Do you consider yourself a good cook? If so, you might want to check this list of items that online foodies say indicate you are not, in fact, as good a cook as you think. Well, I, for one, have quite a few of them at home, despite creating recipes for a living, so you decide how seriously you want to take this list. But it's always interesting to see what others judge you on, isn't it?
A Chopper
While a chopper might seem like a great tool to save both time and tears, foodies say these single-use items are just a waste of space. Furthermore, if you know what you're doing, you should be able to chop that onion so much better and more uniformly with a good knife!
Sure, but what if I'm too lazy? I actually forgot all about choppers, but now that I was reminded - this goes straight on my shopping list for my next trip to IKEA!
Table Salt
This is quite a controversial one - foodies say great home cooks will know that there's so much more to salt, than plain table salt. I mean sure - coarse salt, sea salt flakes, and Kosher salt are all more exciting than table salt. But I still find regular fine salt much easier to use, for a lot of things!
Matching Everything
While a coordinated kitchen can be aesthetically pleasing, focusing too much on matching utensils, plates, and cookware can indicate a preference for appearance over functionality. Foodies say a well-utilized kitchen embraces a mix of tools and equipment chosen for their practicality and suitability for the task at hand.
I kinda have to agree with this, but only because I am one of those that has matching nothing. Not even plates and glasses!
Precut Fruit & Veggies
While convenient, foodies believe having pre-cut fruits and vegetables in your kitchen can be a signal that you might not be exploring the full potential of fresh produce. Sure, cutting your own allows for better control over texture and presentation, and if nothing else - it's much cheaper! However, sometimes getting the pre-cut version is the best way to get you to actually eat some fruit and veggies - which I'd say has precedence.
Glass Cutting Boards
Not to brag, but I didn't even know glass cutting boards were a thing! They just seems so... unpractical. Which I guess is the point. I have to agree with the foodies on this one - if you're using a glass cutting board for anything except serving stuff on, what are you even doing?!
Pre-Shredded Cheese
While some shredded cheeses are good and 100% pure cheese, most of them contain additional ingredients such as anti-clumping agents. This messes up the cheese's texture, so if you try to use it for mac and cheese or something else where you want it to really melt and coat something, you will end up with a gritty sauce that might not even thicken as it should. So sure, use pre-shredded cheese - just make sure to get the right one!
A Lot Of Knives
Just as a good home cook knows that a sharp knife is the secret to good food, foodies say they also know that you don't need a lot of really sharp knives to get the job done. A good chef's knife, a pairing knife, a serrated knife, and maybe a fish knife. But other than that? Nah, not necessary. Great home cooks usually take good care of the few knives they have, so if you see someone with a whole drawer full of "chef's" knives - maybe order pizza instead?
Matching Spice Jars
I have to get on board with this as well, just because as previously mentioned - NOTHING in my kitchen matches. Ergo, I'm a great cook! I'd love to be one of those home cooks who has matching spice jars and refills them - but online foodies say no home cook worth their salt would ever allow them inside their kitchen. I saw somewhere else that really good cooks should not even have labels on their jars! But now that's moving into crazy territory...
Blunt Knives
A good home cook knows that sharp knives are the secret to great meals. Dull knives just won't get the job done, and you'll end up with mushy tomatoes for your pico de Gallo rather than nicely chopped teeny-tiny tomato squares. Good home cooks take good care of their knives, and it shows!
Knives In The Dish Washer
I have to admit, I do put my knives in the dishwasher on occasion. But not the nice ones! They are hand-washed and hand-dried, so they will stay sharp and nice for as long as possible. But if you see someone put all their knives in the dishwasher? Just order takeout!
Brand New Cook Ware & Tools
If you've seen SATC, you know Carrie kept her shoes in the oven, and this sign follows along the same line. To be a good home cook, you need to COOK, which means your tools will show signs of use, and you definitely will not find any shoes in the oven! Now there are people out there who cook more rather than well, but one thing is for sure: if you don't use your kitchen, you're definitely not good at it.
Ground Black Pepper
There's a reason almost any recipe calls for "fresh cracked black pepper" rather than the pre-ground kind. It's just so much better, it can be considered a different spice entirely. A serious home chef knows this and uses pre-ground black pepper sparingly. Bonus points if they have multiple types of pepper, all ready to go in a grinder or be hand-ground with a mortar and pestle. I do use pre-ground black pepper as well, I just know when and where it's worth it to use the fresh cracked kind.
Dirty Dishes
A good home cook takes pride in having a clean workspace. Or maybe that's just those of us who have watched far too many episodes of various cooking shows to let the dishes pile up? I do find, though, that most great home cooks wipe down their surfaces often and have the dish washer running constantly. Or maybe that's just food bloggers like me, who make 5-10 recipes on each shoot day.
Non-Stick Cookware
Nonstick cookware might seem like a nice, simple option, but there's almost always a better option. While both stainless steel and cast iron pans require more skill when cooking, the end result is also so much better. A good home cook knows this and acts accordingly, including taking the time to learn how to use and care for these pans properly.
Source: Reddit.
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