8 Cheap Kitchen Tools I Use All the Time

Today, I'm going to cover 8 cheap kitchen tools that I think are underrated, but I use them all the time that make me a better cook. Let's begin.

Amazon Links to everything mentioned in this video:

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USEFUL KITCHEN GEAR

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0:00 Intro
0:32 Microplane
1:03 Squirt bottle - two typees
1:41 Box grater
2:17 Mortar & pestle
2:47 Small glass bowls
3:13 Aluminum pizza screen
3:48 Bench scraper
4:23 Smooth edge can opener

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MISC. DETAILS
Music: Provided by Epidemic Sound
Filmed on: Sony a6600 & Sony A6400 w/ Sigma 16mm F1.4
Voice recorded on Zoom H4n with Behringer Mic
Edited in: Premiere Pro

Affiliate Disclosure:

[standardofdan]

FYI for everyone on a budget- The small glass prep bowls, squirt bottles and bench scraper are all available at the Dollar Tree. The small glass bowls come in a set of 3 and squirt bottles come in a set of 2.

[Spirrwell]

One of the most valuable tools for me has definitely been a food thermometer. Without a doubt. I screwed up a LOT before I got one.

[cmquinn]

I reuse a Sriracha bottle for my oils. The tip can be adjusted from drips to a squirt. Precise control of oil is a nice feature, even better it was free.

[OfficialRedTeamReview]

Thank you for this! I'd love a part 2 where we can see what you use to cook with: pots, pans, utensils and such.

[nicholassaples]

The only supreme tool I would like in my kitchen is Ethan Chlebowski. 💖

[Bryan-rxcv]

2:12 I see you Ethan and your puns. Box Grater, "Very Grate Item to Have"

[kolinako]

A tip: empty plastic ice cream containers are like the perfect containers both for storing food and to hold ingredients during prep.
They come with a lid, they stack inside of each other, they're easy to wash and reuse and you get them by eating ice cream. What's not to like?

[christineb]

Such a good list! My one tweak would be metal bowls instead of glass. I tend to drop things and like how resilient and light-weight metal bowls are. I'm not worried about chipping the edges either. I might add a set of flexible cutting boards to an essentials list too; they make moving ingredients around really easy, keeping meat and veg separate, and cleaning up after a multi-ingredient prep super easy.

[adamsappel]

Microplane tip: If you use it "upside down" you can see exactly where on the citrus you still need to zest and the trough fills up with zest so you can tell how much you've accumulated. Much more accurate and efficient.

[DarthCyfe]

Time to follow up with Moderate and Expensive Kitchen Tools videos next!

[bagelhunt]

I put off buying a lot of these for a long time because I was always cheap when it came to food and kitchen stuff, but I adopted the buy once cry once mentality and for a lot of these nice-to-haves it really makes cooking a lot more enjoyable. In that way it's helped me save a lot of money by not eating out lol.

[MarkFaldborg]

Seconding the bench scraper. Very useful and as soon as it is on your counter it may never leave.

Prep bowls as well, even if it creates more dishes, I really like having my mise in order and mobile when I start cooking.

[lldmkwd]

"The microplane has made my garlic press obsolete"
*Proceeds to smear garlic all over microplane*

[TheRealJayGutta]

That smooth edge can opener also allows you to put the top back onto a can that you havent completely used, like tomato paste...or pet food.

[tequilitita]

i can enjoy that kind of can opener with ALL MY HEART. they're a game changer. worth their money in every aspect!

[aagereinertjakobsen]

Tip from Chef Jean-Pierre: Hold the lemon/orange fixed while scraping with the micrograter on top. That way, you can easily control that you only grate the zest and none of the bitter pith (the white stuff under the skin).

[flutechannel]

Micrograter is my jam, right next to my flute. Great video Ethan!

[wordkyle]

Got 'em all. It's gratifying to have tools on hand that make cooking easier.

[Shade.]

Microplane tip:
For zesting, I personally use the microplane upside down (curved edges up) and move the citrus in a wedge by wedge motion against the blade.
The curved edges of the microplane collect the zest so it doesn't fly everywhere and you don't need a big bowl to catch just a little zest, plus you see exactly which spots you're going over to get the most bang for your buck, without pith. 😎💯

[JustCallMeCharlie]

protip for zesting citrus with a microplane, instead of pulling the citrus back and forth, use the microplane kinda like a peeler; hold the citrus in place with one hand and with the microplane upside down drag it over the citrus; the zest gathers on top of the plane, you can way more easily control where you're hitting to get all the zest with none of the pith, and there's pretty much zero chance your hand slips and grates your knuckles (we've all been there)