Kitchen "must haves"

Pineapple cutters, juicers, truffle shavers and whisks are just a few of the vast range of kitchen utensils available. In fact, you'll find the perfect utensil for every cooking requirement.
Not only is there a vast range of kitchen utensils to choose from, they also come in many different materials. In the past, cooking utensils were made of iron, copper and wood. Today, they tend to be made of hardy materials such as plastic, silicone and stainless steel. Kikkoman has compiled an overview of the basic utensils that every good kitchen should have to prevent confusion when you're out shopping for the kitchen.

• 2 measuring jugs - one for liquid and one for solid ingredients.
• 1 pestle and mortar - to grind spices and prepare foods such as pesto.
• 1 salad spinner - to dry lamb's lettuce, rocket etc. after washing it.
• Sieves in various sizes - for washing rice or draining foods.
• Bowls in various sizes - to hold chopped ingredients until you are ready to cook them.
• 1 grater - for grating vegetables, fruit, cheese etc.
• Cooking spoon, spatula and slotted spatula - in wood or plastic to protect your cookware!
• 1 baking and marinating brush - to grease soufflé dishes and baking tins or to apply marinade and bastes. Silicone brushes are best as they are heatproof.
• 1 whisk - for whisking or stirring.
• 1 turner/fish slice - for stirring or turning vegetables, fried potatoes etc. in a non-stick pan without damaging the pan.
• Ladles - one large ladle for soups and a smaller one for sauces and dressings.
• 1 slotted spoon  for removing potatoes or vegetables from the pan.
• Various wooden boards - as a surface for cutting ingredients. Always use separate boards for ingredients such as onions or meat. Here's another thing you may not know: wood is more hygienic than plastic.
• Various knives - forslicing and chopping different kinds of ingredients.
• Also - garlic press, corkscrew, can opener, timer, bottle opener, hand whisk, vegetable peeler, rolling pin.