Thank you, everyone, for taking the time to complete the survey. I would love to know what the “other” is for those of you who selected that option.
So, now for my two cents—of course I wouldn’t have posted a survey if I didn’t already have an opinion on this!
In my mind, and in my kitchen, the two most important tools are 1) Ultra-sharp knives, and 2) a food processor. While I respect the usefulness of many of the other tools listed in the survey, these two are the only ones that I believe either serve unique purposes that cannot be replicated by another tool, or do something that could be accomplished by another tool so much more efficiently as to obviate the other tool’s need or usefulness.
A knife, I believe is somewhat self -explanatory, so I will focus my argument as to why a food processor takes the number two spot. To be sure, many of the tasks that are accomplished by the food processor can be accomplished with other tools; however, the sheer efficiency with which the processor undertakes and completes these tasks makes it a must. For example, it grates, slices, chops, blends, and kneads, which takes the place of a kitchen full of tools including: graters, mandolins, blenders, mixers, attachments, and many things not mentioned. As ancillary and a close third, I would include a coffee grinder for grinding spices.
Returning to the knife for a moment, you may ask yourself “If a food processor can do all of these things, including chop, why would I even need one?” Well, a knife is also useful for boning and segmenting a chicken, making matchstick cuts, a julienne, or chopping delicate herbs, such as basil, that a processor would destroy! Simply put, it can do things that, in the right hands and with the right skills, absolutely cannot be reasonably accomplished by other means
As a result of this discussion, you hopefully now appreciate the indispensable place of a select few sharp things in your kitchen!
