Can’t Cook? This Restaurant Equipment Will Help You Fake It Till You Make It

Let’s face it – not everyone is born with the natural ability to whip up gourmet meals like a seasoned chef. Some of us struggle to boil water without burning it (I may or may not be speaking from personal experience here). But what if I told you that with the right restaurant equipment, even the most culinary-challenged among us can create dishes that would impress our friends and family? I’m talking about equipment that does most of the work for you, making you look like a kitchen pro while requiring minimal actual skill.

I remember when I first moved into my own place in Nashville. Luna, my rescue cat, was giving me judgmental looks as I attempted to cook anything more complex than cereal. That’s when I realized I needed help – serious help. So I started researching professional restaurant equipment that could bridge the gap between my aspirations and my actual abilities. What I found was game-changing.

In this article, I’ll walk you through the restaurant equipment that can help even the most cooking-averse person create impressive meals. We’re talking about tools that professional chefs rely on, but that are also accessible enough for home use. From precision cookers to automated stirrers, this equipment will have you cooking like a pro in no time. And who knows? Maybe with enough practice, you’ll actually become the cook you’re pretending to be.

Essential Equipment for the Cooking-Challenged

The Immersion Circulator: Your Path to Perfect Proteins

If you’ve ever struggled with cooking meat to the perfect temperature (and really, who hasn’t?), an immersion circulator is about to become your new best friend. This sous vide tool maintains water at an exact temperature, cooking your food to perfection every single time. The beauty of it? You literally can’t overcook your food. Set the temperature, drop in your vacuum-sealed protein, and walk away. Hours later, you’ll have restaurant-quality results with minimal effort.

I’ll admit, when I first tried sous vide cooking, I was skeptical. It felt too easy – like I was cheating. But after pulling out the most perfectly cooked steak I’d ever made (or honestly, ever eaten), I was a convert. The immersion circulator handles all the precision work for you. No more guessing if your chicken is done or worrying about dry, overcooked pork chops. It’s foolproof cooking at its finest.

Combi Ovens: The Swiss Army Knife of Cooking

Combi ovens are the workhorses of professional kitchens, and for good reason. These versatile appliances combine three functions in one: convection oven, steamer, and a combination of both. What does that mean for the home cook who can’t cook? It means you have an appliance that can handle nearly any cooking task with better results than you’d get from separate machines.

The real magic happens when you use the combination mode. The oven circulates hot air while injecting precise amounts of steam. This creates an environment where foods cook evenly and retain moisture beautifully. I’ve used mine for everything from perfectly crispy yet juicy chicken to delicate custards that would normally require a water bath. The learning curve is minimal, and the results are consistently impressive.

Induction Burners: Precision Heat Control

If you’ve ever burned a pan of food because the heat was too high or struggled to get a proper sear because your stove couldn’t get hot enough, induction burners are here to save the day. These professional-grade cooking surfaces offer precise temperature control that puts most home stoves to shame. They heat up instantly and cool down just as quickly, giving you unparalleled control over your cooking.

What I love about induction is how responsive it is. When you turn the dial, the temperature changes immediately – no waiting for coils to heat up or cool down. This makes it much easier to prevent burning or overcooking. Plus, because the heat is generated directly in the cookware rather than on the cooking surface, induction is safer and more energy-efficient than traditional electric or gas burners.

Food Processors: Your Prep Work Assistant

Let’s be honest – a lot of what makes cooking difficult is all the prep work. Chopping vegetables, mincing garlic, grating cheese – it’s time-consuming and requires at least some basic knife skills. Enter the food processor, the ultimate prep work assistant. With a good food processor, you can accomplish in seconds what would take minutes (or longer) by hand.

I use my food processor for everything from making pie dough to creating perfectly smooth hummus. The key is finding one with multiple attachments so you can slice, shred, chop, and puree with ease. Many professional models even come with specialized blades for different tasks. While it won’t teach you knife skills, it will help you achieve consistent results without the risk of chopped fingers or uneven cuts.

Stand Mixers: For Perfect Doughs and Batters

Baking can be particularly intimidating for those who don’t cook often. The precision required for many baked goods is enough to make even confident cooks nervous. A stand mixer takes much of the guesswork and physical labor out of baking. With multiple attachments, these powerful machines can mix, whip, and knead with consistent results every time.

I’ll confess that before getting a stand mixer, my attempts at homemade bread were… disappointing. The dough never seemed to come together quite right, and my arms would ache from all the kneading. Now, I can toss ingredients into the bowl, let the mixer do its thing, and end up with beautiful, professional-quality bread. It’s like having an extra set of hands in the kitchen – hands that are much stronger and more precise than mine.

Blast Chillers: For Perfectly Cooled Foods

Here’s a piece of equipment you might not have considered but that can make a huge difference in your cooking: a blast chiller. These powerful machines rapidly cool down hot foods, which is crucial for food safety and texture. In professional kitchens, they’re used to quickly bring foods through the danger zone where bacteria can grow rapidly.

At home, a blast chiller can help you achieve better results with certain dishes. Ever tried to make ice cream without an ice cream maker? It’s nearly impossible to get that creamy texture. A blast chiller can help you achieve similar results by rapidly freezing your mixture. They’re also great for cooling down stocks and soups quickly so you can store them safely. While not as essential as some other equipment on this list, a blast chiller can help you achieve more professional results with certain dishes.

