LIVING Muji’s stainless steel pots conducts heat efficiently and comes with easy grip handles.
Make your kitchen tools multitask A box grater can help you peel vegetables, make breadcrumbs or slice cheese, while a mixing bowl can also hold freshly washed vegetables. A food processor is pricey but worthwhile in the long run, as it can re-texturise almost anything from pureeing to grinding when you cook complex meals at home. This way, you will keep your drawer free from the accumulation of single-use items.
FIND SUBSTITUTES
While clever tools may seem like the perfect solution to every whimsical need, they may also end up as clutter in your kitchen. Need to tenderise meat in a pinch? Think out of the box and use a pestle instead of buying a specialised hammer.
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Simple changes to green up your cooking space.
W
hen it comes to saving the planet, the kitchen space is one of the easiest places to start. And for hobbyist or serious cooks where the kitchen is the workhorse of the home, there’s no full remodeling required; just small steps to integrate into daily living.
USE WOOD
Recycled wood adds a touch of warmth and naturalness to a home, and is a greener alternative to non-recyclable plastic utensils. Wooden cabinets and tableware are functional ways to add a touch of sustainability in the kitchen. It is essential to ensure that products are from sustainable sources. Ethnicraft is one such online retailer that is fully certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) for its use of plantationsourced and recycled teakwood.
Text by JASMINE THAM AND YIP JIEYING
SAVE ENERGY
Big ticket kitchen appliances like the refrigerator tend to use large amounts of electricity. While shopping for one, look out for appliances that carry the Energy Label ticks given by the Singapore Energy Labelling Scheme for smarter choices. The labels denote the energy consumption per hour; the higher the consumption, the more
22 • The Food Journal
electricity it uses. They also rate energy efficiency in terms of the number of ticks; the more ticks, the more efficient the model.
SORT YOUR WASTE
If you can’t reduce the use of raw materials, try to recycle some of them. Have more than one trash bin to make disposable more hygienic and convenient. Sort the bins into recyclable and non-recyclable waste.
skillet comes in handy for dishes that need to be fried or sautéed. Likewise for knives; a paring knife and a chef’s knife is plenty enough for most cutting needs. If your household is childfree, sticking the knives onto a magnetic strip will reduce wear and tear on the blades.
KEEP TABLEWARE AND CROCKERY TO THE BASICS
No need to splurge on a fancy range of plates and pans from the get-go; buy the essential items you use on a daily basis and add to your collection or upgrade when the need arises. For a start, invest in three quality pots: a large pot, a small pot and a big skillet. Use the large pot for cooking soup and boiling pasta, and the smaller pot for boiling small amounts of food. The
Ethnicraft’s 100% FSC certified tray and coaster
The Stabil Steamer from IKEA cleverly stacks inserts within the pot, so only one pot is needed to steam and boil food at the same time.
HOLD OFF ON TECHNOLOGY
Resist the urge to acquire every new kitchen appliance on the market – especially that sous vide cooker – unless you plan on using it often. An oven, a stovetop and a refrigerator should cater for a wide variety of recipes. If you are looking to buy appliances, do your research and buy durable models that will serve you well for at least a few years.
STOCK UP ON FOOD BASICS
For amateur cooks, start off with inexpensive basic foods such as flour and spices when you are experimenting in the kitchen. They are versatile and can be used in almost any dish. Do not buy a cupboard’s worth of ingredients just to have it on hand. Once you have mastered your recipes, go on and splurge on the exotic truffle oil.