Mexican cuisine is a vibrant tapestry of flavors, and behind every delicious dish are the essential cooking tools that make it all possible. If you tend to cook a lot of Mexican recipes, I highly recommend investing in some of the equipment I’ve listed below. These time-honored instruments not only showcase the rich culinary heritage of Mexico but also play a crucial role in crafting authentic and mouthwatering meals.
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- Molcajete – Carved from volcanic lava rock, a molcajete (or Mexican mortar and pestle) crushes and grinds spices and other ingredients, such as garlic cloves or roasted peppers. I use my molcajete to make guacamole and chunky salsas, but also for serving! Consider serving your salsas, guacamole, or queso in a molcajete to really WOW your guests!
- Magic Bullet – Prefer to make your salsas in a blender? Consider getting a smaller blender, such as a Magic Bullet, just for salsas! I got this tip from my mom who recommended using your main blender for smoothies and a smaller one for making salsas or anything with garlic to avoid any lingering smells or tastes.
- Comal – The comal is a flat griddle that’s perfect for warming up tortillas or whipping up a quick quesadilla!
4. Lime Squeezer – A lime (or lemon) squeezer consists of two, spoon-shaped metal pieces that are joined together by a hinge. The outer spoon has small holes that allow the juice to pass, while filtering out the seeds. Crafted for efficiency, the lime squeezer helps extract nearly every drop of citrusy goodness, so you can add a burst of lime to your Mexican food or to your perfect margarita. (Note: You’ll want to opt for a steel lime squeezer, as the plastic ones tend to break.)
5. Tortilla Press – Typically crafted from steel, a tortilla press is a timeless tool that transforms dough into the cornerstone of Mexican cuisine — the tortilla. With a swift press, it creates uniform, thin circles that are ready to be cooked to golden perfection. From tacos to tostones or even just to flatten out thick cuts of chicken, the tortilla press is a versatile kitchen gadget you’ll use over and over again! (Note: Tortilla presses are usually used for corn tortillas but can be used for flour tortillas too, though I recommend a rolling pin for those.)
6. Rolling Pin – Making flour tortillas from scratch? Use a rolling pin to roll out the flour dough on a flat surface that’s sprinkled with flour to prevent sticking.
7. Tortilla Warmer – Often crafted from cloth or clay, tortilla warmers help keep tortillas warm by locking in heat and moisture. The result? Soft tortillas ready to hold all your favorite fillings. Beyond its functionality, the tortilla warmer embodies traditions and adds a nice pop of color to your table!
8. Steamer Pot – The steamer pot, or vaporera in Spanish, is another Mexican cooking essential. Traditionally used for making tamales, a vaporera can also be used to make Mexican stews, such as menudo or pozole, as well as capirotada, a bread pudding popular during Lent. Beyond Mexican food, it can be used to make large batches of soup and stews.
What other Mexican cooking tools are a must? Share your recommendations in the comments!