Cooking at home can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right tools, you can create restaurant-worthy food and drinks in the comfort of your own home. Here are some of the most essential tools you need in your kitchen to make the best food and drinks..
Barista-Type Coffee and Tea
Use a variable temperature electric kettle for pour-over coffee and tea. In a flash, you can efficiently serve barista-level hot drinks at home. This kettle allows you to set your desired water temperature. It has an LCD display that enables you to monitor the water temperature.
The National Coffee Association of U.S.A., Inc. (NCA) advises that the water temperature for hot coffee brewing should be not lower than 195 degrees Fahrenheit and no higher than 205 degrees. That will extract the optimum flavor from your coffee.
You can experiment with your pouring technique to find what brings out the flavor you like most. One style is to pour in concentric circles continuously and evenly. Another style is to pulse your pouring but ensure that all parts of the grounds are covered.
The NCA recommends serving and drinking coffee as soon as it is brewed for maximum flavor. Of course, you can allow it to cool a bit to not get scalded. If you prefer to add milk or cream, that will also bring down the temperature. According to a study, typical coffee drinkers wait until the beverage is at 140 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
For tea, experts warn that tea leaves can get “burned,” so never let the water boil. They also suggest washing the tea leaves in cold water before brewing to avoid burning. The recommended water temperature varies according to the type of tea. The suggestions also vary, depending on the source. You can use these as guides and find your preference.
- Oolong tea: 180–200°F or 185-195°F
- Green tea: 140–190°F or 140-185°F (But 5YWEtNTcyOS00NDA1LWJmYmQtYjA1MDQ2ZGFhMDc2″ data-rule=”METRIC_UNITS_EN_US”>160-185°F for Chinese green tea)
- Black teas: 190–200°F or 180-200°F
- Whrule=”METRIC_UNITS_EN_-rule=”METRIC_UNITS_EN_US”>US”>;ite teas: 160–185°F or 170-185°F
- le=”METRIC_UNITS_EN_US”rule=”METRIC_UNITS_EN_US”>>>;Yellow teas: 175°F or 165-180°F
Baking and Sous Vide in One Smart Oven
Sous vide cooking conventionally involves using a water bath or special container to cook food in. The food is sealed in plastic and cooked at a low temperature for a long time. This results in juicy, perfectly cooked meat and vegetables.
You can now get the same results with the Anova Precision Oven without having to seal your food in plastic. It can also steam and slow cook food. On the other extreme, it can air fry food to crispness in addition to the usual baking and roasting.
You can control everything through an app on your phone. The app also allows you to download recipes and upload them to the oven so that it “knows” how to cook them. So, are you ready to get cooking?
ThinQ Recipe Service
If you don’t have time to go to the supermarket, but you want restaurant-quality food, then try out the LG ThinQ Recipe Service. It is a new service that allows you to find a recipe you want. It utilizes the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) technology to allow you to select the type of cuisine, ingredients, or cooking method. The AI will then match you with a list of recipes you can choose from.
Once you’ve chosen, the app automatically orders all the ingredients online from Walmart or Amazon. The app can connect to your smart cooker or oven and send instructions on how to cook the recipe. Once the ingredients are delivered to your doorstep, you just have to prep them and load them into your cooker or oven. Then all you need to do is press start on your phone app.
Not Just Ice Cream
After a satisfying meal, finish off with dessert. You can make ice cream but you can do even better with gelato. If you want to make something healthier, go for fro-yo or frozen yogurt or make some sherbet.
Gelato is made with milk, cream, sugar, and flavorings. The mix is churned slowly to incorporate air and make it lighter than ice cream. It is then frozen quickly. This results in a denser, smoother product with intense flavors.
Frozen yogurt is made in a similar way but with yogurt instead of cream. The finished product has fewer calories and fat than ice cream or gelato.
The Hamilton Beach 68330N Automatic Ice Cream Maker can do all of that for up to four quarts. You can even use it to store whatever’s left over.
Your Gourmet Kitchen is Open 24/7
Whether you want to have a romantic dinner for two or cook for a large group, these kitchen tools will help you create restaurant-worthy, perfectly cooked meat and vegetables. You can make barista-level coffee and tea and your choice of ice cream, gelato, or fro-yo. So what are you waiting for? Start cooking!
