CSA Kitchen Checklist
Tools to tackle your Farm share
Beyond a big bowl, a sharp knife, and a quality skillet, not much is needed to harness the flavors of the season in your kitchen!
Our short growing season yields a bountiful harvest. As the the produce pours in, my time in the kitchen increases exponentially.
Having the right tool for the job is imperative.
We all have our favorites. The item we reach for each time we prepare a meal. The tool we wash before reaching for a similar item of lesser status. This post highlights the kitchen tools I’ve come to consider essential along my journey with local food.
Tools for cooking and baking
Large sheet pan
Roasting is a great way to integrate veggies into a meal. Check out the link below for a great post about sheet pan meals!
Heavy-duty skillet
The consensus in our office is that cast iron is best. I have three sizes that do the lion’s share of cooking in my kitchen. Whatever you use, extra points for cookware that is suitable for either the stovetop or oven!
Dutch oven
Speaking of cookware that can handle the stovetop or oven! Whether you’re making soup or baking shepherd pie (or a loaf of sourdough!), Dutch ovens are an incredibly versatile kitchen addition.
Tongs
Metal spatula
Especially for use with a cast iron!
Wooden stirring utensil
Tools for prepping
Large bowl(s)
Wash veggies, mix salads, wrangle a mass of farm fresh veggies, etc.
I prefer metal because they are lightweight, durable, and stackable.
Large, sharp knife
Something tough enough to tackle those burly, late-season veggies like rutabaga, kohlrabi, winter squash...
Serrated knife
Prevents squishing of extra-delicate items like strawberries, tomatoes, and peaches.
Large cutting board
Anything you can do you maximize your workspace!
Salad spinner
To spin or not to spin? Garden City Harvest staff members share their thoughts in THIS VIDEO.
Vegetable peeler
Remove skins or create thin strips of vegetables to add to your dish.
Box grater
Use up those carrots, beets and radishes by grating them over a salad!
Rubber spatula
My favorite salad tool! Mix in your dressing without bruising those
tender greens.
appliances
Food processor
Grate, slice, puree! As the name suggests, amazing for processing large batches of food (grated zucchini, winter squash, pesto).
Immersion blender
Making salad dressing has never been easier!
Tools for preserving
Canning
Water bath canner, jar tongs, lids, and jars
Fermenting
Large, glass jars are enough to get started!
Freezing
Freezer bags or food saver
Dehydrating
Did you know that we have two solar dehydrators available to
the public? Read more here!
VEGETABLE STORAGE
Since most of your vegetables are destined for the refrigerator, now is the time to stop procrastinating and give your fridge the deep clean it deserves! Clear out the half-eaten jars of who-knows-what and use up those partial vegetables hanging in plastic-bag-limbo. By giving yourself a fresh start you will at once clear your mind and make space for the influx of fresh veggies.
Most vegetables store best in airtight conditions.
Plastic bags of all sorts and plastic clamshells from store-bought greens are great reusables for keeping veggies fresh.
Some items do well without refrigeration.
Herbs like parsley and cilantro are happy on the counter in a glass of water. Not only does this free up space in the refrigerator, but it serves to remind us to add herbs to our meals! Green onions also store well this way.
A useful tip from Genevieve: make a list of your veggies before you put them in the fridge. Use this list to help with meal planning and reduce the likelihood of letting things go bad. You can write it directly on most fridge doors with a dry-erase marker!
Additional resources from our blog
Search our REAL DIRT BLOG for more recipes and seasonal tips!
final thoughts
Equip yourself with tools to match the harvest!
In this case, bigger is better! Whether from your garden or from a farm, there will be a time when the mountain of ripe produce feels like more than you can handle. Big kitchen tools make this task much more manageable, trust me.