Kitchen Tools Identification

Muffin Tin

A baking pan formed of a group of connecting cups usually used for muffins or cupcakes. Often lined with paper liners.

Colander

A bowl with holes that is used to drain and wash foods.

Steamer basket (aka steamer insert)

A collapsible basket used to hold vegetables and other foods over boiling water so that they can be steam cooked.

Grater

A cutting tool used to shred, grate, and zest foods.

Fluted Tube Pan

A decorative cake pan with scalloped sides used to bake coffee, angel food, and pound cakes.

Cookie Cutters

A device with sharp edges for cutting cookie dough into a particular shape.

Cast-Iron Skillet

A heavy, thick pan made of cast iron. Use it to pan grill, pan-fry, and braise food items such as meat or vegetables.

Salad Spinner

A kitchen utensil that uses centrifugal force to dry freshly washed salad greens, herbs, etc.

Wok

A large electric or stove top cooking pot with sloping sides and wide top for making stir-fry or other foods.

Slow Cooker

A large electric pot used for cooking food very slowly (3-8+ hours)

Slotted Spoon

A large spoon with slots or holes for draining liquid from food.

Cake Tester

A little tool made of thin metal used to pierce baked goods to test for doneness.

Rolling Pin

A long, cylindrical shaped kitchen utensil, generally used to roll out dough and flatten foods.

Pastry Mat

A plastic mat used for rolling out dough.

Pizza Pan

A round, metal sheet with a rim used for baking pizza.

Double Boiler

A set of two pans nested together, with enough room in the bottom pan for 1 or 2 inches of water. Prevents scorching because food is not cooked by direct heat.

Pie Pan

A shallow baking dish with sloping sides in which pies are baked.

Pot Holder

A thick piece of material, as a quilted or woven pad, used in safely handling hot pots and dishes. Some types can be worn over hands (oven mitts).

Egg separator

A tool used to separate the yolk of an egg from the egg white. Usually shaped like a large spoon or small ladle with a slot or holes that allows the white of an egg to pass through leaving the yolk in the spoon.

Wire Whisk

A tool with a long, narrow handle with a series of wire loops joined at the end; used to mix air into foods (whipping). Avoid using this tool for folding or heavy mixtures.

Pizza Cutter

A wheel-bladed utensil with a handle useful for cleanly slicing foods.

Bread Knife

AKA serrated knife. Knife with serrated edges that grips food; useful in cutting foods that are firm on the outside yet soft inside.

Chef's Knife

All-purpose large knife used to slice, mince, chop, cube and dice (aka French Knife).

Paring knife

All-purpose small knife used for small cuts, garnishes, peeling or coring.

Stand Mixer

An electric device that can vary the speed at which ingredients are mixed. Some models have specialized attachments for other tasks such as making pasta, grinding meat and freezing ice creams.

Griddle

An electric device that has a heat source located beneath a thick plate of metal. Cook food directly on this surface, which is usually designed with edges to contain the food and a drain to collect waste.

Electric Hand Mixer

An electric tool that has whisk like, beater attachments used for mixing, beating, kneading, and whipping.

Blender

An electrical appliance used to blend, mix, purée, crush, and emulsify foods and liquids.

Mixing Bowls

Deep bowls that are well suited for mixing ingredients in.

Ice Cream Scoop

Deep spoon used to scoop ice cream

Cooking Thermometer

Device for determining cooking doneness, especially in meats. Many different types.

Can opener

Device used to cut open metal cans using 2 blades and a rotating handle device

Casserole Dish

Glass or ceramic baking container, often with a matching lid

Meat Tenderizer

Hammer-like device used to pound thick portions of meat till they are thinner and more tender

Dutch Oven

Heavy pot with tight lid; may have rack at the bottom; used on range or in oven

Pasta Server

Kitchen tool that lifts, portions and serves spaghetti, linguini, and angel hair pasta

Straight Edged Spatula

Knife like utensil used to spread frosting, level dry ingredients etc.

Ladle

Large deep spoon used to serve soups, stews, punch and sauces

Salad Servers

Large kitchen utensils used as tongs to serve salad. One is usually shaped with round edges like a spoon, while the other looks like a spork or fork.

Loaf Pan

Long, narrow baking pan used for bread, meatloaf, loaf cakes, etc. Can be meatal, glass or ceramic

Cake Pan

Pan with taller sides varying shapes used for baking cakes and other desserts

Wax Paper

Paper that has been saturated with wax to make it waterproof or greaseproof, used especially in cooking and the wrapping of foodstuffs.

Parchment Paper

Paper that is used as a disposable non-stick surface when baking

Sauté Pan

Small skillet used for sautéing vegetables and making omelets. AKA omelet pan

Kitchen Shears

Specially-designed scissors for the kitchen designed to perform an assortment of cooking-related chores from opening packages to slicing up foods.

Pot

Stove top cooking container that has two small handles; usually deep.

Pan

Stove top cooking container with one long handle; usually shallow.

Aluminum Foil

Thin aluminum sheeting used especially to cover and wrap food when cooking and storing

Plastic Wrap

Thin plastic film typically used for sealing food items in containers to keep them fresh over a longer period of time

Cookie Sheets

Thin, flat metal pan with shallow sides used to bake a variety of foods.

Peeler

Tool to remove the outer layer of fruits and vegetables.

Digital Kitchen Scale

Tool used to measure out ingredients or food items

Pie Server Spatula

Triangular shaped serving spatula makes it easy to dish up pie for a crowd

Juicing Press/Juicer/Squeezer

Typically built with a solid ribbed cone or cup that presses down on half of an orange, lime, lemon, tomato or other similar food to extract the juice.

Pastry Brush

Used for basting baked goods with melted butter or brushing on glazes

Garlic Press

Used for crushing garlic cloves quickly and easily

Cutting Board

Used for cutting food; preventing cross contamination, accidents and protecting counter tops.

Rubber Spatula

Used for gently mixing and folding delicate ingredients and to scrape ingredients from the sides of containers.

Wooden Spoon

Used for mixing and when cooking and stirring hot foods.

Liquid Measuring Cup

Used to accurately measure and pour liquid volume of ingredients.

Dry Measuring Cups

Used to accurately measure dry and sticky ingredients.

Cooling Rack

Used to allow air to circulate freely to cool baked goods quickly, and to prevent them from getting soggy.

Turner

Used to flip foods like burgers and pancakes (aka spatula).

Measuring Spoons

Used to measure small amounts of both dry and liquid ingredients.

Funnel

Used to pour liquids and small-grained ingredients from one source into another without spilling. They have large open tops that slope down and decrease in size forming into a narrow tube that fits into narrow openings.

Apple Slicer

Used to remove the core and slice apples

Tongs

Used to safely and gently grasp and lift foods while they are being cooked or served.

Potato masher

Used to smash cooked fruits or vegetables into a puree.

Pastry Blender

Utensil used to "cut in" or blend solid fat (shortening, butter) into flour, creating small pieces . Helps make pies and biscuits flaky.

Strainer

Wire mesh sieve that is used to separate liquids away from solid ingredients or to separate and aerate dry ingredients like flour and powdered sugar