Kitchen utensils are essential for any food or drink establishment. They’re used for various things such as preparation, cooking, and even cocktail making. Cocktail making has its own set of tools and equipment, but kitchen utensils can also be used if you’re in a pinch.

Kitchen Utensils You Need for Your Bar

Tablespoon. This is an excellent replacement for jiggers and bar spoons. If you’re at a friend’s place and they ask you to make a cocktail on the spot, look for this utensil. Two tablespoons are equal to one ounce or a pony shot, and Three equals 1.5 ounces or a standard shot.

Wooden Spoon. This comes in handy when it comes to opening wine bottles or muddling ingredients. The thin cylindrical handle is usually perfect for the wine bottle’s mouth. Place the handle on top of the cork, cover it with a bar towel, and push down. This will open your wine bottle if you do not have a corkscrew on hand.

Wooden spoon’s thermal conductivity is lower than metal spoons, and this makes them ideal for muddling if you don’t have a wooden muddler on hand. They’re durable, easy-to-handle, and can even stir your muddled ingredients around. 

Potato Peeler. Most cocktail ingredients require fruit as an ingredient. Peels are used as a garnish to beautify their cocktails, and they usually use citrus peels to get a particular piece. Luckily, potato peelers can do something similar, just use a knife to trim some of its parts, and you have yourself a garnish.

Cheese Grater. Some cocktails require zest for their flavor and aroma to enhance the drink’s taste. A zester is typically used for these types of recipes, but a cheese grater will do just as well, remember to use the fine grater.

Tongs. Regular kitchen tongs are much larger than ice tongs, but they can be used if the other one is unavailable. Remember to be extra careful when handling as the tongs may be too large for the small ice.

Potato Masher. This is another helpful tool for muddling, but its width may not fit in a traditional mixing glass. Instead, use a bowl to muddle your ingredients and pour the contents into a glass once you’re done.