15 Kitchen Utensils That Will Give You Abuela-Status Cooking Skills

Taking those first few steps away from the family home into some sort of adulthood is a painful process. As the keys on our ring multiply, things get complicated: there’s the expense, the responsibilities, the interminable laundry. The cruelest gut-punch of them all may well be having to abandon all that good home cooking: the rice and beans, the tostones, homemade salsa. If you work all day or live on your own or — gasp! — are the one in charge of getting dinner on the table, there is nothing more comforting and nostalgia-satisfying than the smells of home from your own kitchen right now.

Of course, you don’t have all day to simmer stock for the pozole or fold tamales, so make sure you grab a box of stock and pre-ground masa at the store. Below, we’ve got you covered with all the gadgets you will need to make the dishes you crave at home. Some of them are the same the same utensils the abuelas use, while others are updated versions of classic tools that will make your life even easier. No one is suggesting that it is even possible to top your abuela’s ajiaco, but that shouldn’t stop you from trying

14Meat Pounder

Meat Pounder Kitchen BeLatina

Simplicity is often key in cooking, and the prep part is no exception. A gem in your tool box is your meat pounder. Textured on one side for tenderizing tough cuts, don’t be afraid to use that one to take out some frustrations on that bistec before you throw it into a hot pan. For the best cutlets, pound with the flat side until the whole thing is of even thickness. This “evening out” process is also great for meat that will be grilled quickly, as in for taco fillings. Most like a real tool, don’t forget your pounder when cracking a coconut for some arroz con coco— it will get the job done.