How to Make the Most of Your Chinese Kitchen

How to Make the Most of Your Chinese Kitchen
By Andrea Scarlatelli , eChinacities.com

Chinese apartments aren't exactly known for their spacious kitchens. And while eating out is undoubtedly cheap here, sometimes you've just got to have a home-cooked meal! Below are some essentials that will not only make cooking easier, but also save you some precious kitchen space at the same time. So whether Julia Child is your idol or you use your kitchen as a second closet, trust me – it is possible to cook in a Chinese kitchen!

Considering the likelihood of you having a full range oven in your kitchen is probably around zero percent, the most useful thing to have in your kitchen, hands down, is a toaster oven. If you've never used one, just know that these mini ovens do more than just toast! You can bake everything from muffins and pies to chicken in something that takes up as little space as a microwave. In fact, I just have my toaster oven stacked on top of my microwave – it uses zero counter space and makes things very convenient! You can find a wide range of size and quality at Carrefour, so you're bound to find one that fits the space requirements of your kitchen. See venue info here.

Most toaster ovens come with a small baking tray, but you should be sure and pick up a casserole dish for those times you need a bit more depth for your dishes, such as deep dish pizza, Just saying... Another great thing about casserole dishes is that, in addition to toaster ovens, most can be used in the microwave and freezer too. Just be sure to check the label.

I'd also recommend grabbing a few cupcake trays. These may seem like one-function item, but you'd be amazed at how many things you can cook in them besides cupcakes. Try mini-quiches, muffins and even single-serving meatloaf. If you want to get really economical, get silicone bakeware. They're bendable, which means you can cram more of them into less space. No matter how much shoving, twisting, and cramming you put them through though, they'll always keep their shape. It's the best way to make use of small cupboards and cabinets.

Speaking of which, one big issue in most Chinese kitchens is a complete lack of storage space. Having a lot of knives and other kitchen utensils scattered about can really clutter up a small space. Instead of investing in a whole set of knives, get a couple decent ones and then get a food chopper. It takes care of most chopping needs and eliminates the necessity of having ten different knives for ten different purposes. A great place to go for more specialized kitchen needs like this and the above mentioned silicone bakeware is, Pantry Magic. This is an upscale shop that's all about the niche market.

Pantry Magic View In Map
Add: 1 Taojiang Lu, Shanghai
地址:上海市桃江路1号
Tel: 021 6466 0099
Opening hours: Sun-Thurs, 10:00-21:00; Fri-Sat, 10:00-22:00
Website: http://www.pantry-magic.com/shanghai/

A blender is also a great tool for those needing things chopped, crushed or liquefied. A lot of people forget that blenders do more than make smoothies. They can actually handle all sorts of food, whether you need it coarsely or finely chopped or completely pureed. And it is fantastic for making the perfect, frozen margarita.

If you're even thinking of attempting to cook Chinese food in your kitchen, a rice cooker is an essential piece of equipment. I resisted this one for a while because I kept thinking, “Who can't cook rice?” Apparently I can't, along with a large portion of the population judging from how popular these things are. You simply add water, rice, and set the timer. When the rice is finished, the cooker turns off so you don't have to worry about burning anything. Brilliant! It's also a great way to steam vegetables and some brands even come with their own steaming basket. You can pretty much find rice cookers anywhere, but Tesco is a good place to start.

One thing I know I need in the morning is a good cup of coffee. But I was hesitant to buy an electric coffee machine because of both the cost and the amount of counter space I'd lose. Enter the French press. It's an easy, economical way to make coffee, just add ground coffee and hot water. Plus it tastes so much better than the machine-made! IKEA always has a great selection for kitchen things like this. See venue info here.

Instead of wading through a sea of pots and pans, consider investing in a pressure cooker. It not only cooks just about everything, it cooks it in less than half the normal time. In essence, it's a small vat that uses intense heat and well, pressure, which results in a whole roast cooking in less than thirty minutes or a five pound chicken in less than fifteen. It also results in healthier meals because the vitamins and nutrients in the food aren't lost while cooking. The massive Shanghai Nine Sea Parkson department store has a decent kitchen section for such appliances. See venue info here.

With these small kitchen essentials, your time in the kitchen will be more economical and most importantly, more enjoyable. So stop being frustrated by your tiny kitchen and start cooking!

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Keywords: Cook Shop Chinese Kitchen Chinese Kitchen Shanghai Tips Chinese Kitchen

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