Whats in your knife bag?

I know there are many of you who cook professionally (and as such carry a knife bag), my question to you, what little tools do you use day to day that you find way more useful then they seem. Lately I've been finding small offset spatulas and meat forks (with the long tongs, which I use to plate long pastas) are incredibly useful and worth their weight in gold! I also keep a gnocchi board in there too (as I work at an Italian restaurant).

What about the rest of you? Find anything that's worth its weight in gold/ found surprising more use for then you originally thought?

Also a multi tool! I don't know why more cooks don't carry a simple leatherman or gerber. I don't know how many things I've had to take apart and fix over the years but its worth the investment!

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Comments

Nicky_J_17040

I have this wooden spoon/scraper that I love for getting the extra fond on the bottom of the rondo or on the sheet trays.

Had it for years.

I also always keep a veg peeler in my pocket. I know that's not sanitary, but I wash it before I use it.

And of course....spoons. Have you tried those Michael Ruhlman offset spoons? pretty cool.

@TJ --I also carry a multi-tool and use it daily, whether it's just opening a box (don't use my Japanese knives!), or fixing some random piece of equipment.

Jack_Mayer_85396

@Nicky - I'll second the rec for those Ruhlman spoons! Just got some a couple of weeks ago and have given 2 sets for Christmas presents ...

robert.c.brown15

Just curious, why didn't you just bend your own spoons? I love ruhlman and have a lot of his stuff; wooden spoons, egg spoon, straining clothes. But I just took his great idea and bent my own. Is there something about his?

robert.c.brown15

Oh and I don't have a knife bag, but it would have a wooden spoon with a flat edge, offset spoons, a palette knife, and would you put a Thermapen in a knife bag? Then that.

tjdubas

I got to say I've become a big fan of hunting out that one large spoon we have at work for that exact reason. Especially with the rack of lamb on the menu. I'm a fan of having a crispy top and soft underside for that contrast in textures. @Robert I actually just ordered the thermapen with the backlight and it just comes with the silicone jacket which is nice as I drop things from time to time and as far as a palette knife, the small offset ones are a total must. Even my chef instructor said he always thought he'd never have use for one but after plating a bunch of jellies and such for a charity dinner we did he's never looked back.

Thanks for the comments guys, I'm always looking for those little pieces of equipment worth their weight in gold and some large basting/serving spoons is next on the list. I mean you can't go to a bunch of effort making some fantastic pan sauce just to leave half of it behind in the pan.

Brendan_Lee_56950

I wish there was an infrared thermometer in the same form factor as a laser pointer, I'd love to be able to have that beside my instant read in my pocket at all times.

Mark_Kalynchuk_34927

My knife bag contents include:

-3 wooden spoons of different sizes

-2 whisks - one normal balloon and one 3 tiered, aerating whisk

-2 spatulas

-1 die and blade for a kitchen aid grinder

-1 pair of tongs

-1 small digital scale

-1 digital read-out probe thermometer

-1 180mm Nakiri

-1 300mm Shujihiki

-1 270mm Gyuto

-1 150mm Petty

-1 hatchet

-1 pair of plating tweezers

-2 ceramic steels - 1 4000 grit, 1 8000 grit

-1 bamboo sushi roll

And don't get me started on my tool box!

Marc_Lyons_64226

What about a photo of the hatchet!? I love it.

Simon_Andreas_Petutschnig_34596

Microplane

DiggingDogFarm_65362

"I wish there was an infrared thermometer in the same form factor as a laser pointer, I'd love to be able to have that beside my instant read in my pocket at all times."

There is...kinda...Thermoworks makes a small pocket infrared thermometer.

http://www.thermoworks.com/products/ir/ir_pocket.html#Specifications

Brendan_Lee_56950

Only goes up to 230F though, that's a bummer. That limits it's usefulness quite a bit.

DiggingDogFarm_65362

I didn't notice the low limit....that does make it rather useless.

Matthew_Snyder_68770

What sort of knife rolls does everyone have? I have a junky Wusthof 12-pocket roll that I do not really like at all.

Matt_Geiger_28746

lets see.

- 5" henckels santoku

- 10" henckels chefs knife

- 10 " korin sashimi blade

- two mini whisks

- creme brulee torch

-honing steel

- fish spatula

- wine key

- bone tweezers

-2 makisus ( sushi roling mats)

- digital thermo

peelers,

- micro zester

- bar zester/twister

- pens, markers

-A PAIR OF HEADPHONES

-PHONE CHARGER

- A CRAPPY OLD CIGAR.( i always keep it just incase ther is a celebration) idk just superstition i gues.

-a couple of miscellaneous knives

Nicky_J_17040

yea, every line cook should have a wine key and a sharpie as well. Nothing worse than a cook who keeps bumming a sharpie.

tjdubas

@Matt I actually carry a phone charger in mine too for the most part. If not you, there's pretty well always someone that needs it! @Nicky wine key too, it amazes me how many bartenders and such come to work totally unprepared. I like to stay stocked up on like 3 Sharpies; they always seem to get lost. @Matthew I'm rockin an ultimate edge 2001 EDOL olive and love it! lots of room and what not. The only downside is that it barely fits My torch top (as its the one made for the same canisters as for the portable burners), but It does fit. My biggest problem with knife rolls is I feel like when the roll you have to strategicly put the knives in so you don't get one massive end and one end full of knife tips as well as you cant carry many other tools with you.

Marek_30573

"I

wish there was an infrared thermometer in the same form factor as a

laser pointer, I'd love to be able to have that beside my instant read

in my pocket at all times."
If it has to be a pen shaped thermometer then you might want to check out DT8250; it goes up to 250*C.
I don't know how much money you would be willing to spend but I think that fluke had some better ones that were similar in size (smaller) to a pack of cigarettes.

Jack_Mayer_85396

As an aside and maybe a little off thread, I ordered the spoons from Ruhlman.com and had a few issues with the delivery (I'm sure caused by the ice storm in Dallas about that time). What I can report is that I was in contact with Michael Ruhlman (yes, he answers is own emails and extremely promptly too) and experienced outstanding service! It was on par with the team here at CS. I love my spoons too!

Matthew_Snyder_68770

Got those spoons and two small paddles. Had no issues beyond getting a thank you note for purchasing the bamboo pot scrubber (which I did not actually purchase), but glad to hear he's so responsive.

Brendan_Lee_56950

@marek cheers for the link, that's about perfect for my uses and the price is right too

Marek_30573

@Brendan Lee (I don't know how to drop your name

) glad I could help

@'Brendan Lee'

Brendan_Lee_56950

The forum isn't friendly to names with spaces unfortunately

trev_teich

So, I always keep a tray of the knives I use out and ready to go. I also keep a tray of things I need on a daily baisis. The only thing missing in this pic are my scales, large forceps, and my mini whisk. This is how you might see a set up in most kitchens. Trays are good so you can keep them on a speed rack and out of the way

Matthew_Snyder_68770

Is that just a napkin or kitchen towel you're using for non-skid?

Towel

Why?

Just curious.

That's a sharp looking set-up @Trevor!

trev_teich

Thanks

alyarb03_641248

I use Ultimate edge knife case. It has 5-exterior zippered pockets and 18 interior pockets which holds your knives as well as other tools. 600 denier polyester material used in this knife case which also protects your knifes.