My Favorite Kitchen Tool Is My Step Stool
When I first moved to New York City, I sublet a room in a four-bedroom apartment with complete strangers. I hadn't yet landed a job, I didn't have many belongings, and I was just happy to hear that my new roomies had a fully-equipped kitchen. I didn’t have to buy any cookware or cutlery—Score! I told myself.
The truth is, the pots and pans were worn, all the knives were dull, and we had one wine glass—yes, in total. The worst part was that I got stuck storing my groceries on the highest shelves in the kitchen, because being the newest roommate meant that all of the easily-accessible shelves had already been claimed.
Luckily there was a (clunky, heavy, difficult to unfold) metal step stool that I could drag across the kitchen in order to collect pantry ingredients from a 12-foot-high shelf. Sure, this thing was so old and raggedy that I'd say a little prayer before stepping on it, lest it collapse under my feet. But, I learned to integrate this step-stool into my cooking routine. It quite literally made cooking possible—if not pleasant—during that time.
Fast-forward a few years. I finally got to furnish my own completely empty kitchen exactly to my liking. I got the nonstick pans I wanted, the whisk I wanted—and, yes, a new way to reach my still-too-high shelves. (I could upgrade my kitchen, but not my height!)
My new stool is made of aluminum and it's as light as a feather. I never would've imagined that a foldable stool could open and close so smoothly with just a gentle press, or that its legs could feel so sturdy. I never would've thought I'd gladly stock all of my flours and sweeteners and leaveners on the highest shelf, and still feel like baking regularly. I never would've thought putting quart containers away could go be such a seamless affair.
All that time I thought I disliked having super-high shelves—but what I actually disliked was having an awful step stool.
We often don’t realize how terrible our daily-use items are until new versions of them come into your lives. And as I spend more time at home and more time in my kitchen, I've realized that I wouldn't get many things done if it weren't for my humble step stool. (Plus, this thing is useful beyond reaching pantry ingredients. Other recommended uses? Stand on it to take overhead Instagram shots of your dinner, or to change lightbulbs!)
The best kitchen tools aren’t always the ones you cook with—sometimes, they’re the ones that make cooking possible.
Cosco Signature Two-Step Aluminum Step Stool
$35.00, Amazon
Originally Appeared on Epicurious