Vacuum Sealers: For Better Food Storage

Vacuum sealers might seem like they’re just for food storage, but they can actually help improve your cooking in several ways. By removing air from the packaging, these machines help preserve food longer while preventing freezer burn. This means you can buy ingredients in bulk when they’re on sale and store them properly until you’re ready to use them.

For the cooking-challenged, vacuum sealers are particularly useful for sous vide cooking. As mentioned earlier, sous vide is one of the most foolproof cooking methods out there, and a vacuum sealer is essential for getting your food properly prepped. You can also use it to marinate foods more effectively – the vacuum helps the marinade penetrate deeper into the food for better flavor.

Automatic Stirring Pots: For Hands-Off Cooking

If you’ve ever burned a pot of sauce because you got distracted, an automatic stirring pot might be just what you need. These clever appliances stir your food automatically, preventing burning and ensuring even cooking. They’re particularly useful for dishes that require constant attention, like risottos or custards.

I’ll admit, when I first heard about these, I thought they seemed a bit lazy. But after burning one too many sauces while trying to multitask in the kitchen, I gave one a try. It was a game-changer. Not only did it prevent burning, but it also helped develop flavors more evenly since the food was constantly in motion. For those of us who struggle with timing and attention in the kitchen, this can be a real lifesaver.

Precision Scales: For Accurate Measurements

Baking, in particular, requires precise measurements for consistent results. Even small variations in ingredient amounts can lead to dramatically different outcomes. A precision scale takes the guesswork out of measuring, ensuring you use exactly the right amount of each ingredient.

I used to eyeball measurements or use those little measuring cups, and my baked goods suffered for it. Since switching to a precision scale, my baking has improved dramatically. The scale is particularly useful for recipes that use weight measurements rather than volume, which tends to be more accurate. Many professional recipes are written by weight, so having a good scale allows you to follow those recipes exactly as intended.

Smart Kitchen Systems: The Future of Cooking Assistance

The latest development in cooking assistance comes in the form of smart kitchen systems. These integrated systems can include everything from smart ovens that adjust cooking times and temperatures automatically to guided cooking systems that walk you through recipes step by step.

While still relatively new, these systems show tremendous promise for helping those who struggle with cooking. Imagine an oven that can recognize what you’ve put inside it and adjust cooking parameters automatically. Or a system that guides you through each step of a recipe with visual and audio cues. As these systems become more advanced and more affordable, they’re likely to become invaluable tools for the cooking-challenged.

Putting It All Together: Building Your Kitchen Arsenal

Now that we’ve looked at individual pieces of equipment that can help even the most cooking-averse person create impressive meals, let’s talk about how to put it all together. Building your kitchen arsenal is about more than just buying equipment – it’s about creating a system that works for your particular needs and challenges.

Start by identifying your biggest pain points in the kitchen. Do you struggle most with precise cooking temperatures? Then an immersion circulator and precision induction burner should be at the top of your list. Is prep work your downfall? A good food processor might be your best first investment. The key is to address your specific challenges rather than trying to solve every problem at once.

As you become more comfortable with each piece of equipment, you can start to expand your collection. Many of these tools work well together – for example, using a vacuum sealer with your immersion circulator for sous vide cooking. Over time, you’ll develop a kitchen setup that compensates for your weaknesses while playing to your strengths.

Remember, the goal isn’t to become completely dependent on equipment. Rather, these tools should help you build confidence in the kitchen while you develop your skills. With enough practice, you might find that you’re actually becoming the cook you’ve been pretending to be all along.

FAQ

Q: What’s the one piece of equipment that will give me the biggest improvement in my cooking?

A: If I had to choose just one, I’d recommend an immersion circulator for sous vide cooking. It’s nearly impossible to overcook food with this method, and the results are consistently impressive. Plus, it teaches you about proper cooking temperatures, which is knowledge you can apply to other cooking methods.

Q: Is this equipment really going to make me a better cook, or will I just be dependent on the machines?

A: That’s a great question. The equipment will certainly help you achieve better results immediately, but the real improvement comes from using that success to build confidence. As you cook more with these tools, you’ll naturally develop better techniques and understanding. Think of it as training wheels that you’ll eventually be able to remove.

Q: How much should I expect to spend to outfit my kitchen with this equipment?

A: Prices vary widely depending on whether you opt for professional-grade or consumer models. You could start with basic versions of each piece for a few thousand dollars total, or invest in professional equipment that could run ten times that amount. My advice? Start with one or two key pieces and build your collection over time as you identify what would help you most.

Q: Will this equipment work in a normal home kitchen, or do I need a professional setup?

A: Most of this equipment comes in both professional and home versions. While some professional equipment might require special electrical hookups or more space, there are home versions of nearly all these tools that will work in a standard kitchen. Just be sure to check the specifications before purchasing to ensure it will work with your kitchen’s setup.

@article{cant-cook-this-restaurant-equipment-will-help-you-fake-it-till-you-make-it,
    title   = {Can’t Cook? This Restaurant Equipment Will Help You Fake It Till You Make It},
    author  = {Chef's icon},
    year    = {2025},
    journal = {Chef's Icon},
    url     = {https://chefsicon.com/cant-cook-this-restaurant-equipment-help/}
}