At Le Creuset, we may be celebrated for our legendary cookware, but we also know that you need more than just pots and pans to make joy in the kitchen. In addition to building your cookware collection, to create a great meal you also need a variety of tools, accessories and a system to be setup for success. Once you have the right setup and gear, you will be ready to tackle any recipe – plus, mealtime will be more pleasurable and less stressful.
And who better than a chef to help us get organized in the kitchen? We turned to our chef partner and culinary legend Jacques Pépin to learn how to think like a chef at home. His advice “the bottom line is you don’t have to.” Here are Jacques’ and Le Creuset’s best tips for how to be prepped, ready and efficient in the kitchen.
“Use what you have, make use of your freezer and always enjoy a glass of wine while you cook.”
Chef Jacques Pépin
Jacques Pépin Foundation
Choose Your Knives
Most chefs would say that THE essential kitchen tool is a sharp, multi-use knife, and Jacques agrees. With quality cutlery in hand, dicing and slicing ingredients can be a pleasure instead of a chore. There are as many styles of knives as there are pans, but an all-purpose chef’s knife is a versatile first choice. Jacques notes “I may have a lot of knives, but I always reach for the same 2 or 3 over and over again.” Once you have your favorite knife, add a serrated blade for cutting crusty breads and tomatoes, as well as a paring knife for smaller jobs. Keep the knives sharp with a knife sharpener, and since cutlery is used almost every time you’re in the kitchen keep the blades easily accessible with a knife block close to your workstation.
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Stock Up on Versatile Utensils
Every kitchen needs a vibrant and versatile assortment of cooking utensils, all organized in a handy and colorful utensil crock. Spoons, spatulas and brushes are indispensable for stirring, scooping and basting. Heat-resistant silicone spatulas are one of Jacques’ must-have tools for scraping the last bits of batter from mixing bowls, as well as safely stirring ingredients in a Dutch Oven. Wood utensils are a classic choice as they are naturally durable and easy to clean as well as safe for use on all cooking surfaces. When you need a sturdier option, stainless steel whisks (another of Jacques’ favorites) and turners have the strength to whip up thick meringues or flip thick cuts of meat.
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Gather Prep Essentials
An important step in every recipe is a way to quantify and blend ingredients. Our stainless steel measuring cups and spoons are durable and give precise measurements for delicious results. For more casual cooking, measured silicone prep bowls are microwave safe for melting butter and serving sauces and condiments. A well-stocked kitchen also needs an assortment of mixing bowls for a variety of kitchen tasks from tossing salads to marinating meats. Our colorful collection of mixing bowls are elegant enough to do double duty as serveware for any occasion.
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Do Your “Mise en Place”
The French phrase ‘mise en place’ (or ‘everything in its place’) is often used by chefs, but this fundamental principle of restaurant kitchens “is something that the home cook can do too”, Jacques says. It simply means all your ingredients are prepped and organized before you start cooking. Pinch bowls are perfect for spices, herbs and condiments, and for diced veggies and fruits stackable ramekins or colorful mini cocottes are ideal. If you’re pressed for time, look to the convenience of a grocery store to help you get ahead and stay efficient, both things that are important at home – Jacques likes to say that “in the restaurant kitchen you have a prep cook and a home cook has the grocery store.”
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Organize the Kitchen
A colorful, organized kitchen is an inviting place to cook and makes preparing meals easy, efficient and pleasurable. Each person and kitchen is unique, so think through how you personally use your kitchen every day. Jacques suggests “try to identify a triangle where you can easily access the stove, sink and refrigerator.” He likes to have his pots hanging on his infamous wall so he can easily grab what is needed. Keep the most frequently utilized tools and a garbage can by your workstation to save steps as well. Jacques likes to keep essential ingredients in reach while cooking – for him that is olive oil, peanut oil, salt and pepper and soy sauce – and some tasting spoons to check for seasoning as he goes.
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