10 Kitchen Items Professional Chefs Say You Should Throw Away - Tasting Table

"If you'd like your kitchen to run with the same precision and efficiency as a professional restaurant, you'll want to embody the mindset of the chefs responsible for keeping the trains running on time. Cuisines and cooking approaches may vary, but the one universal thing these folks have zero tolerance for is non-functional and underperforming kitchen items that derail efficiency. Such is the case with Rohit Yadav, executive chef at Marriott Executive Apartments Bengaluru UB City, and Pankaj Singh Panwar, executive chef at The Westin Resort & Spa, Himalayas."

"Together, they devised a handy guide to help home cooks understand when certain kitchen items need to be retired (including those that slow down or break the rhythm of the cooking process or increase the risk of injury or bacterial contamination), how to prolong the lifespan of what you own, and which long-lasting alternatives to opt for. Efficient cooking starts with efficient tools and grasping the difference between when something is usable and - in the words of ice queen Elsa - when to "let it go.""

"Plates with chipped rims and cracked bowls may be an eyesore, but the dangers of damaged dinnerware extend far beyond the cosmetic. "Cracks and chips can harbor bacteria that survive washing, and small fragments may break off into food," Pankaj Singh Panwar says. The food residue and grease camping out in chips and dents serve as a breeding ground for bacteria to flourish and contaminate your food if left unattended."

Professional chefs demand functional, reliable kitchen tools and retire items that slow workflow, break rhythm, or pose injury or contamination risks. Home cooks should recognize when dinnerware and tools are damaged, when cracks or chips harbor bacteria that survive washing, and when small fragments can flake into food. Chipped edges can cause cuts during handling, and secondhand dishware with visible chips or cracks should be avoided. Proper maintenance and choosing long-lasting alternatives prolong tool lifespan. Efficient cooking depends on matching tool condition to safety and performance and replacing items that compromise either.

Read at Tasting Table