Stainless Steel Utensils Your Kitchen Must Have
Many inventions come about by accident. The stainless steel utensils you use in the kitchen and the stainless steel knife you use to cut a slice of pizza are examples of this. Stainless steel became known back in 1914 during WWI. It was the accidental discovery of a metallurgist named Harry Brearley’s attempts to create a stronger alloy for gun barrels. He experimented with many metals including steel and chromium and discovered that alloys with a high chromium content were very resistant to corrosion. Of course, it was used for armaments and more but the first patent Brearley filed using this new metal was for cutlery.
Why should you use stainless steel kitchen utensils?
Using stainless steel utensils in the kitchen offers many benefits.
Firstly, the metal alloy does not react to acids and alkalis and hence will not influence the flavour of your food. For example, if you cook anything with tomatoes, lemon or curd in a copper or brass vessel, the dish may have a strange taste because the ingredients oxidize the metal. With stainless steel, there is no such risk. Now you know why copper cooking vessels are lined with stainless steel!
Stainless steel is also hard and durable. It can withstand high temperatures and cold temperatures with ease. Even if a stainless-steel glass falls from a height, there’s minimal risk of it breaking. If it’s thrown with a lot of force, the vessel may dent at the most. This makes it safe for everyone to use including young children.
Thirdly, stainless steel is cost-effective. Sure, there are many grades of stainless steel and as the thickness increases, so does the price point. However, once you’ve bought a stainless steel pot, it’s likely to last you for decades. So, in the long run, it is one of the cheapest types of kitchen utensils.
Useful Stainless Steel Utensils
Today stainless steel is slowly making a comeback in Indian kitchens. For a while there, we were enamored by the low prices of plastic and the glitz of bone china. But plastic as we now know is bad for the environment and for us. Similarly, vessels made from glass and bone china are expensive and fragile. We’re relying more on our roots now and the demand for stainless steel kitchen utensils has seen a sharp spike. People are buying stainless steel utensils not only for their own kitchens but also as gifts for weddings and housewarming parties.
- A Masala Box
Indian cooking uses many different whole and ground masalas. Every region has its own mix but there are some basic masalas you’re to find in every kitchen – cumin, mustard seeds, turmeric, chili powder, coriander powder, salt… These spices form the base for most of our dishes and hence must be easily accessible. That’s why you need a masala box. A stainless steel masala box has smaller individual compartments within a larger container. This keeps all the base masalas accessible in a single box and yet separated from each other. When you start cooking, you don’t need to take out multiple jars- all you need is to pull out your masala box. A masala box with a transparent lid is ideal as it allows you to see the spices available.
- A Colander
Irrespective of the vegetable you’re cooking, you must wash it thoroughly before taking it to the chopping board. You need to wash off not just the dust and dirt that may have settled on the vegetable skin but also traces of colour etc that may have been added to make it look more appealing. A stainless steel colander is ideal for this. The dust and dirt are washed away and drains through the holes while your vegetables and fruits stay contained in the colander so they can dry. Colanders can also be used to rinse rice and pulses before they are cooked as well as drain cooked pasta and noodles.
A cup of good filter coffee is the ideal way to finish a meal. So, when you’re shopping for Salem stainless steel utensils online, don’t forget the coffee filter. This is available in many sizes with varying capacities. A coffee filter is designed in two halves. Coffee powder is placed in the top half and boiling hot water is poured over it. The coffee flavour infuses with the water and slowly drips down into the bottom compartment. Now, you can use this coffee decoction to make a cup of black coffee or mix it with milk to make a traditional filter coffee.
- Dish Drainer
Once you’re done cooking and enjoying your meal, it’s time to wash all the utensils. Even if a dish was used just to boil rice, you need to wash it before it gets put away. Before they can go into the cupboards or drawers, you also need to dry the dishes. Else, it could attract insects. Ideally, you should have a dish drainer beside your sink. This is essentially a large basket made from wire mesh. The dishes are placed upside down in this basket and the water remaining on them drips away and dries.
This dish drainer by Coconut has an added tray at the bottom and handles. The handles make it easy to move from one side of the kitchen to the other and the tray collects water so your kitchen counter stays clean and dry.
In conclusion
Stainless steel utensils are the best choice for every Indian kitchen. Crafted from an alloy that will not react to anything and can stand the test of time, stainless steel utensils, look good, are extremely versatile and last for years. Today, you can buy stainless steel utensils online just as easily as you would in a market. Browse through the Coconut range of cookware and crockery and pick designs that reflect your style. There’s something for people who love the classics as well as designs that show off a more modern style.
Which stainless steel utensil is best?
When you’re buying stainless steel utensils, pay attention not only to designs but also to the weight and thickness of the steel. Ideally, buy heavy-duty stainless steel cooking utensils as they are more durable, distribute heat more evenly and have a lower risk of getting bent or dented if they fall.
Are stainless steel utensils better?
Stainless steel utensils are better than utensils made from most other materials. Firstly, stainless steel is an inert metal and will not react to any of the ingredients in your dishes or alter the flavour in any way. Secondly, it is durable with a very low risk of breakage. And, not to forget, stainless steel utensils are budget-friendly. Coconut has a wide variety of stainless steel kitchen utensils in different styles, sizes and finishes.
