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Cooking equipment plays a crucial role in cooking, as it enables us to perform various techniques and methods of cooking, making it easier and more efficient. The right equipment can help achieve the desired texture, flavor, and presentation of a dish. Cooking equipment can also make cooking safer and more hygienic. For instance, using a meat thermometer can ensure that meats are cooked to a safe temperature, while using separate cutting boards for raw and cooked foods can prevent cross-contamination.
Below are some of the most well-known Cooking Equipment used in different regions.
Great Britain:
- Kettle: used for boiling water for tea or other hot drinks
- Roasting pan: used for cooking roast meats and vegetables in the oven
- Tea pot: used for steeping loose tea leaves or tea bags in hot water
- Griddle pan: used for cooking pancakes or grilled sandwiches on the stovetop
France:
- Dutch oven: a heavy pot with a tight-fitting lid, used for slow-cooking stews and braises
- Crepe pan: a flat pan with shallow sides, used for making thin, delicate crepes
- Mandoline: a slicing tool used to make uniform slices of vegetables and fruits
- Pastry bag: a tool used for piping dough, cream, or frosting
Italy:
- Pasta maker: a tool used for rolling out and cutting fresh pasta dough
- Pizza stone: a baking stone used to make crispy, authentic-style pizza in the oven
- Mortar and pestle: a tool used for grinding herbs, spices, and garlic
- Espresso machine: a machine used for making espresso, cappuccino, and other coffee drinks
Spain & Portugal:
- Paella pan: a wide, shallow pan used for making the traditional Spanish rice dish, paella
- Churrera: a tool used for making churros, a popular Spanish fried pastry
- Cataplana: a domed cooking pot used for making seafood stews in Portugal
- Cazuela: a clay pot used for cooking stews and soups in Spain
Scandinavia:
- Smoker: a device used for smoking meats and fish
- Fiskars: a tool used for cutting and filleting fish
- Reindeer horn knife: a traditional knife used for carving meat in Scandinavia
- Flatbread iron: a tool used for cooking traditional Scandinavian flatbreads
Germany:
- Sausage stuffer: a tool used for stuffing casings with ground meat for sausage making
- Potato ricer: a tool used for making mashed potatoes or spaetzle
- Brotform: a basket used for proofing bread dough
- Schnitzel hammer: a tool used for pounding and tenderizing meat for schnitzel
Middle East:
- Tandoor oven: a traditional clay oven used for baking bread and cooking meats in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine
- Tagine: a conical clay pot used for slow-cooking stews and tagines in North African cuisine
- Mortar and pestle: a tool used for grinding spices and herbs in Middle Eastern cooking
- Turkish coffee pot: a small pot used for making strong, thick coffee in Middle Eastern and Turkish cuisine
Oriental:
- Wok: a large, rounded pan with a small bottom, used for stir-frying and other Asian cooking techniques
- Bamboo steamer: a multi-layered steamer used for steaming dumplings, vegetables, and other foods
- Rice cooker: an electric appliance used for cooking rice
- Sushi mat: a mat used for rolling sushi
Mexican:
- Molcajete: a traditional mortar and pestle used for grinding spices and making salsas
- Comal: a flat, round griddle used for cooking tortillas and other Mexican foods
- Tortilla press: a tool used for pressing out and flattening masa dough to make tortillas
- Molinillo: a traditional whisk used for frothing hot chocolate
Arabic:
- Turkish coffee pot: a small pot used for making strong, thick coffee in Arabic and Middle Eastern cuisine
- Samovar: a device used for heating water for tea in Arabic and Turkish