy is if you want them made of metal or plastic/silicone. I’ve owned both and much prefer metal as it doesn’t discolour and is much more robust (plus I think it looks better!). However, silicone is normally cheaper and is more readily available.
You can either buy everything separately or all together as a set. The benefit of the latter is that everytihng will likely be matching.
Spoons
Cups
Sets
2 – Silicone spatulas
Spatulas are probably my most commonly used kitchen utensil. They are perfect for getting every last drop of food out of a container and are easy to wash. I find that silicone ones are the best as they have a bit of give to them that is perfect for mixing and scraping.
You’ll want a set of spatulas of differing sizes and shapes so that you have the right tool for the job. In addition, look for ones that have a uni-body design (i.e. made of one piece of silicone), that way no food pieces can get trapped in the joins & seals.
3 – Cooking Tongs
Want the easiest way to grab, move, rotate and turn food with precision? Then look no further than a good set of cooking tongs. They make cooking so much easier and a good pair can last years.
There a couple of design choices you need to be aware of when choosing kitchen tongs:
- Head Shape – Flat edge or shell shape. Shell shape allows for easier grabbing, especially larger foods. Whereas, a flat edge can double as a spatula allowing for scraping and picking up of food that is a bit stuck.
- Head Material – Silicone or metal. If you have any non-stick kitchenware then always go for silicone as it won’t damage the coating. Bare metal is more suited for BBQ cooking.
4 – Whisks
Every kitchen should have at least one whisk, ideally a few in different sizes and formats. Of course, you could go the electric route (and you should, in addition) but there is still a need for the good old fashioned manual ones. From mixing eggs to baking a cake they are one of the best ways to uniformly combine & mix ingredients.
Tip – it’s good to have at least one large and small whisk. However, may I recommend a mini whisk as well. They are perfect for making drinks like hot chocolate and great for removing small lumps.
KitchenCraft Stainless Steel Mini Magic Whisk, 20 cm (8″)
Available at: Amazon
Tip: Perfect for making hot drinks and removing small lumps.
5 – Turners
A good quality turner is an invaluable utensil in your kitchen. From flipping eggs to carefully lifting cookies from the sheet without breaking them. Turners come in all shapes, sizes and materials and you should pick one that works in your kitchen.
Material – if you own any non-stick kitchenware then always pick a silicone turner as it won’t damage the coating. If you just use pans made of metal, then a metal one may be a better more durable option.
6 – Wooden Spoons
No, not the spoons you eat with (well I mean you could try)! These are the ones that you use to stir sauces, stews and anything else with a liquid base.
Wood is great in the kitchen as it has the following properties:
- Poor heat conductor – unlike metal, when wood is introduced to high temperatures it won’t heat up. Allowing you to stir without getting burnt. It also won’t lose its shape in the same way that plastic might.
- Durable – Most wood can have strong pressure applied to it without worry of it snapping. Making it great as a utensil for when you need to apply some elbow grease to mix something up.
- Non-reactive – wood won’t adversely react with ingredients that might alter the taste of the meal. Unlike metal where it can react with some acids in food and leave a metallic taste. The same goes for plastic where small pieces can gradaully break off and make it into your dish.
7 – Graters
From grating cheese to chocolate having one on hand is a must have. You could argue that you can now just buy most cheese pre-grated. However, be careful with that, as potato starch is normally added to keep the cheese separated. The added starch will increase the total carb count but not by much. Just something to be wary of.
Tip – it’s useful to have a handheld grater for smaller items like garlic & lemon zest and a larger one for cheese and vegetables. Some graters also come with an attached box storage which can make cleanup so much easier.
8 – Rolling pin
A rolling pin is required if you’re planning on making keto fathead pizza or any other dish that requires a flat base like biscuits and cookies.
Rolling pins come in a variety of materials such as wood, glass, metal and plastic. I recommend you stick with wood as it’s durable, easy to clean and relatively cheap.
H & L Russel Ltd Solid Rolling Pin
Available at: Amazon
Note – simple, no moving parts, just a solid piece of beech wood
Joseph Joseph Adjustable Rolling Pin
Available at: Amazon
Note – can be adjusted to particular thicknesses
9 – Kitchen Scissors
Probably the least ‘utensilly’ item on this list but they get so much use that it would be a crime not to mention them. A good set of kitchen scissors can be used to chop up anything from parchment paper to chicken wings. I’ve even started favouring them more than a knife for chopping up some meat.
10 – Strainer / Skimmer
Deep frying is one of the most popular cooking methods in restaurants and takeaways but is often associated with unhealthy food. While that is true for most carb-laden dishes like chips and battered fish. On keto, you can still enjoy deep frying at home, from fried bacon to cauliflower, it really does provide some extra flavour & texture!
Personally, I own a small deep fryer (this one) and also sometimes use a wok to fry with. One of the best investments I made was to pick up a skimmer. This utensil allows you to pick up the finished food and drain away any excess oil from it, all in one fell swoop! It can even be used to remove unwanted food pieces from the oil. Keeping it cleaner and usable for longer.
AIEVE 2 Pack Stainless Steel Deep Fat Fryer Skimmer
Available at: Amazon
Note – finer mesh allowing better filtration of oils
Summary
So that’s our top 10 essential utensils that we think should be part of any keto kitchen. There are so many more we could add but these are the ones we use most often.
Did we miss any that you use alot? Let us know!
