The Best & Worst Tools for Vegetable Prep | Gear Heads

America's Test Kitchen
27 Jul 202320:42
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis engaging video from America's Test Kitchen showcases Lisa and Hannah's exploration of essential tools and tips for effortless vegetable prep. With 30 years of combined experience, they introduce their book, 'Kitchen Gear: The Ultimate Owner's Manual,' filled with invaluable advice on selecting the right kitchen gadgets. From mandolins that ensure precise cuts to spiralizers for creating unique vegetable shapes, they cover a range of tools including graters, peelers, and salad spinners, while advising against gimmicky items like the Slap Chop. Essential for any home cook, this video offers a comprehensive guide to making vegetable prep not just easier, but also more enjoyable.

Takeaways
  • 🥕 Mandolins are praised for their ability to make precise, consistent cuts quickly, with models like Benriner, Oxo, and Kyocera being top choices.
  • 🔪 Straight-blade mandolins are preferred over V-shaped ones for more even, consistent results, and a larger platform is ideal for accommodating a range of vegetable sizes.
  • 🧤 Safety tips for using mandolins include going slow, using hand guards or cut-resistant gloves, cutting on a flat surface, and not overloading the mandolin.
  • 🌀 Spiralizers, like the new winner from Oxo, are favored for creating interesting vegetable dishes with various shapes and textures.
  • 🍝 A good spiralizer should be stable, versatile with different fruits and vegetables, easy to use and clean, and should minimize waste.
  • 🧀 For graters, the Cuisinart box grater and Rösle paddle grater are recommended, with stamped graters preferred over etched for less clogging and better performance with soft foods.
  • 🥒 Peelers, particularly the Oxo Good Grip Swivel Peeler and Kuhn Rikon's Y-style peeler, are highlighted for their sharp, maneuverable blades and ergonomic design.
  • 💧 The Oxo salad spinner is noted for its ability to efficiently dry greens, with a design that minimizes produce crushing and allows for easy cleaning.
  • 🧄 The Kuhn Rikon epicurean garlic press is recommended for its ease of use, effective mincing, and easy cleaning, with tips for using it effectively provided.
  • ✂️ Specialized vegetable cutting tools like the Slap Chop and toss and chop salad scissors are not recommended due to their inefficiency and poor results.
Q & A

  • What is the title of the book mentioned in the video and what does it cover?

    -The title of the book mentioned is "Kitchen Gear: The Ultimate Owner's Manual." It covers the authors' favorite tips and tricks for kitchen gear, offers an unbiased take on what kitchen items are worth buying, and includes over a hundred ATK (America's Test Kitchen) recipes that highlight the best use of kitchen gear.

  • What are the three top winners in the mandolin test and what makes each unique?

    -The three top winners in the mandolin test are the Benriner, Oxo, and Kyocera paddle model. The Benriner is favored for making the most whisper-thin cuts and is a chef favorite, the Oxo is easiest to use with its stable foot, and the Kyocera is the best compact option, appreciated for its ease of use and cleaning.

  • Why are sharp blades considered essential for mandolins, according to the video?

    -Sharp blades are essential for mandolins because they ensure that the device can efficiently cut through a wide range of items, from delicate tomato skins to rugged celeriacs, without the possibility of sharpening the blades after they become dull.

  • What were the main factors considered in testing mandolins?

    -The main factors considered in testing mandolins were the range of thicknesses the mandolin could achieve, the sharpness and durability of the blades, the shape of the blades (with a preference for straight blades), the size of the platform for accommodating different sizes of fruits and vegetables, and the presence of rubber feet for stability.

  • What is the preferred grater style among testers, and what are the advantages of each type?

    -Testers were divided between box and paddle graters, each having its pros and cons. Box graters are more stable and contain shreds better due to their four sides, while paddle graters are easier to clean, store, and can be used in various ways, such as hooked over a bowl or on top of a cutting board.

  • What is the main reason specialized vegetable cutting tools like the Slap Chop are not recommended?

    -Specialized vegetable cutting tools like the Slap Chop are not recommended because they tend to be difficult to clean, can cut unevenly and bruise the vegetables, and often become tangled with food, making them less efficient than simpler tools like a chef's knife and a cutting board.

  • What are the key features of the Oxo salad spinner that made it stand out in tests?

    -The Oxo salad spinner stood out in tests due to its stability, ease of use, and its ability to get close to 100% of the water off the greens. Its design allows for a suspended basket that prevents re-wetting and has an easy-to-operate push mechanism for spinning.

