Cleaning up is not exactly anyone's favorite part of cooking. I'd be very surprised if you said it were! Even so, there are three tools that are worth washing as soon as you're finished using them. It will make life so much easier for you.
• Chef's Knife: I've had my fair share of precarious cleaning moments trying to scrub dried-on garlic or stubborn herbs off this sharp blade. Far better is giving the dirty chef's knife a quick scrub right after chopping is done.
• Microplane: Ditto for the microplane. It's infinitely easier to rinse away flecks of cheese or sticky ginger before they dry on the microplane than after. (Though apparently if we let them dry long enough, they'll flake away on their own!)
• Strainers: Strainers have been my nemesis for years now. No matter how well I think I've cleaned them, some remnant of food always seems to stick to the wire mesh. The best solution I've found is to bite the bullet and clean it without delay.
What other kitchen tools do you recommend cleaning right away?
Related: Knife Skills: Do You Know the Best Way to Clean Knives?
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The Vidalia Onion chopper. I actually take it outside and hose it down to clean out the grid.
Anything that had pasta or rice in it. Once dried those two are a mother to get off. Also, anything that has blades: blender, food processer, whatever. Lastly, my cheese grater.
The juicer. Everything rinses right off right after you're done, but if you leave it, everything sticks and looks gross to boot.
The garlic press. If you don't it gets very sticky and you have to poke all the little holes to get the garlic gunk out.
Yes on all of the above and I'd add any container that housed oatmeal. That stuff dries like cement if left to sit even for just a bit. If nothing else, soak the container in water until a proper washing can be done.
definitely a cheese grater. if you let that cheese dry on the inside, it's almost impossible to get off.
I like to wash my grill pan right away - while it's still hot.
I have a great square grill-type skillet which washes beautifully with a brush and soap while it's still hot, but let it cool off and the job is much harder, not to mention taking the chance of scratching the pan surface.
I don't really wash anything right away, but I do always rinse everything when I put it in the sink.
I'm with Lauren F. A thorough rinsing will be fine for most of the things listed/mentioned. I always wash my knife right after use though, just so it's ready to use again.
Cutting board. And cast iron skillet (scrub gently and then dry on the stovetop, lowest setting.)
Blender, especially if you're making green smoothies because spinach fiber is the vegetable equivalent of super glue. For that matter, I rinse the glass I used immediately as well, or I have to soak it for a couple hours to re-soften that stuff.
a wire whisk! i hate the meticulous cleaning that ensues when i've left it in the sink too long. or even worse, the rust
Hmm...agreed that for most things you can just soak, but for blades, just rinsing/soaking really isn't the best option. If you can manage it, microplanes and chef's knives really benefit from cleaning AND drying right away.
pizza cutter requires a rinse! anything with baked cheese, actually
My kids.
After dinner,I just want to strip them and hose them down in the backyard. Unfortunately,my wife wants to be old-fashioned and bathe them instead.
Totally agree - I hate when I forget to clean any of those right after using them. I'm also trying to get better at wiping the counters right after I spill or drop something on them. It's much easier than scrubbing off dried sauce!
I hate to mention it, but the kitchen sink is usually the dirtiest, germiest thing in the house -- even worse than the toilet...
It's not just for safety that you should scrub knives immediately, but for maintaining the edge. Rinse in hot water and wipe dry immediately.
I have one that's opposite. My pasta maker. If I let the pasta dough remnants dry, I just tap and they flake right off--much less muss and fuss than if I try to scrub off gooey dough by hand! However, you do have to disassemble the parts first (otherwise they glue together).
A big YES for microplanes and strainers. I keep an old used toothbrush by the sink and find it very helpful for these. And I replace it every time my dentist gives me a new one!
Blender, immersion blender, ricer, food mill--once things dry on any of them it takes a lot of time to get them clean.
I usually clean my chopping board right away - either to make it ready for the next use (we don't have many chopping boards) and it seems to make the dish pile in the sink smaller!
interesting - I have put our microplanes in the dishwasher for years will no ill effect.
I am fairly viligant about washing (quickly) the cutting board after cutting certain colorful things like strawberries.
All three of those things are sitting in my sink getting crusty right now. Of course.
If anyone can help me to not cut the crap out of myself every time i use, let alone clean the microplane. I's appreciate it!
I am the world's worst housekeeper but I religiously soak the oatmeal pan.