Want to Cook Like a Pro? Start with Your Home
Do you dream of being a Michelin-star chef? Few people manage to make it that far, but you can certainly try! If you want to create haute cuisine, you should start with your surroundings. And this means spiffing up your home.
Numerous psychological studies show that people who live in style tend to behave accordingly. So if you want to be a great chef, think about the types of interiors that top chefs tend to work in. Upscale appliances are obviously part of this, but there is more to the idea of cooking in style than just having a top-of-the-line blender. Let’s take a closer look at what you can do to make your kitchen just like one of the pro’s.
Think about the whole structure of your kitchen
Before you start working on particulars, think of the larger structure that surrounds your kitchen. When you envision cooking gourmet dishes, can you see yourself doing it in your current space? Or would it be better to knock down a wall and build a nice island between the kitchen and the living room? Perhaps you want to replace those old kitchen windows. The point is that you should think broadly and consider any aspects of your kitchen space that might be less than optimal.
This includes things like cupboards and shelving. Would some of your kitchen implements be easier to use if you had them hanging nicely from the wall or over the stove? Maybe you need more space for your cookware, or more space in general to feel free as you go about creating your masterpieces. It could be worth your while to sift through some websites and see if any styles catch your fancy.
Make a list of your favorite dishes and consider your appliances
Once you’ve taken care of your kitchen’s exterior, you can start thinking about specifics. You don’t necessarily need to get a new appliance for every single dish that you make, but you should equip yourself with essentials for the things you make most often.
Your list should include both basics, and your personal favorites:
- High-end fridge. Refrigerators are far from equal. Common features of quality high-end fridges include:
- Dual cooling systems for fresh and frozen foods
- Drawers with humidity control, to keep produce fresh
- Individual temperature zones for food with different cooling requirements
- Air purification systems
- Extra strong drawers and shelves
- High-end range. Classy ranges are one of the great delights of top-level cooks. Look for a range that has high BTU burners, so that you can boil big pots of water or soups easily. Also keep an eye out for the types of materials used because components are getting more durable, energy-efficient, and stylish.
- Ovens. Newer ovens differ markedly from old ones. Look for an oven with the following features:
- Quality. Some ovens are simply better made than others. They are stronger and more durable. Look up customer reviews to determine this.
- Convection cooking. These ovens have fans inside them that circulate the air around, thus cooking food more evenly.
- Digital displays. Digital displays are capable of monitoring an oven’s functions and allow you to make minor adjustments as necessary.
- Energy efficiency. Some ovens are able to monitor energy usage and make adjustments automatically so as to minimize waste.
- Extras. Again, the way you create your dream kitchen is all up to you. If you have a passion for blended drinks, look into current offerings in blenders. You might be interested in multifunctional appliances, air fryers, or any number of specialized gadgets.
Ventilation
Another big feature of pro kitchen areas is having a system where air can flow through. While you might need large-scale home restructuring or windows and doors replacement, you can also think about getting an actual ventilation system.
High-quality ventilation systems should include:
- An exhaust hood. This hood will go directly above your cooking surface and catch fumes as they come out.
- A fan motor. Fans will help control smoke and trap odors as they come out from your stove top.
- Ducts. It is essential that proper ductwork be part of your ventilation system so that air can be drawn outside.
- Noise reduction. Ventilation systems are notoriously loud. Higher-quality ones will also include a noise reduction feature so that you can go about your business in peace.
- Grease filters. Particularly if you are a fan of frying, grease is likely to fly. Find a ventilation system that has good grease filters.
Lighting
If you want to create culinary works of art, you should treat your kitchen as you would an art studio. And lighting is a critical element of this. There are a lot of classy lighting types that you can include in your kitchen to lend it atmosphere and give your dishes the focus they deserve.
Look into designer lighting features, such as chandeliers. You might include pendant lighting for particular items that you want to highlight. Also, things like under-cabinet lighting can accentuate different points in your kitchen routine.
Go smart
Many features of modern kitchens can be made smart these days. Buying smart items will not only save on your energy consumption (smart kitchens are known to save as much as 50% more energy), but they will keep everything running efficiently and help keep your timing right on those tricky dishes.
Smart kitchen features can include smart lighting, refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, coffee makers, and other appliances. Each of these devices is designed to work when they should, to the degree that they need to, and turn off when they are not needed. Going smart will definitely make you a happier and more effective cook.
It’s your dream to make
In the end, the design and composition of your dream kitchen will be up to you. You might even want to grab some niche gadget that appeals, even if you don’t use it very often. But in general, you should start broad and think about the specifics later. If the larger space that you work in is what you’re looking for, you will have the feng shui to create what you want. Then you can work on making yourself into an at-home Michelin star maestro.
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