Long-time MasterChef watchers will be familiar with chef Theo Michaels. A BBC One semi-finalist, presenter, author and former MasterChef 2014 contestant, he’s been a TV fixture for many years and was the personal chef for Channel 4’s Steph’s Packed Lunch for two years, so if you’re looking for anyone for kitchen advice, look no further than him.
The TV star also makes regular appearances on This Morning as Theo launches his new book, Cypriana (order it on Amazon for £17.15), a collection of flavoursome recipes offering amateur chefs an authentic taste of Greece and Cyprus. got it! We talk about the gadgets we think every kitchen should have to turn everyday meals into master chef-worthy dishes and make cooking easier than ever.
Here’s what he’d recommend investing in for anyone looking to improve their cooking experience at home…
Kenwood MultiProGo
“I love this tool! It’s a mini food processor and I use it a lot for grating and slicing salads and coleslaw, but now that summer is (finally) here I’ve swapped out the blade attachment and love using it for salsas, sauces, marinades and anything else I BBQ,” says Theo. “It’s small enough to slip into a cupboard without taking up too much space and is dishwasher safe (I hate doing dishes!). It’s so good I even bought one for my mom! There are often great offers on this product on the QVC shopping channel!”
Buy it here for £53.90
Carbon Steel Frying Pan
“I value beauty and functionality in my kitchen, and carbon steel pans are my favorites. They work with metal cookware, there are no weird chemicals, they’re sturdy, they’re built to last a lifetime, and they have incredible heat retention and searing capabilities,” says Theo. “They can be used for a variety of cooking methods, from stovetop to oven to open flame cooking (we cook over an open flame a lot!), and they’re naturally non-stick once seasoned (or you can buy them pre-seasoned).”
“I enjoy things that last a lifetime, from frying pans to classic old t-shirts, and Samuel Groves and Alex Pall are both British manufacturers with a great tradition of cookware.”
You can buy the OXO Carbon Steel Frying Pan for £42.92 or the Samuel Groves 26cm Seasoned Carbon Steel Frying Pan for £55 here.
Good knife
“It’s a cliché, but a good knife will last a lifetime if you look after it and for a chef it’s very personal – your knife becomes a part of you. I always recommend spending your money on one good chef’s knife, but go to the shops, pick up the knives and feel them until you find the one that feels right. Then buy it and cherish it,” explains Theo.
“I have two knives from Savernake, a British knife maker with a great tradition of making knives that will last a lifetime.”
Fill your kitchen drawer with ProCook’s Professional X50 Chef’s Knife Set for £159 (normally £219)