When using a wok, it is essential to have on hand several utensils for stirring ingredients. Wooden spoons with long handles are excellent for this, as are bamboo “shovels”. These are paddle-shaped utensils that allow the cook not only to stir but also to lift ingredients. This tool is very useful for stir-frying noodles, as regular stirring with a spoon tends to break noodles into small pieces (especially fragile rice noodles). Bamboo shovels can be purchased at most Asian stores or markets. Note that if your wok or frying pan has a non-stick coating, it is preferable to use a rubber-tipped spatula for stir-frying to avoid scraping off the surface.
Pestle & Mortar
This ancient piece of kitchen equipment has remained part of the Thai kitchen for good reason. A stone pestle & mortar easily grinds spices, nuts, fresh herbs, and other ingredients. In Thailand, some chefs have pestle & mortars made of pottery (another good choice of material, and not as heavy to carry as the stone variety). You can find traditional pestle & mortars in good kitchenware stores or at Asian markets. Note that a food processor is an excellent substitute for a pestle & mortar. When grinding spices, a coffee-grinder is another good substitute.
Bamboo Steamer
These handy steamers can be purchased cheaply at any Asian grocery store or market. Placed over water inside a wok, they are useful for steaming numerous dishes, from fish to desserts, or simply for healthy steamed vegetables. Good steamers are made of bamboo and come with a tight-fitting lid. Note that the lid should have a sturdy handle to prevent the cook from being burned.
Cutting boards & knives
These basic tools are useful for preparing vegetables, meats, spices, and herbs for the wok. Sharp paring knives are indispensable in the Thai kitchen; also, make sure you have a good serrated knife for cutting slippery ingredients, such as lemongrass. Buy these handy tools at any reputable kitchenware store.
Rice Pot and Rice Cookers
To cook Thai fragrant rice, Thai sticky rice, or Thai black rice, all you need is a deep, stainless steel pot with a lid. However, the convenience of rice cookers makes them handy appliances to own. One of the advantages of a rice cooker is that the rice stays warm and fresh for many hours after it has been cooked (excellent for busy families who don’t always have time to eat together). Also, unlike cooking rice in a pot, it is virtually impossible to burn, undercook, or overcook rice made in a cooker. Most department stores sell a variety of rice cookers — look for one in your price range that comes with a respectable guarantee.