  • What are the benefits of using a garlic press according to the video?

    -The benefits of using a garlic press include achieving uniform, small pieces of garlic without the need for knife skills, saving time in food preparation, and the ease of pressing garlic through the device, especially the Kuhn Rikon Epicurean garlic press, which is efficient and easy to clean.

  • Why do the presenters recommend against using the toss and chop salad scissors?

    -The presenters recommend against using the toss and chop salad scissors because they are inefficient, difficult to use on a variety of foods due to their limited opening and length, often result in uneven and bruised pieces of food, and are more effortful than using a knife and cutting board.

  • What are the main criteria for a good vegetable peeler, as discussed in the video?

    -The main criteria for a good vegetable peeler include sharp and maneuverable blades, the ability to handle both delicate and tough vegetables, a swivel design to follow the contours of vegetables easily, minimal waste production, and easy cleaning.

Outlines
00:00
🍽️ Mastering Vegetable Prep: Essential Tips and Tools

The introduction highlights the importance of vegetable preparation in daily cooking and promises to offer valuable tips and tools to make the process easier. The speakers, with 30 years of combined experience, introduce their upcoming book 'Kitchen Gear: The Ultimate Owner's Manual,' packed with tips, tricks, and over a hundred recipes. The segment transitions into a detailed discussion on mandolins, emphasizing their efficiency in making consistent cuts quickly. The narrative covers the testing of various mandolins, leading to three top recommendations: the Benriner for precision, the Oxo for ease of use, and the Kyocera paddle model for compact storage. Key considerations in mandolin selection, such as range of thicknesses, blade sharpness, and safety features like rubber feet and hand guards, are discussed. The segment concludes with tips for safe and efficient mandolin use, including the importance of cleaning by hand to maintain sharpness.

05:02
🥒 Elevating Vegetable Dishes with Spiralizers and Graters

This segment explores the utility of spiralizers and graters in adding texture and variety to vegetable dishes, arguing against the notion of using spiralized vegetables as a pasta replacement. The discussion includes criteria for a good spiralizer, with the Oxo model emerging as a new favorite for its stability, ease of use, and cleaning. The narrative then shifts to graters, comparing box and paddle styles, and presenting winners in each category: a box grater from Cuisinart and a paddle style grater from Rösle. The segment emphasizes the importance of tooth style, grating surface dimensions, and ergonomic features like rubbery grips and big handles. The preference between paddle and box graters is presented as subjective, with benefits highlighted for each type.

10:02
🔪 Simple Tools Over Specialized Gadgets for Veggie Prep

The narrative critiques specialized vegetable cutting tools, like the Slap Chop and alligator chopper, for their ineffectiveness and recommends sticking to basic tools like a chef's knife and cutting board. It then introduces vegetable peelers as essential tools, with a focus on the testing process that identified the Oxo Good Grips Swivel Peeler and the Kuhn Rikon Original Swiss Peeler as top choices. The segment also covers the utility of salad spinners, with a particular emphasis on the Oxo model's effectiveness in drying greens. The garlic press is discussed next, with the Kuhn Rikon epicurean garlic press highlighted for its ease of use and cleaning. The segment wraps up with tips for peeling garlic efficiently and a critique of the toss and chop salad scissors for their lack of effectiveness.

