Appliances that can help you cook like an Iron Chef

March 20th, 2012

Appliance Talk Kitchen Ovens & Cooking

If my memory serves me correctly, the one thing people enjoy more than cooking and eating food is watching other people do so on TV.  And a dash of competition gives any cooking show some added spice.  Just look at Masterchef, My Kitchen Rules, Ready Steady Cook… the list goes on.

But what of Iron Chef, the Japanese classic that aired from 1993 to 1999, where an eccentric and rich foodie pitted daring chefs against his own Invincible Men of Culinary Skills in dramatic and themed cooking battles?  Surely such an outrageous scenario is so far removed from reality that we everyday home cooks couldn’t hope to ever compete with such masters!

Not so.  With the help of a few handy appliances and the right attitude, any home cook can be the Iron Chef of their own personal Kitchen Stadium.

Iron Chefs have style

And no, we’re not talking about their colourful costumes, or Chairman Kaga’s suits (which were spectacular); we’re talking about each Iron Chef’s mastery of the cooking traditions of a particular region.  Japanese, French, Chinese and Italian styles were all covered by the Iron Chefs, and their Challengers ofter brought their own national cuisines in to play.

If you’re choosing to cook in the style of your favourite Iron Chef, you’ll require different appliances to do so well:

• The wok originates from China and is widely used in several cooking styles throughout Asia.  A wok burner on your cooktop can help you capture the essence of these styles, or you can use a convenient electric wok.
• Both French and Italian cooking often uses wine, and wine is often welcome in any kitchen regardless.  You can store your wine and chill it to the correct temperature for your dish with the help of a wine cooler.
• Italian espresso can be positioned in easy reach of your kitchen with a coffee machine, making it simple to give your dishes a jolt of strong flavour and caffeine.
• Using a teppanyaki plate gives your barbeque a Japanese twist, letting you share flavours with your guests that many would never typically associate with barbequing.
• Rice is the backbone of many Asian cooking styles and is a key element in many Western dishes as well.  A rice cooker is ideal for getting plenty of rice prepared quickly.

Iron Chefs multitask, and cook fast

Maybe it’s the magic of television, or maybe the secret ingredients weren’t as secret as we were led to believe, but if Iron Chefs could seriously whip up half a dozen different dishes, from scratch, without knowing the key ingredients, and all in under an hour, then they truly deserved their title and status.  If a Challenger could match this feat, then they too deserved “the people’s ovation and fame forever”.

The Iron Chefs and Challengers pulled off these remarkable feats through multitasking and quick cooking.  Watching them in action, they always had a dozen different items on go, and even with the help of assistants, they were constantly in motion.  Specialised appliances gave them the results they wanted, and quickly, so that they could concentrate on the artistry of their dishes.

Appliances you can use to multitask and cook quickly include:

• The pressure cooker – Dishes that would typically require a great deal of time and effort, such as risotto, can take just a matter of minutes, thanks to the power of high-pressure steam.
• The food processor – Even if, like an Iron Chef, you’ve a small army of kitchen assistants handy, you can save their time and yours by using a food processor to manage your chopping in a matter of seconds.
• A dishwasher with a fast cycle – Presentation counts, so you’ll need to quickly get those nice plates ready while you’re finishing off the details.
• The microwave – Sometimes you just need to make something really hot, really fast.  A microwave is ideal for when you don’t have time to wait for an oven to preheat.  Different models also include grilling and steaming settings, and convection microwaves deliver an oven-style heat that can help you quickly roast or bake.
• The bread maker – Baking bread is traditionally fairly time-consuming, but several modern bread makers include a fast-cook setting so you can create a tasty accompaniment to your meals.  And you can always add the theme ingredient to the bread for a unique twist worthy of an Iron Chef.

Of course, just finding space for all these appliances can be a challenge in itself (unless you live in a TV studio).  Space-saving appliances, including those with slimline designs, can be helpful, and wall ovens, built-in fridges and microwave trim kits can all help you use space efficiently, so that you’ll have room to move while meeting your next culinary challenge.

Iron Chefs use exotic ingredients

Ever notice how the Iron Chefs and their Challengers always seemed to have a neverending supply of whatever ingredients they wanted, and not just the theme ingredient?

It’s been estimated that ¥8443,354,407 (approximately $8 million) was spent on ingredients over the show’s whole run. To put this in perspective, in Battle Asparagus, the challenger used $1000 worth of lobster to flavour his asparagus.  He then threw the lobster away.  Yeah.

Even with the biggest fridges available, keeping supplies of special ingredients in reserve isn’t that practical for most homes.  Imagine not being able to fit bread in the fridge because of all the foie gras in the way.

But if you like to plan ahead in case you ever need to defend your honour in an impromptu cooking battle, a chest freezer is handy for preserving a secret stash of exotic ingredients until they’re needed.  Just be sure that you’ve a microwave with a good defrost function handy so you’ll be able to quickly spring into action.

Iron Chefs are creative

Anticipating the kind of dishes an Iron Chef would create was never easy.  The judging panel would end up chowing down on dishes including ingredients that you would never normally consider, challenging preconceptions of how certain foods “should” be used.

Trout ice cream, anyone?

While as far as we know, no Iron Chef ever cooked fish in a dishwasher, they did have a thorough understanding of how each appliance in Kitchen Stadium could be used, and what kind of results they could deliver using each exotic ingredient.  In your own home, it’s worth experimenting a little with your appliances to achieve some bold culinary results.

Knowing the capabilities of your kitchen and being willing to push the boundaries could mean that someday, your cuisine could reign supreme.