January 26, 2016 - Radio Kitchen - Shopping Guide for Mid-Winter Sales
Six weeks ago most of us were scurrying around trying to find last minute presents for the holidays. And now as we wind up January, we are on the cusp of all those wonderful mid-winter sales. And Chef Jerry Pellegrino of Schola Cooking School, you and I think alike on this: if you were dying to get some upgrades to your kitchen gear, and you didn't get lucky, now is the time to plan for some productive shopping.
1. Whetstone, the best way to sharpen your knives. It takes just a little technique to handle your knife correctly, but very quickly you'll get the knack.
2. Vacuum sealing machine, which comes with the special plastic bags. Aside from preserving liquids, which it can't do, it is great for everything else. Al likes to buy meat or poultry on sale, portion it out, and seal it up for the freezer. Because the vacuum is tight, there is little chance of freezer frost or burn. And you can practice your "sous vide" cooking with the sealed, evacuated bags.
3. Hand held pepper grinders... and exotic pepper. Invest it a good quality handheld pepper grinder, or maybe a couple, and use the exotic peppers now available (and yes, they do make a difference). Try EN Olivier on Falls Road as a source for grinders and peppers.
4. Copper pots and pans. Yes, you can spend hundreds on just one sauce pan, but there are amazing deals on Ebay. For some reason Cuisinart and Caphalon always pop up on Ebay with tremendous buys. Examples: a 3 quart sauté pan for $35; a pair of skillets 8" and 10" for $120; or a five piece cookware set for $175.
5. If you get copper cookware, the trick is keeping it clean. Fortunately there is an answer to this prayer: Bar Keeper's Friend, a super effective sprinkle on scouring powder that has kept my pots pristine for over 6 years.
