Statepoint

Whether one aspires to culinary greatness or prefers whipping up cozy family meals, all cooks appreciate quality kitchen equipment. Here are some ways you can beef up your kitchen in time to prepare large holiday feasts – and some ideas to help you shop for the chefs and foodies in your life.

CUTTING BOARDS

The right cutting board should last for decades, neither warping nor splitting. It should also not dull one’s knives. Seek out a cutting board that is stable on your countertop and will respond well to your particular set of knives. Maintain wooden cutting boards by regularly oiling them in order to reduce their porousness.

For meats, look for high-quality plastic cutting boards, which are easy to sanitize. Just be sure to toss these cutting boards after they are worn out, as they are more prone to harbor bacteria after wear and tear.

HIGH-QUALITY COOKWARE

Go-to staples need to be high-quality and highly- functional. A frying pan, for instance, should heat evenly, be very responsive to temperature and ideally be ergonomic.

While great cookware such as this usually comes with a premium price tag, you can usually capitalize on good deals at this time of year. For example, Hammer Stahl, an American made kitchenware brand known for quality and performance, is currently offering a two-piece set of stainless steel multi-clad fry pans (8.5-inch and 10.5-inch) with a lifetime warranty at half the regular price, giving holiday shoppers an opportunity to affordably stock up kitchens with premier go-to pans. Great for frying, sautéing, searing and browning, their flat bottoms and curved sides make tossing and flipping food easy.

IMMERSION BLENDER

Space-saving, versatile and affordable, an immersion blender is perfect for any cook, however many people find their kitchens without one. Perfect for creating smooth purees, soups, and pesto, they also require less clean-up than full-size blenders or food processors, something to keep in mind when prepping a complicated holiday feast, or looking to simplify weeknight dinners.

PROFESSIONAL-QUALITY CUTLERY

Good knives are the foundation of a well- equipped kitchen. No other tool will improve the joy of cooking quite like a good chef’s knife. A dull, awkward knife is not only a hassle to use, but dangerous too.

Both advanced chefs and beginner cooks will benefit from top-quality high-carbon, stainless steel knives, such as the new Hammer Stahl 6-inch chef knife and the 5.5-inch Santoku knife. Made in the tradition of the great German knife makers, the handles are ergonomically designed with a comfortable grip to reduce fatigue. All Hammer Stahl knives are heirloom quality and guaranteed for life. For more information, visit hammerstahl.com/holidaygiftguide.

“These are not intimidating knives. A shorter blade gives you more control over the knife, and is excellent for most basic tasks like slicing vegetables or chopping fresh herbs,” said Bobby Griggs, vice president, Hammer Stahl. This holiday season, treat yourself and loved ones to top-quality kitchen gear that can pave the way to better cooking.