Tools and Equipment

apple corer apple peeler and corer Substitutes: knife and vegetable peeler clam knife = oyster knife = oyster shucker Substitutes: Microwave the oysters until they open (about 20 seconds) OR stem the oysters until they open (about 4 minutes) cookie cutter Substitutes: wine glass OR empty can knife pizza wheel = pizza cutter Substitutes: knife sharpening steel = steel Substitutes: whetstone sharpening steel vegetable peeler Substitutes: scrape off peel with a sharp knife. Measuring Tools candy thermometer Substitutes: To measure the temperature of candy syrup without a thermometer, visit the Illinois Cooperative Extension Service's Candy Thermometer Accuracy page meat thermometer refrigerator thermometer = freezer thermometer Extracting & Straining Tools butter muslin Notes: This resembles a tightly woven cheesecloth and is used for straining fine particles from a liquid. Substitutes: cotton cloth, like a sheet or pillowcase OR coffee filter cheesecloth Notes: Includes fine cheesecloth Substitutes: clean kitchen towel coffee filter Substitutes: heavy duty paper towel OR cheesecloth folded several times colander Notes: Cooks use these to wash foods or to drain noodles or vegetables after boiling. Large metal ones are best. Substitutes: use tongs to lift food out (works especially well with noodles) OR strainer degreasing pitcher Substitutes: Set pan in refrigerator until fat congeals on top, then scrape it off OR pour drippings into measuring cup, then use bulb baster to remove grease on top funnel Substitutes: roll paper or aluminum foil into a cone ice cream scoop reamer Roasting Equipment clay pot Substitutes: casserole pot OR dutch oven (Warning: Cook at lower temperature for a shorter period of time than with clay pot. roasting rack Mashing, Grating, Grinding & Mixing Tools chinois Notes: This fits on top of a deep container and mashes food that pressed through it. eggbeater Substitutes: Beat mixture vigorously with a fork OR shake mixture in a sealed jar grater ice pick mallet Substitutes: rolling pin OR hammer meat grinder mortar and pestle Substitutes: coffee grinder OR crush with a rolling pin peppermill Substitutes: mortar and pestle OR coffee grinder potato masher salt mill Notes: Trendy cooks fill this gadget with expensive sea salt crystals so that they season their food with freshly ground salt. It's not clear why they do this, since salt is an inorganic mineral and, unlike pepper and other spices, doesn't become stale once ground. Substitutes: mortar and pestle OR place salt in a plastic bag, seal, then crush the salt with a rolling pin.