We’ve rounded up our favourite cooking essentials that help to make the never-ending production line of family meals for hungry mouths just that much easier to make (and clean up)! These cousins of our brilliantly vivid cast-iron casseroles and gorgeous stoneware are the unsung heroes in every kitchen, and without them daily cooking can be simply a chore.
1. A full-coverage apron
Who has time to change out of their work clothes before starting with dinner preparation? Enthusiastic cooks will appreciate the full design of our heat-, steam- and stain-resistant apron, which is a generous size to give maximum protection from spills and splashes. The adjustable neck strap ensures comfort and flexibility, while the deep front and side pockets are super-practical; it even has a loop to hold a dishcloth during cooking.
2. An effective peeler
Prep work gets a whole lot quicker and easier with the right tools. Our Revolution Tools Y Peeler has a super-comfy, ergonomically designed handle that keeps your hand from slipping, even when wet. The corrosion-resistant stainless-steel blade glides easily through the tough skin of larger fruits and veggies. When you’re done, simply pop it into the dishwasher for easy cleaning.
5. Really good knives
The value of really good, sharp kitchen knives cannot be overstated – they really do make kitchen prep so much easier! It is so worthwhile to invest in decent knives, as they will last you a lifetime. You don’t have to kick off with a full set: choose the shape that fits your most immediate needs and then gradually build up to a full set. Here’s an overview of what the different shapes are for:
6. Oven gloves that actually work
Our ingenious double oven glove has a unique four-pocket design that ensures maximum protection whichever way you put it on! It is perfect for transferring hot pots and pans to the table. All our kitchen textiles feature a special nylon barrier between the layers of insulation, ensuring maximum protection against steam and grease.
7. A mess-reducing splatterguard
This is one of our favourites: no-one wants to spend precious after-dinner time cleaning up the stovetop and splashback. Our large stainless-steel splatterguard has a fine mesh surface that prevents unwanted splashes when frying or making a sauce, plus a non-slip, heat-resistant silicone trim to protect the top edge of your frying pan. The clever folding handle that clips into the open position during use saves on storage space. It’s designed to fit all our 26cm to 30cm cookware ranges. When you’re finished cooking, simply pop it into the dishwasher with the rest of your dishes.
8. Good turners
A good turner is a basic kitchen right! Our turners are all designed to deliver superior comfort and control, with elliptical-shaped handles engineered to improve grip and slotted blades that allow excess oils or liquid to drain efficiently. Carefully studied shapes, strengths and flexibilities ensure optimal performance for both chefs and home cooks.
9. A generous ladle
It’s the season for comfort food, and both soups and stews call for a generous ladle that makes short work of dishing up. Our generous 300ml ladle has a drip-free precision-pouring rim for clean serving and an ergonomically designed handle engineered to improve grip. Like the rest of our products, it too is dishwasher safe.
8. Roasting rack
A simple roast is one of the least labour-intensive and most delicious ways to feed a hungry family, so it makes sense to add a mid-week roast to your menu planning. Our stainless-steel roasting rack holds your meat upright and out of the pan drippings, which allows heat to circulate evenly on all sides. The nonstick coating means this dishwasher-safe rack cleans up really easily, too.
9. Salt and pepper mills
Integral to good cooking is the ability to adjust seasoning to taste right near the end of the cooking process. Our mills have a corrosion-resistant, hardened ceramic grinder that is ideal for cracking peppercorns and grinding salt. They can be adjusted for either a finer or coarser grind, so you have full control of the final flavour of your dish. Available in an array of our signature colours, our salt and pepper mills are the perfect complement to a well-laid table.
10. Trivets
We love an oven-to-table approach to meals: not only is it laid-back and convivial, it is truly practical – the old-fashioned approach of transferring all your carefully cooked dishes into a separate set of serveware just means loads more to wash up after each meal. To this end, every kitchen should be equipped with a few practical and pretty heat-resistant trivets – and we’ve got just the thing!
The charming, traditionally styled cast-iron trivets have rubber feet to prevent damaging your countertop or table. Our signature enamel coating means they are also really easy to clean in the dishwasher.
Our super silicone trivets in a selection of vibrant colours are heat resistant up to 250°C and provide additional protection when you’re putting hot pots down on a tablecloth or placemat. Even better, this multipurpose flexible trivet can also be used to grip hot cookware or to keep a mixing bowl steady when you’re whipping up your favourite batter.
Have we left your favourite kitchen essential off our list? We would love to know what makes your daily life easier – tell us about it in the Comments below.
To view our full range of products, visit our online shop at www.lecreuset.co.za or pop into your nearest Le Creuset Boutique store.
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