A twenty-year-old mortar-pestle passed on to the third generation with magical cooking secrets is probably not a good idea to use in the kitchen anymore. While most Indians like to boast about their ancestral possessions, we insist you change some of these kitchen products this year.
At least the ones that may be chipped, cracked, wobbly, or simply not as effective as they used to be. Take chopping boards, for example, this is one kitchen tool that most of us are guilty of not changing as often as they should be. Old chopping boards can harbor bacteria in hidden crevices, just like rusted ends of a lemon squeezer could be unhygienic for daily use.
This past year, Mishry reviewed several kitchen products, that are not too heavy on the pocket and are absolutely essential to change every few years. Here’s a list of kitchen products you don’t think of changing too often, but you should!
Table of Contents
Kitchen tools that you need to change this year!
The kitchen tools that you need to change or replace with the new ones.
1. Chopping board
A good chopping board is essential in any kitchen. There is a large variety of chopping boards available in the Indian market and it can be confusing to choose one that fits the bill. Most commonly, the materials used for chopping boards are plastic, marble, wood and silicone.
If you use a plastic chopping board, we recommend you switch to a different material or change it completely. An old plastic chopping board with deep knife cuts is a breeding ground for bacteria and could even lead to food poisoning, in extreme cases.
KENT Elegant Electric Glass Kettle (16052), 1.8L, Stainless Steel Heating Plate, Borosilicate Glass Body, Boil Drying Protection
₹1,349.00HealthSense Weight Machine for Kitchen, Kitchen Food Weighing Scale for Health, Fitness, Home Baking & Cooking with Bright LCD, Touch Button, Tare Function & 1 Year Warranty – Chef-Mate KS 63
Milton Euroline Go Electro 2.0 Stainless Steel Electric Kettle, 1 Piece, 2 Litre, Silver, Power Indicator, 1500 Watts, Auto Cut-off, Detachable 360 Degree Connector, Boiler for Water, Instant Noodles
Seznik Portable Mini Sealing Machine, Handheld Packet Sealer for Food, Snacks, Chips, Fresh Storage, Plastic Bags Sealing Machine, 1 YEAR Warranty (White)
We reviewed 7 different chopping boards on the basis of material, cutting comfort, safety and durability. The winner was not a surprise.
Brick Brown Handcrafted Acacia Wood Chopping Board
- Safe on knives
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Made with acacia hardwood
Alternatively, a marble chopping board is a good idea too. The only downside is that they weigh a lot and can be impractical in the long run.
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2. Lemon Squeezer
Lemon squeezers are a very underrated kitchen tool that often lasts years before we think of replacing it. You know you need to change the squeezer if the edges have become sharp and raw or the material has started to corrode.
We reviewed lemon squeezers on the basis of material used, depth of the bowl and the design (easy to handle). We picked the one that aced in all these categories.
Orpio New Heavy Stainless Steel Manual Press Lemon Squeezer
- Easy to use
- Stainless steel
- Large bowl for the lemons
- Effective juicing with minimal effort
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3. Tadka Pan
No Indian cooking is complete without the ‘chhiss’ sound of the tadka. A thick layer of ghee atop your boring dal can change the entire game. But did you know that buying a poor quality tadka pan can have long-lasting effects on your health, and not just the taste of your dals?
We reviewed three types of tadka pans – stainless steel, hard anodized and non-stick tadka pans. The parameters under consideration were material, size, design and weight. The winner is…
Usha Shriram Hard Anodised Tadka Pan with Sleeve
- Durable
- Non-toxic
- Non-staining
- Harder then steel
- Not spoilt by high heat
- Metal ladles can be used
- Non-reactive with foods
- Heats up quickly and uniformly
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4. Frying Pan
A good stainless steel pan is an integral part of any kitchen. If you are looking to switch your frying pan from aluminium to stainless steel due to health reasons or want to change your old battered non-stick pan, we have the perfect solution.
We reviewed 5 stainless steel frying pans. The test process was divided into 2 sets. The first test included judgement on the basis of comfort, safety and effectiveness. The second test was our application based test – The Mishry Secret Sauce. In this, we used a start-stop-start method in order to test the frying pans under gruelling conditions. After 5 weeks of non-stop tests, we had a champion.
Wonderchef Stanton Stainless Steel Fry Pan
- Thick base
- Firm handle
- Easy to wash and maintain
- Food cooks evenly in the pan
- Most resistant to burning and brown patches during our 5-week kitchen test.
5. Stainless Steel Tawa
A nation obsessed with round rotis surely does not deviate easily from seasoned tawas. A range of tawas were NOT reviewed for this recommendation, but the #FirstImpression of this product was enough to make it to the list.
Alda Triply Stainless Steel Tawa (25 cm)
- Oven safe
- Dishwasher safe
- Induction friendly
- Heat resistant handle
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6. Insulated Water Bottles
A large chunk of utensil stores are filled with water bottles and choosing what’s best might be harder than you thought. Plastic or glass? Stainless steel or vacuum insulated? The choice keeps getting tougher.
We picked 5 major brands for insulated water bottles and tested them for over 3 days. They were checked for leakage, design, weight and most importantly – temperature retention.
Milton Duo DLX 750 Water Bottle
- It is light
- Does not leak
- Simple and easy to hold design
- Maintains temperature even after 24 hours
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7. Mortar and Pestle
Indian cooking is what it is because of the spices we use. The fragrance of freshly pounded spices, or the roughly crushed chutney with your food is unmatched.
We reviewed multiple kinds of mortar and pestles that were different in shape, size, weight, and material. We tried ones made of stainless steel, wood, aluminum, marble, and granite. And after hours of testing, we found our winner.
IKARUS Marble Mortar and Pestle Set
- Anti-skid base
- Best for everyday use
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Mouth equal to or more than 4 inches
Frequently Asked Questions
Here we answered a few interesting questions about kitchen products.
1. What are the must-have kitchen gadgets?
Kitchen gadgets save our time and energy. This list of kitchen products is a must. Once you get the hang of it, there’s no going back.
- Sandwich Maker
- Coffee Maker
- Apple Slicer
- Juicer
- Blender
- Chopper
- Mortar and Pestle
- Grater
- Egg Boiler and Peeler
- Insulated Water Bottles
2. Which are the best kitchen accessories?
The kitchen accessories are a must-have. No kitchen is complete without kitchen accessories. The best and essential kitchen accessories are –
- Knife
- Chopping Board
- Kitchen Scissors
- Vegetable Peeler
- Garlic Press
- Grater
- Measuring Spoons and Cup
- Mixing Bowl
- Blender
- Sieve
- Colander
3. What should every kitchen have?
We curated seven kitchen tools every kitchen needs to have.
- Chopping Board
- Lemon Squeezer
- Tadka Pan
- Frying Pan
- Stainless Steel Tawa
- Insulated Water Bottles
- Mortar and Pestle
Conclusion
Kitchen utensils and tools affect your cooking and health. Their material, shape and size are all determinants that you should consider before buying.
Thankfully, Team Mishry does all the hard work for you, so that you can sit back and enjoy the results. Is your kitchen ready for this year?