Campfire Chat Recap | February 19, 2022
Today the topic was food and we wound up sharing our favorite kitchen tools. Even if you don’t need to make adaptations to get around in the kitchen, the right tool can make cooking easier and more enjoyable. If you are struggling with a kitchen task, you can ask your OT for problem-solving ideas. Most of the links are Amazon links since the majority of people have access to Amazon. Many of these items are also available locally at Walmart, Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, and even the Dollar Store. Some items are adaptive equipment made for people with physical limitations, but most are standard items that can be repurposed and used by everyone.
Cutting and chopping is a big part of cooking. There are knives that will make this task easier. A one-handed, curved blade knife is the number one tool in the kitchen. You may prefer a traditional Ulu from Alaska for chopping vegetables and herbs or a rocker knife to cut the steak on your plate.
When you are cutting and chopping you may want a special cutting board or something to hold the cutting board in place. A cutting board might have spikes or other devices to hold the food and may have suction cups to hold it in place on the counter. Dycem is great for holding things in place and non-adhesive shelf liner is an economical alternative. Both can be used under bowls and dishes on the counter or at the table and are useful under placemats and tablecloths.
When you are trying to get things open, there are kitchen tools to help. A good pair of kitchen shears is easy to clean and can cut food as well as open packages. There are one handed automatic can openers and bottle and jar openers that can ease kitchen frustrations. It may help to place cans in the sink when you are opening them to help hold them in place at a lower level.
RoboTwist Jar and Bottle Opener
When you are trying to eat healthy foods some kitchen tools are great to have! A garlic press quickly chops fresh garlic to get it recipe ready. Non-slip bowls can help prevent them from leaping off the counter when you are mixing and pouring.
When it comes to moving items that may be hot, please be careful. It may be a good time to ask for some help. Silicone barbecue gloves are easy to put on and can be washed in the sink or dishwasher as needed. The unlined gloves provide a more secure grip, but lined oven mitts provide better heat protection. Silicone honeycomb trivets can be used under hot items on the counter, as a hot pad to lift and carry hot items, and as a non-slip mat under items on the counter. They are fully washable in the sink, dishwasher, and even the washing machine.
The slow cooker or crock pot can make it easier to plan and prepare meals. Since trying to move a hot, heavy item may not be safe, slow cooker liners are a good option. After the meal, the liner can be pulled from the crock with leftovers inside. It eliminates most of the cleanup and heavy lifting. If you are cooking for a smaller family, you can find a smaller slow cooker that will be easier to move and may suit you better.
Depending on the cooking you do, there are some items that you may find useful. If you are trying to boil pasta or eggs or steam vegetables, a basket in the pot may be safer than trying to move and pour out a heavy pot of hot water. A cooktop pan stabilizer can keep pans from shifting while you are stirring items on the stove. If you have a glass cooktop or other cooktop that gets very hot, you may need to adapt the stabilizer by turning it backwards and placing it on the countertop. A countertop grill with removeable plates that go in the dishwasher is a handy tool and an air fryer can be safer than trying to cook in the oven.
Today’s 5-minute movement break featured Gina B of Up to the Beat Fitness. You don’t need to move as much or as fast as Gina is moving. Adapt the movements, hold onto a chair, or just move what you can while you are sitting, and you will still benefit. (I’ll figure out the sound before next week’s workshop!)
Brought to you by workshop leader Polly Hutchinson.