Must-Have Kitchen Equipment for Fall Cooking
Every season has a particular style of cooking that goes along with it. For example, summer cooking is all about eating fresh and light while winter is a time for serving those special comfort foods that warm both the body and soul. Well, autumn is no exception to the seasonal cooking rule. There are certain foods prepared more often in the fall thanks to changing weather and the start of the holiday season.
As we approach the holidays, do you have the right equipment in your kitchen for fall cooking? Below is a list of things every kitchen needs this time of year.
Crock Pot/Slow Cooker
The crock pot, also known as a slow cooker, has been a hit ever since the first iterations of the device were made commercially available in the 1970s. These ingenious devices make it possible to slow cook your dinner all day without having to pay too much attention to it once the process is started.
Crock pots are one of the best pieces of kitchen equipment for fall cooking because they are so versatile. You can use them to create home-made soups, extremely tender roasts, all sorts of vegetable-based dishes, sauces, and just about anything else you can think of.
Dutch Oven
The classic Dutch oven is very similar to a traditional slow cooker with one big difference: heat is sourced from the stove top or the oven rather than an electric heating coil. This gives the Dutch oven the advantage of more even cooking across its entire surface. Furthermore, it’s just as versatile as the slow cooker. You can bake bread, slow roast meats, create delicious stews, and even roast your vegetables.
Loaf Pans and Muffin Tins
After a summer of eating light and fresh, we turn to foods that are little heavier and more comforting once the weather starts turning colder. Nothing tops the menu like breads and muffins. If you want to make the best banana bread or blueberry muffins your family and friends have ever tasted, you are going to need some high-quality loaf pans and muffins tins. We recommend going with traditional metal pans and tins rather than silicone. You will get a more even cook that way.
Coffee Maker/Espresso Machine
Mid-autumn is the time most of us start thinking about entertaining. That’s because the cooler weather tends to keep us indoors most of the time. If you are planning to entertain, make sure you have a good quality coffee maker in your kitchen. An espresso machine is also a good addition as well.
Believe it or not, fewer people have coffee machines at home the way their parents and grandparents did in the past. They just get their morning coffee down at the local coffee shop on the way to work. But that won’t do when you’re entertaining.
Stand Mixer
Lastly, whether you are primarily a cook or a baker, you will find a stand mixer to be indispensable. A stand mixer is perfect for those times when you’re cooking for large numbers of people. Beyond standard cupcakes and cookies, though, a stand mixer also makes homemade bread a snap. A good mixer with the right implement can mix and knead your dough with incredible efficiency. As a side note, after using a stand mixer couple of times, you will wonder how you ever lived without one.
Autumn is a wonderful time of year for trying new things in the kitchen. With the cold weather now settling in, make sure you are prepared for fall cooking by having the right pieces of equipment on hand.