Dutch kitchens often hide odd looking utensils. The most common ones explained.
In fact, literally translated, this is a bottle licker; but bottle scraper would be a better description. It’s a kind of spatula with a long handle and a rubber end, specifically designed to scrape out the contents of long bottles or cartons that would be impossible to reach with other kitchen tools. It won’t leave a drop of yoghurt in the container, or peanut butter or mayonnaise in the bottom of the jar. A simple utensil that can reduce food waste, and only costs a few euros, it will eventually pay for itself. This frugal tool is not, as you might expect, a Dutch creation. “It’s a Norwegian invention that failed in every country but the Netherlands,” said Laurie Boucke, The UnDutchables author, in an amusing YouTube video describing the utensil.
Aardappelstamper
The humble potato masher is not unique to the Netherlands, but is an essential tool in the Dutch kitchen during the winter months. A number of traditional Dutch dishes are made from a combination of boiled potatoes mashed with one or more vegetables, known as stamppot. Whether it be curly kale or endive stamppot, or hutspot with carrot and onions, sausage and gravy are common accompaniments. Easy to prepare, and surprisingly comforting on a cold miserable day.
Kaasschaaf
The cheese slicer, capable of producing the thinnest possible slices of cheese. A knife would do the same job, but not so effectively or economically. Also invented by a Norwegian, Thor Bjorklund, a carpenter from Lillehammer who based his design on a carpenter’s plane. He got the patent for the cheese slicer in 1925, and mass production started in 1927. Interestingly, the most expensive cheese scraper ever was stolen from The Amsterdam Museum in March 2015. Worth 25,000 euros and studded with 220 diamonds, it was never found. Anyone whose tips lead to the success-ful retrieval of the valuable slicer will receive as reward a cheese gift basket and the world’s largest cheese fondue set, a Mr. Big Fondue,” said the owners, Boska Holland, in a press release.
Poffertjespan
Usually made from cast iron, this is a special pan for making poffertjes, with circular indentations for the batter to make the perfect bite-sized pancakes. You can also buy special dosage dispensers, which make it easy to fill the sections of the pan with just the right amount of batter without spilling. The mixture puffs up in the pan in the process of baking, hence the name. They are typically served with butter and icing sugar. You can buy them pre-prepared in the supermarket, but they don’t taste nearly as good as fresh from the pan.
Gourmetset
Comparable to a raclette grill, eating this way is all about gezelligheid, cooking and eating your food at the table together. There are many styles available. Most have a hot plate on top for meat, fish and vegetables. Some also have individual pans that go underneath for egg or pancake mix. Each person has a wooden spatula for cooking with. Serve some bread and dipping sauces on the side, and you’re good to go. This is a very popular way of dining for special occasions like Easter, Christmas and New Year in the Netherlands. You’ll see trays with mini portions of everything for sale in the supermarkets at those times of year. It’s a great way to throw a dinner party, and you don’t even have to do the cooking yourself.
FlessenlikkerFlessenlikker
At first glance, a couple of uses for this unusual tool come to mind: for scratching your back, or cleaning dog poop from your shoes perhaps. In fact, literally translated, this is a bottle licker; but bottle scraper would be a better description. It’s a kind of spatula with a long handle and a rubber end, specifically designed to scrape out the contents of long bottles or cartons that would be impossible to reach with other kitchen tools. It won’t leave a drop of yoghurt in the container, or peanut butter or mayonnaise in the bottom of the jar. A simple utensil that can reduce food waste, and only costs a few euros, it will eventually pay for itself. This frugal tool is not, as you might expect, a Dutch creation. “It’s a Norwegian invention that failed in every country but the Netherlands,” said Laurie Boucke, The UnDutchables author.
AardappelstamperAardappelstamper
The humble potato masher is not unique to the Netherlands, but is an essential tool in the Dutch kitchen during the winter months. A number of traditional Dutch dishes are made from a combination of boiled potatoes mashed with one or more vegetables, known as stamppot. Whether it be curly kale or endive stamppot, or hutspot with carrot and onions, sausage and gravy are common accompaniments. Easy to prepare, and surprisingly comforting on a cold miserable day.
KaasschaafKaasschaaf
The cheese slicer, capable of producing the thinnest possible slices of cheese. A knife would do the same job, but not so effectively or economically. Also invented by a Norwegian, Thor Bjorklund, a carpenter from Lillehammer who based his design on a carpenter’s plane. He got the patent for the cheese slicer in 1925, and mass production started in 1927. Interestingly, the most expensive cheese scraper ever was stolen from The Amsterdam Museum in March 2015. Worth 25,000 euros and studded with 220 diamonds, it was never found. Anyone whose tips lead to the success-ful retrieval of the valuable slicer will receive as reward a cheese gift basket and the world’s largest cheese fondue set, a Mr. Big Fondue,” said the owners, Boska Holland, in a press release.
PoffertjespanPoffertjespan
Usually made from cast iron, this is a special pan for making poffertjes, with circular indentations for the batter to make the perfect bite-sized pancakes. You can also buy special dosage dispensers, which make it easy to fill the sections of the pan with just the right amount of batter without spilling. The mixture puffs up in the pan in the process of baking, hence the name. They are typically served with butter and icing sugar. You can buy them pre-prepared in the supermarket, but they don’t taste nearly as good as fresh from the pan.
Gourmetset
Comparable to a raclette grill, eating this way is all about gezelligheid, cooking and eating your food at the table together. There are many styles available. Most have a hot plate on top for meat, fish and vegetables. Some also have individual pans that go underneath for egg or pancake mix. Each person has a wooden spatula for cooking with. Serve some bread and dipping sauces on the side, and you’re good to go. This is a very popular way of dining for special occasions like Easter, Christmas and New Year in the Netherlands. You’ll see trays with mini portions of everything for sale in the supermarkets at those times of year. It’s a great way to throw a dinner party, and you don’t even have to do the cooking yourself.
This is an updated version of a previous Delft Survival Guide article.
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