Holiday Meal Prep Essentials: Fat Separators
There are some food prep tools that you turn to over and over again--things like peelers, spatulas and measuring cups. More specialized kitchen items like basters and potato mashers might be used less frequently, but they are still essential tools to have on hand, particularly during the holidays when we tend to cook a lot of special, more complicated meals. Fat separators clearly fall into this latter category of specialty kitchen utensils that may not be needed on a daily or even monthly basis, but for which there really is no substitute.
Gravy Separator Options
Fat or gravy separators are unique kitchen implements that perform the very specific but incredibly helpful function of quickly separating flavorful cooking liquids from the fat in pan juices. This is critical for making soups, gravies and other sauces where you want to avoid the unnecessary calories and oily feel that results from an excess of fat. You could attempt to skim the fat off with a spoon, but that's a tedious and inefficient process. Alternatively, you could chill the liquid and wait for the fat to solidify, but that requires time for cooling and refrigerating. Fat separators work instantly, offering a much more practical option. Williams Sonoma carries a few different styles of fat separators, any of which would make a great addition to your kitchen arsenal. Read on for more about just two of the available options.
- Frieling Gravy Separator - Marked with cup and ounce measurements, this classic separator is key to making smooth, flavorful gravies and sauces. This dishwasher-safe tool features a traditional design with a spout at the very base of the cup that makes it easy to pour out the pure juices, leaving behind the fat that rises to the top.
- Cuisipro Fat Separator - This innovative fat separator quickly separates fat from drippings, leaving you with a healthy, flavorful starting point for soups, sauces and gravies. Featuring a unique lever system and integrated strainer that removes unwanted solids, this separator is a holiday essential. Comes apart for easy cleaning. Also available as a set with a whisk, a baster or a jar of gravy starter.
More Thanksgiving Meal Prep Tools
If you're hosting any big family meals this holiday season, you'll want to be sure to inventory all of your cookware and kitchen utensils well before you plan to start cooking. Of course, in order to know which cooking tools you need, you'll have to know what's on the menu. Not every Thanksgiving feast will require all of these specialty tools, but here are a few items to consider adding to your collection of kitchen utensils ahead of the big day:
- Potato Tools Prep Set - Potatoes in one form or another are always one of the most popular sides on the Thanksgiving table, and this set has everything you need to make the fluffiest, creamiest mashed potatoes imaginable. The set includes three different peelers, a silicone spatula, a potato ricer and a potato masher.
- Tovolo Bulb Baster - In addition to a silicone bulb and heat-resistant Tritan-plastic barrel, this baster features a narrow nozzle with an angled tip that allows for maximum control and precision. The flat bulb design keeps it steady on the counter.
- All-Clad Turkey Forks - Designed to meet All-Clad's exacting standards, these turkey forks feature subtly curved prongs that allow you to reach under roasts to easily and securely move your bird from the roasting pan to the carving board.