Interested in cooking up some Pad Thai for your family and friends? Knowing some of the best ครัว (kruwa or kitchen) utensils in Thai language can help anyone follow traditional recipes without any hassle. While the ingredients may be the star of the show when cooking, the right combination of culinary tools will significantly speed up your process, keep the cleanliness of the area, and will ensure that you are preparing something safe for the tummy.
This post will walk you through some of the most important pieces that you must have to create authentic Thai dishes. Let’s start learning!
The kitchen is undeniably the heart of every home. Aside from the fact that this is where we create restaurant-style dishes every day, this place is also where we entertain guests when hosting intimate parties. Contrary to Western kitchen layouts, Asian kitchens are usually much smaller, and you will always find homes having their own traditional kitchenware pieces and a unique white China collection.
While the kitchen space may be small, you might be surprised by the many dishes you can prepare here! In fact, the Thai locals constantly strive to serve at least five particular flavors every meal including salty (เค็ม), sweet (หวาน), sour (เปรี้ยว), spicy (เผ็ด), and bitter (ขม).
Let’s get to know more about the top kitchen tools and equipment used by the locals to get that traditional Thai cuisine style.
5 Traditional Thai Kitchen Tools
When it comes to cooking, you have to invest in high-quality tools and equipment to keep your cooking space clean, safe, and efficient. However, you do not always have to get the new releases or purchase expensive ones as particular traditional tools are available for a low price and are very useful. Check out below our 5 basic Thai kitchen tools that you must add to your collection today.
ครกและสาก – Khrok And Sak (Mortar And Pestle)
Craving for a perfect Thai red curry paste?
The mortar and pestle are essential for your home since they can help you manually pound and grind different ingredients and get fresh paste or oil. This is useful for the Thai people, especially since they incorporate fresh herbs and seeds, aromatic and flavorful sauces, and lots of chilies in their cuisine. Usually, these are made of granite or wood, and you can find hand-finished ones made in the country for a very low price.
กระต่ายขูดมะพร้าว – Kratai Kood Maphrao (Coconut Grater)
On the search on how to get some fresh coconut meat?
While modern machines will scrape the insides of coconuts, the locals typically use the traditional grater (also known as Coconut Rabbit) since it is cheap, easy to use, and can do the job better. If you visit provincial homes in Thailand, you will find that almost every home has this particular equipment since most of the dishes are served with some coconut meat or juice. This tool has been around since the 19th century, and some versions of it are being auctioned online.
หวดนึ่งข้าวเหนียว – Huad Nụ̀ng Kâao Niao (Sticky Rice Steaming Basket)
Fancy some delicious mango sticky rice?
The sticky rice steaming basket is perhaps one of the first things you must have at home since it is flexible and can be used for cooking multiple recipes. They basically look like woven hoods and are made of real straw, which helps in keeping the rice grains warm. If you have been to the north of Thailand, you might notice how the locals heat up and hold their rice before serving. Unlike others in this list, this one is very cheap and can sometimes be purchased on Amazon.
กระทะ – Kratha (Wok)
You might think that the wok is a type of pan that is only particularly related to the Chinese culture, but that is not really the case. In Thailand, a wok is an essential part of Thai cuisine, and it is used for deep frying, boiling, steaming, and stir-fries. This is different from other types of cookware because it can be used at a full-blasted high temperature, making it the best option if you want a smoky taste in your meals.
เขียง – Khiang (Wooden Chopping Block)
Why use bright-colored plastic chopping boards when you can go the traditional route instead?
There are different types of chopping boards that one can find from the store. However, a wooden-based one can withstand pressure since it is known to be the sturdiest type of board for chopping various ingredients. If you have ever been to a local Thai meat shop, you probably already saw one since this is the most recommended due to its antimicrobial effect.
Names Of The Most Common Utensils In Thai
Interested to eat your first Thai dish? Below are some of the most used utensils, cookware, and dinnerware that you might come across when speaking with the locals.
| English | Thai | Pronunciation Guide |
| Spoon | ช้อน | Chan |
| Fork | ส้อม | S̄̂xm |
| Dishes | จาน | Gaan |
| Chopsticks | ตะเกียบ | Takeīyb |
| Knife | มีด | Meed |
| Bowl | ชาม | Cham |
| Pot | หม้อ | H̄m̂x |
| Cup | ถ้วย | Thuey |
| Measuring cups | ถ้วยตวง | Thuey tuwang |
| Shears | กรรไกร | Kan krai |
| Colander | กระชอน | Kra chon |
| Can opener | ที่เปิดกระป๋อง | Thee pud krapeung |
| Mixing Bowls | ชามผสม | Cham phasom |
| Blender / Mixer | เครื่องปั่น | Kreung pan |
| Grater | เครื่องขูด | Kreung kood |
| Peeler | เครื่องปอก | Kreung pok |
| Rolling pin | โรลลิ่งพิน | Rol lingphin |
| Spatula | ไม้พาย | Mị̂ phāy |
| Saucepan | กระทะ | Kratha |
| Oven | เตาอบ | Teā ob |
| Kettle | กาต้มน้ำ | Ka tom nam |
| Juicer | เครื่องคั้นน้ำผลไม้ | Kherụ̄̀xng khận n̂ảm p̄hol la mị̂ |
| Apron | ผ้ากันเปื้อน | Pha kan puwan |
| Microwave oven | ไมโครเวฟ | mịkhorwef |
| Toothpick | ไม้จิ้มฟัน | Mai kim fan |
Conclusion
As we reach this part of the post, we hope that you were able to learn all table utensils and kitchen tools you’d ever need to complete your kitchen. If you enjoyed this post and would like to learn more about Thai cuisine, we invite you to read here some of our previous posts like the Thai cooking terms, popular Thai food, traditional Thai food, and how to order like a real native. On the flip side, if you are looking to master the Thai language, you better explore the Ling App.
Ling App is a FREE language learning platform developed by Simya Solutions to support language learners from across the globe. By using the app, you’ll get to discover comprehensive lessons, interactive quizzes, and fun games that will motivate you to push through. Aside from Thai, you can also unlock 60+ other languages in the same app, making it a flexible learning buddy! So, what are you waiting for? Download it today via Google Play Store and Apple App Store to start your learning on the right foot.
