Cook like “The Bear” with these 5 must-have kitchen tools starting at $14

For decades, pop culture has been captivated by the professional chef. Julia Child and Jacques Pepin may have been among the first chefs to catch our attention, but the latest pop culture phenomenon to cement the chef as one of the most compelling characters is undeniably The bear. Perhaps the most appealing aspect of the series is its honest portrayal of life in the service industry, but to make it seem real, the cast relies on the expertise of Courtney Storer, the show’s culinary producer.

Not only did Storer spend almost every day on set with the cast, helping to choreograph their movements in the restaurant kitchen during filming, she also did most of the recipe development for the show in her personal kitchen in Chicago. . The omelet made by Sydney, the cannoli that pastry chef Marcus is developing for the menu at the newly opened The Bear — Storer taught the cast how to prepare each of these dishes, while teaching them how a professional chef might speak, gesture, and handle their equipment in the kitchen.

While working with The bearIn the cast, Storer relies heavily on a few kitchen tools that he considers essential—not only for teaching actors how to look like they know what they’re doing, but also for any home cooks who would like to cook like the beloved their hero The bear. Here are Storer’s top five picks, with prices starting at just $14.

Essential kitchen tools according to The Bear’s culinary producer

Allsum bamboo cutting board

A large wooden cutting board is a Storer must-have because it’s versatile—it can be used as both a tool and a serving plate. She also recommends one that’s thick and heavy because “it’s easier on your knife than plastic and helps keep them sharper.” Her favorite style is similar to the one that measures 17 by 12.5 by 1 inch (this is large enough to offer enough space for cutting vegetables or doubles as a sausage board). It also features a groove on the outer perimeter to catch juices, which minimizes spillage on your counter.

OXO 9 Inch Kitchen Tongs

Storer appreciates a practical kitchen tool that doesn’t “break the bank,” like a pair of kitchen tongs. She calls kitchen tongs “an extension of your arm” that will come in handy almost every time you cook, especially when it comes time to gracefully arrange almost any dish from potatoes to pasta to chicken.

Bundlepro Kitchen Tweezers, Set of 4

If you’ve ever watched a cooking show, you’ve probably noticed a pair of delicate silver tweezers attached to a chef’s white coat — but Storer thinks most home cooks could benefit from a pair of their own, especially if they’re interested in serving up a more elegant meals served at home. She recommends using them to spin pasta or for tasks that require a little more finesse, such as gathering herbs and vegetables for garnish.

She adds that kitchen tongs come in handy when you’re “cooking like a lot of chicken at once” because “you can turn things over more easily than if you were using a larger pair of tongs.”

Mercer 7-Pocket Culinary Knife Storage Bag

Storer says that a sharp chef’s knife that you feel comfortable using on a daily basis is a smart investment, but she thinks that instead of buying a set all at once, you should build yours over time. To display and protect your knife set, she recommends storing them in a knife roll like this one. That way, you can “build a set of tools that you can take care of and take with you” wherever you want to cook—whether it’s on a camping trip or at a friend’s house to help out. preparing for dinner.

Echo Show 15

Storer says the key to a truly well-run kitchen, whether at home or in a restaurant, is organization—and the Amazon Echo 15 has recently become her indispensable digital assistant. This was especially helpful when she was rehearsing the cast because it helped her “keep track of the time and what what [she] should be done for the day.’

Storer recommends using the Echo 15 in your own kitchen because it helps users create shopping lists, manage their daily schedule, and set reminders and timers, which can be especially useful when you’re cooking.