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A Cooks Checklist
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Herewith is a list of items that every cook should bring with them when
cooking a feast, no matter how many times they have used the site, and how
good the site is. Sites change, and we are not the only groups to use most
sites, and items can disappear, get broken, etc. Note: with many sites you
need to bring a lot more than this – this is just a basic list of items you
will probably need no matter how good your site is.
- Matches. Specifically kitchen matches. Obviously, if you are cooking
totally on electricity you don't need these, but for those people who cook
on gas, these are a must. Even with ovens and stoves that have automatic
pilot lights, these are often needed.
- Meat thermometers. To accurately see how well cooked your meats
are.
- Oven Thermometers. Often the gauges on the ovens are ify at best.
- Pot holders and oven mitts. Especially the long oven mitts that go up
your arm. It is impossible to have too many of them.
- Spare aprons for your cooking crew. Not everyone will remember to
bring one, and people who walk into the kitchen and volunteer will need
one to help keep their clothes clean.
- Dish towels. These are often necessary to dry dishes, and can be used
as a make-shift apron as well.
- Garbage bags. Clean up isnâ't the cook’s responsibility, but it is
better to have too many than too few, and not having them can be a real
problem.
- Regular dishwashing supplies (dishwashing liquid, sponges, brushes,
etc.). Again, while it is not the responsibility of the cooks to do clean
up, sometimes pots and pans have to be washed so you can reuse them., and
if you have the spare manpower, it is a good idea to clean as you go.
- Resealable plastic bags. These serve two main purposes. First of all,
they are great for storing food that you have prepped in advance, eg
vegetables or cheese you have sliced the night before. Second, too many
leftovers get pitched after events, instead of being taken home by someone
and used. The food gets wasted because there is nothing to transport it
in. A resealable plastic bag will hold almost every kind of food. Plastic
containers are also good, but the bags have the advance of not taking up
much space if you don't need them.
- Paper towels. There can never be too many paper towels.
- Salt and pepper. Too many cooks forget these essential
flavorings.
- Vegetable peeler. The number and quality of these varies greatly from
site to site, and if you need one (or more!) and don't have them al the
willing hands in the world won't get the carrots peeled.
- A good can opener. Like the peeler, they vary greatly from site to
site, and many site seem to specialize in old, cranky, almost impossible
to use can openers.
- Measuring cups and spoons (or scales). Some sites have them, some
don't. Often a site will have them at one time, and not the next.
- Good (or at least decent) knives and a sharpening stone. Most knives
that come with sites are in terrible condition. Get decent knives and get
someone who knows how to keep them sharp for you.
- Cutting boards. Without these, your knives aren't going to remain
sharp very long, and a lot of sites have few, if any.
- Plastic wrap, tin foil and baking paper. For covering items, using
them to help cook, etc. Invaluable.
- Snacks and goodies for your crew. Keep your volunteers happy. Happy
people make better food.
- Several copies of the menu (at least) to post in the kitchen and the
hall so people know what they will be eating.
- Several copies (at least) of a list of the ingredients for every dish
to people with food allergies or other dietary restrictions will know what
they can/cannot eat.
- Plastic bandages. While the autocrats problem, at least in theory, it
is useful to have some for the kitchen, in the kitchen.
- Hand soap. This way people can wash their hands right away when they
start work.
- Hand mixer and/or a whisk. Sites don't always have one, and these are
needed for mixing and whipping cream.
- Pen and paper. To label things, make lists, etc.
- Spare copies of your recipes. Accidents happen – extra copies are more
than a good thing, they are a necessity.
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