Seldom, if ever, do we show appreciation to the unsung heroes in our kitchens. Some of us swear by our microplanes, potato ricers, and hand blenders. We claim we could never survive without our cherry pitters, measuring cups, or potato peelers. Yet how many of us dedicate posts to said lifesaving, time saving tools?
I must admit, I have nothing but love for my tools and appliances. Grating cheese is no longer an ordeal due to food processor blades. I no longer risk losing a finger tip when dicing garlic – Now that I can easily pass a clove through a microplane. My arms sigh in relief when I bust out my stand mixer to make meringue.
Now my favorite tool of all, is the pastry brush. Its one of those tools you don’t really think twice about, given that I use my pastry brushes almost daily. I own at least 8 and each brush has its use.
Some are used for spreading melted butter or oil in baking pans to aid in the release of cakes and/or brownies. Others are used for glazing egg washes on bread and pastries. I have a specific brush just for sopping up juices from pans to spread on the surface of my chicken or pernil for nice crackly skins. Best of all? They help spread yummy glazes on cakes and muffins.
Take the brush above for instance. This brush was used to to butter up a the ramekins which held these delectable Molten Chocolate Cakes with Peanut Butter Filling.
And this big mama jamma right here?
I used it to spread the sides of this very skillet with oil. The vessel which held this deliciously tropical Pineapple Coconut Upside Down Cake, a cake bursting at the seams with piña colada flavors.
Oh, and how about this one? Sexy, right?
That brush was used to spread a lime glaze on the surface of this Coconut Lime Pound Cake. My mouth salivates at the mere thought of this cake.
And you see this petit giant brush right here? All 1 inches of it?
Well… That one spread a tangy glaze on these itty bitty Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze.
Ah, my pastry brushes. They bring with them good times when I whip them out. These work horses deserve ticker tape parades and #1 foam fingers. Or better yet, their own home, a home accessible to me and at eye level. They are revered, loved, adored, and used often.
I cannot – Nay- I refuse to live without them.
Pastry brush… I heart you…
Do you have a favorite kitchen tool? One you can’t live without?