15:03
🥗 Wrapping Up: Veggie Prep Made Easy

This concluding segment offers a recap of the tips and tools discussed to simplify vegetable preparation, encouraging viewers to explore more information on the highlighted products. The speakers share a personal tip for making veggie prep enjoyable by listening to music and invite viewers to share their own tips and tricks in the comments. The call to action includes liking the video, subscribing to the channel, and engaging with the content through comments, aiming to foster a community of cooking enthusiasts who value efficient and enjoyable vegetable preparation.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Vegetable Prep
Vegetable prep refers to the process of preparing vegetables for cooking or consumption, which includes washing, peeling, cutting, and slicing. In the context of the video, vegetable prep is highlighted as a fundamental step in cooking, essential for a wide range of recipes from breakfast to dinner. The script suggests that although vegetable prep can sometimes be tedious, there are various tools and tips to make it more efficient and enjoyable, thereby encouraging healthier eating habits through the inclusion of vegetables in meals.
💡Mandolin
A mandolin is a kitchen tool designed for slicing and cutting vegetables and fruits with precision and uniformity. The video describes mandolins as devices that can make vegetable prep easier by producing consistent cuts quickly, mimicking impeccable knife skills. The script emphasizes the importance of safety and ease of use when selecting a mandolin, highlighting top models for their range of thicknesses, sharp blades, and stability, which contribute to their effectiveness in aiding vegetable prep.
💡Spiralizer
A spiralizer is a kitchen gadget used to create spirals or noodles from vegetables and fruits, introducing new shapes and textures to dishes. The video mentions spiralizers as tools that gained popularity for their ability to transform vegetables into appealing forms, like zucchini noodles, enhancing the visual and textural aspects of vegetable dishes. The script discusses the importance of stability, ease of cleaning, and the ability to handle various sizes and densities of produce when evaluating the effectiveness of a spiralizer.
💡Grater
A grater is a kitchen utensil with surfaces containing sharp pores used for shredding or grating food items like vegetables, cheese, and citrus zest. The video outlines the utility of graters in vegetable prep, noting the differences between box and paddle graters and their respective advantages, such as stability and ease of cleaning. The script underscores the significance of sharp teeth, the size of the grating surface, and ergonomic design in making graters efficient tools for enhancing vegetable prep.
💡Vegetable Peeler
Vegetable peelers are tools designed to remove the outer skin or peel from vegetables and fruits with minimal waste. The video differentiates between straight and Y-style peelers, discussing their efficiency in peeling various types of produce with ease and precision. The script highlights the evolution of peelers from traditional knife peeling to more advanced and ergonomic designs that facilitate quicker and safer vegetable prep.
💡Salad Spinner
A salad spinner is a kitchen device used to wash and dry leafy vegetables efficiently. The video emphasizes the salad spinner's role in ensuring clean and dry greens, which is crucial for the freshness and quality of salads. The script points out features like capacity, ease of use, and effective water removal as key factors in choosing a salad spinner, noting its importance in maintaining the integrity of delicate vegetables during prep.
💡Garlic Press
A garlic press is a tool designed to crush garlic cloves efficiently, producing minced garlic without the need for fine knife skills. The video presents the garlic press as a convenient alternative to traditional chopping, ideal for recipes requiring uniform, small pieces of garlic. The script discusses the features of an effective garlic press, such as ease of use, cleaning, and durable construction, which contribute to its utility in vegetable prep.
💡Kitchen Gear Book
The 'Kitchen Gear: The Ultimate Owner's Manual' mentioned in the script is a book that compiles tips, tricks, and advice on selecting and using various kitchen tools and equipment. The video suggests that the book, authored by experienced testers, offers valuable insights into optimizing kitchen practices, including vegetable prep, by recommending worthwhile tools and providing over a hundred recipes that showcase the best use of kitchen gear.
💡Specialized Vegetable Cutting Tools
Specialized vegetable cutting tools, such as the Slap Chop and alligator chopper, are gadgets designed to simplify the process of cutting vegetables. The video critiques these tools for their inefficiency, uneven cutting, and the tedious cleanup they often require, suggesting that they may not be as convenient as advertised. The script advises sticking to basic, versatile tools like a chef's knife and cutting board for most vegetable prep tasks.
💡Chef's Knife
A chef's knife is a versatile kitchen knife that can be used for various tasks, including chopping, slicing, and dicing vegetables. The video underscores the chef's knife's importance as a fundamental tool in vegetable prep, capable of handling a wide range of tasks efficiently. The script recommends relying on a chef's knife for its adaptability and effectiveness in vegetable preparation, contrasting it with more specialized tools that may offer less flexibility and utility.
Highlights

Introduction to vegetable prep importance and gear guide.

Announcement of 'Kitchen Gear: The Ultimate Owner's Manual' book release.

Benefits and dangers of mandolins for veggie prep.

Top mandolin picks: Benriner, Oxo, and Kyocera models highlighted.

Criteria for mandolin evaluation: range of thicknesses and sharp blades.

Safety tips for using mandolins effectively.

Introduction and benefits of spiralizers in veggie prep.

Oxo spiralizer recommended for its stability and ease of use.

Grater evaluation: Box and paddle styles with Cuisinart and Rösle as winners.

Grater testing focused on tooth style and grating surface dimensions.

Critique of specialized vegetable cutting tools like the Slap Chop.

Introduction to vegetable peelers, highlighting Oxo and Kuhn Rikon models.

Benefits of a salad spinner, with Oxo model standing out.

Kuhn Rikon's garlic press benefits: ease of use and cleaning.

Tips for peeling garlic more efficiently.

Advice against using toss and chop salad scissors for veggie prep.

Transcripts

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