A kitchen utensil, also known as a cooking utensil, is a small in-animate hand held instrument used for food preparation, usually with the intent of cooking food. Common kitchen tasks performed with utensils include cutting raw food to desired size, cooking food over an open flame, grilling, baking, broiling, frying, mixing and grinding; various utensils are designed for every task. Most modern kitchens have a variety of utensils available for use, such as kitchen knives, kitchen counters, kitchen counters tops, toasters, and more. There are even appliances designed for specific foods. A good example is the toaster, which is primarily used to toast breads but also has other uses including making hot coffee, providing toast on outdoor decks and sidewalks, and preparing salsas and beverages.
Cooking utensils can be made from various materials. Examples of these include copper, cast iron, stainless steel, clay, glass, ceramic, wood, brass, aluminum and more. Toasters can be handmade by individuals or companies and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Clay pots are very popular due to their low cost, but are not as durable and sturdier than stainless steel or cast iron pots.
Ceramic cookware is made from clay, terracotta, or fired clay. Glass and porcelain are also commonly used for cooking utensils. These pots and pans are smooth on the surface and have a non-stick coating. Porcelain is considered the best material for use in high temperature cooking because it doesn’t heat up as much as the other materials, and it doesn’t shatter like glass or ceramic dishes do when broken.
Silicone has become a popular substitute for metal cooking utensils because of its low cost, and the fact that it heats up quickly and evenly as well. Its non-stick properties make it great for cooking, and it resists bacteria, which makes it safe to use around children. There are some types of silicone that are considered to be plastic, so you should avoid buying these.
Glass and ceramic cookware come in all shapes and sizes. The most common type is a glass bakeware that comes in various colors. This cookware is often used for baking, although it is possible to cook food in some of the more exotic types of bakeware. Ceramic cookware is made of clay or rock to form a solid structure. When heated, the substance changes from an amorphous solid to a semi-translucent liquid, forming the material inside the utensil. Stainless steel is also often added to this type of utensil to make it more durable.
Frying pans are the main component of most cookbooks. They are primarily used for searing steaks or frying foods in order to cook them quickly and easily, without the need for constant attention. Frying pans are commonly made out of cast iron, cast aluminum or stainless steel. Some frying pans have long handles in order to enable people to hold them while cooking, although the handle itself is not the cooking utensil, but rather a tool used to flip or turn the cooked food within the pan.
Silicone cooking utensils do not have a top or bottom, but rather are placed over a burner, or within an oven. Silicone materials tend to be non-stick, which makes them easy to clean after use. Some of the more advanced models have temperature control controls built right into them, which makes it easy to vary the temperature of the foods that they are cooking. A good example of this is a type of silicon pan called a bakeware. Some of these pans have a “core” of aluminum, so that the pan can be used as a regular frying pan, as well. These types of silicone cooking utensils can handle extremely high temperatures and are popular for making foods like pancakes.
Ceramics are another type of cooking utensils made from a heat-resistant ceramic material. These items are very popular in making dishware because of their resistance to high temperatures and their beauty. However, they are rather expensive and cannot withstand extremely high temperatures, so they are best suited for pots and pans that are only used on the stove top. Teflon-coated pots and pans are also a popular choice, as these are available in a wide range of different colors and patterns.
