The Essential Professional Chef Tools Every Student Needs for Culinary School

Listen to This Article:

A serious dedication to the culinary or pastry arts means a commitment to selecting and artfully using an array of professional chef tools.

Like the musician who never stops learning more about her instrument, or the artist who never ceases experimenting with his paint brush, a true culinary artist never stops finding new ways of getting more and more value out of a basic set of tools.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the toolkits Escoffier online culinary students and online baking & pastry students can receive, and explore the ways students can begin understanding how to use their tools in the kitchen.

The Escoffier Toolkit for Online Culinary Students

Upon enrolling in one of Escoffier’s online culinary programs, students receive a standard toolkit containing utensils and tools specific to their program, as well as a chef’s uniform. This kit includes items students may need to get started with a professional culinary education from home.

Official Escoffier Uniform

Depending on their programs, Escoffier students may receive an official uniform bearing the Escoffier logo. Students are expected to wear this uniform while attending classes as a standard of professionalism.

The uniform set includes a chef’s coat, apron, and a skull cap.

Utensils for Culinary Arts Students

Students enrolled in an online culinary arts diploma or degree program can receive the following utensils and tools in their kit:

• 1 ESCOFFIER Zipper Knife Case
• 1 ZWILLING PRO 8-inch Chef’s Knife
• 1 ZWILLING COMMERCIAL 8-inch Bread Knife
• 1 ZWILLING COMMERCIAL 6-inch Boning Knife
• 1 ZWILLING PRO 4-inch Paring Knife
• 2 ZWILLING 8-inch Knife Sheath
• 1 ZWILLING 6-inch Knife Sheath
• 1 ZWILLING 4-inch Knife Sheath
• 1 ZWILLING Honing Steel
• 1 ZWILLING TWIN L Kitchen Shears
• 1 Y-Peeler, Plastic Handle
• 1 Silicone Scraper, Heat Resistant, 14-inch
• 1 High Temp Spoon, Tan, 15-inch
• 1 Fish Turner
• 1 Pastry Brush, 2-inch
• 1 Piano Whisk, 12-inch
• 1 Small Offset Spatula, 4.25-inch
• 1 ATECO 12-inch Bags, set of 24
• 1 Measuring Spoon 4pc Set, Stainless Steel
• 1 White Plastic Bowl Scraper, 5.25 x 3.5-inches
• 1 Chlorine Test Strip Tube of 100
• 1 CDN Digital Pocket Thermometer
• 1 CDN SD1104 Digital Scale

Utensils for Pastry Arts Students

Students enrolled in the pastry arts online program require a different set of utensils than those in culinary arts programs. The pastry toolkit can include the following unique pieces:

• 1 ESCOFFIER Zipper Knife Case
• 1 ZWILLING COMMERCIAL 12-inch Serrated Slicing Knife
• 1 ZWILLING PRO 8-inch Chef’s Knife
• 1 ZWILLING PRO 4-inch Paring Knife
• 1 ZWILLING 12-inch Knife Sheath
• 1 ZWILLING 8-inch Knife Sheath
• 1 ZWILLING 4-inch Knife Sheath
• 1 ZWILLING PRO Pizza Cutter
• 1 ZWILLING PRO Grater-Zester w/ Cover, Silicone Handle
• 1 Double Melon Baller, Stainless w/ Black Handle
• 1 Y-Peeler, Plastic Handle
• 1 Silicone Scraper, Heat Resistant, 14-inch
• 1 Pastry Brush, 2-inch
• 1 Piano Whisk, 12-inch
• 1 Small Offset Spatula, 4.25-inch
• 1 Medium Offset Spatula, 7.75-inch
• 1 ATECO Rectangle Pastry Comb
• 1 ATECO-Zwilling 12-pc Custom Tube & Flower Nail Set
• 1 ATECO 14-inch Polyurethane Pastry Bag
• 1 Measuring Spoon 4pc Set, Stainless Steel
• 1 Measuring Cup 4pc Set, Stainless Steel
• 1 Stainless Bench Scraper with Plastic Handle
• 1 White Plastic Bowl Scraper, 5.25 x 3.5-inches
• 1 Chlorine Test Strip Tube of 100
• 1 CDN Digital Pocket Thermometer
• 1 CDN SD1104 Digital Scale
• 1 CDN DTTC Digital Probe Thermometer

Putting Tools to Use in the Curriculum

So how do students begin to understand how to use their professional chef tools? They practice—a lot! Completing course assignments in their home kitchens and preparing meals for themselves or their families can provide students with plenty of opportunities to get a feel for their tools. And by following advice from their Chef Instructors, students can continually improve how effectively they use their tools.

As students progress through the curriculum, tools are deployed in more advanced ways to create a variety of dishes.To help you visualize how this progression will look, note these examples.

• Culinary Foundations can provide students with an intro to some of their tools and the opportunity to practice precise chiffonade with a chef’s knife or quickly moving ingredients with a bench scraper.
• The Culinary Arts and Patisserie course might include preparation of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres and breakfast items, so students can develop muscle memory when whipping eggs with a whisk and fine-tune their knife skills
• Exploring other cultures and their dishes is the major premise of the World Cuisines course, and it may provide students with the chance to explore how to select the proper tool when handling new ingredients.

Pastry arts students follow a different curriculum designed to give them plenty of practice with tools specific to their craft. For example, in the Confiserie course, students can gain experience using the proper tools to create tempered chocolate truffles and garnishes. In artisan baking courses, they may demonstrate their understanding of laminated doughs and puff pastry.

Escoffier’s Online Platform: A Great Way to Start Using Professional Chef Tools Properly

Because professional chef tools are the fundamental tools of the trade, quality instruction and mentorship can make it easier to learn how to use them properly. Escoffier’s online learning platform and mobile app can give online students a way to submit assignments, track their progress, and interact with their Chef Instructors and classmates.

By documenting their journey with photos and a written narrative, students and Chef Instructors may be able to collaborate on what went well and where students can improve…including the proper use of tools and methods.

Explore Culinary Tools At Escoffier

No matter how much or little experience you have in the kitchen, understanding the proper use of professional chef tools may be fundamental to a successful career in the food business. If you’re curious or have questions, request more information to find out if Escoffier’s online culinary or pastry arts program is right for you.

If you enjoyed this article, read these next:

• Yes, Online Culinary School Works. Here’s How.
• A Day in the Life of an Online Culinary Student
• How Online Pastry School Works

This article was originally published on April 27, 2021, and has since been updated.

*Information may not reflect every student’s experience. Results and outcomes may be based on several factors, such as geographical region or previous experience.