The Forgotten Kitchen Tools That Can Change Your Cooking Forever!
August 1, 2024
Source: flickr
Recall being a little kid, and going to my grandma’s home was like walking into a hug, coupled with the smell of baking. Her kitchen the central part of the home was always active. The image that stands out most in my mind, however, is the one of her old kitchen stove, and her using the drawer underneath it to keep the food warm. She would get a perfectly cooked roast out of the oven, and I would marvel as she put the pan in that drawer and let it stay there until it was time to eat.
I still remember those days and now when I am also in the kitchen of my own house, I have developed the same habit of using the drawer just beneath the stove. However, this simple drawer has more functions in the kitchen than simply keeping food warm. Here are some timeless uses for this handy drawer that your grandma probably knew all along:
1. Warming Drawer
Similar to Grandma, I use the drawer below the stove mainly to keep the food warm after it has been prepared. This feature is very helpful especially when cooking for a number of people or when having a party. The warming drawer has a steady temperature, thus the food stays warm and is oven ready without the risk of overcooking or drying out. It is ideal for warmers of side dishes while the principal course is being prepared or an appetizer while the guest are arriving.
2. Proofing Dough
Grandma, the baker, will love the warming drawer for its contr rolling out the d functionality of t warming the surface for the dough to prove. The low heat that is produced can aid in the rising of the dough thus enhancing the quality of the final product. Just put the covered dough in the drawer and select the temperature to low, then let it rise and become as good as the one grandma used to make.
3. Slow Cooking
Today there are stoves that have drawers that can be used as slow cookers and Grandmother would have certainly appreciated that. This features let you cook your meals for a long time such as stew, casseroles and braising in the drawer. This is a practical method of freeing up space in the oven as well as guarantee that your food is cooked thoroughly for a longer time.
4. Defrosting
It is also useful in defrosting of frozen foods, the warming drawer also has to be used safely. This way of thawing the food is still relatively slow as compared to leaving it at the counter top and as added advantage of this, the food will not harbor as much bacteria and you can be assured of consuming good quality food, as grandma always put it.
5. Extra Cooking Space
When needed, one can use the drawer for cooking as well. Certain models can act as a small oven and enable you to bake small meals when the main oven is busy. This is especially helpful during the festive season or during the preparations for the large family dinner, where there is limited space in the oven, something which grandma would have known all too well.
6. Storage
However, it is imperative to mention that storage is the classic function of the drawer. This is a perfect place to store baking sheets, pans, and other commonly used items in the kitchen but not necessarily displayed. Storing these items in the drawer will go a long way in creating the neat and efficient kitchen that we noticed in Grandma’s kitchen.