Choosing kitchen tools - KS1 - ��̳ Bitesize

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Kitchen tools

There are lots of kitchen tools that can be used in cooking, such as wooden spoons, jugs and rolling pins.

It is important to choose the right tool for the task you want to do in the kitchen.

You also need to understand how to use the tools correctly and safely. So always make sure you ask for permission and help from an adult.

Kitchen tools and their jobs

Every kitchen tool has a special job. For example, you can use a jug to measure or a spoon to mix ingredients.

Have a look at this slideshow to find out more about kitchen tools and their special jobs.

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Rolling pin
A rolling pin is usually made of wood and can be heavy. It is used to roll ingredients out flat, such as dough or pastry.
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Whisk
A whisk is usually made from metal. It is used to add air into ingredients or to blend ingredients quickly, such as cake mixture.
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Wooden spoon
A wooden spoon has a long handle. It is used for stirring or mixing ingredients, such as soup or stews.
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Sieve
A sieve is usually made from metal and has a wire net attached. It is used to strain liquids or sift dry ingredients like flour.
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Masher
A masher is usually made from metal or plastic. It is used to squash or mash food, such as potatoes, into smaller pieces.
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Jug
A jug is usually made from glass or plastic. It is used to measure liquids, such as milk or water when cooking.

Chopping board colours

A chopping board is usually made from wood or plastic. It is used to slice food on to stop the work surface from getting scratched.

Chefs in restaurants and large kitchens often use different coloured chopping boards for different types of food. This is to make sure that the food is being prepared as safely as possible.

Have a look at this slideshow to find out what the different coloured chopping boards are used for.

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Green
Green chopping boards are used for washed fruit, herbs and salad vegetables.
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Yellow
Yellow chopping boards are used for cooked meat.
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Red
Red chopping boards are used for raw meat.
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Blue
Blue chopping boards are used for raw fish, seafood and shellfish.
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Brown
Brown chopping boards are used for root vegetables, like carrots and potatoes, and foods that are difficult to wash properly, like mushrooms.
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White
White chopping boards are used for bakery products, like bread, and dairy products, like cheese.
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Purple
Purple chopping boards are used for 'free-from' products, like gluten-free bread.

Key words

Ingredients	A list of different foods that make up a recipe, food product or meal.
Strain	To pour food through something with very small holes in it, like a sieve. This separates the liquid part from the solid part.
Sift	To put a food, like flour, through a sieve to remove large pieces or lumps.
Free-from	Free-from products are foods that are made without certain ingredients in like gluten, dairy or nuts. Some people are allergic to these ingredients and they can make them very ill. Free-from foods take out these ingredients so that people with certain allergies can eat them.

Quiz: Which tool would you choose?

When cooking, we have lots of tools to choose from.

Have a go at this quiz. Can you pick the right tool for the job?

More on Cooking and nutrition

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