Looking for something to do with your summer? See below for some helpful nonvisual cooking tips. You can build your skills and make some yummy food at the same time!
General Cooking Tips
- When learning to crack an egg, try cracking it against the counter rather than against a bowl. This will prevent shattering.
- You can use kitchen utensils like forks to test the doneness of whatever you are cooking. This can help you learn about the texture and firmness of foods so that you can understand how they feel when they are done cooking. You could also consider getting a pair of silicone gloves, which are heat resistant and can help you determine the doneness of hot items. This way, you can still use your hands, but you can avoid burns.
- When first learning to flip items, it is helpful to keep the food as stable as possible while you are trying to master the flipping motion. First, slide your spatula under the item you want to flip. Then, with your other hand, find the top of the item using a fork or another spatula. You can then lift the spatula and be confident that the food will not fall off your spatula because the utensil on top will provide steadiness. Then, quickly remove the utensil that you are using for stabilization, and flip your spatula so that the bottom of it is facing upward.
- Labeling your spices can help you keep your kitchen organized and accessible to you. You have your choice of labeling systems, from making your own Braille or large print labels, or creating audio labels with a scanning device or app such as the PenFriend.
Tips for Using Measuring Cups and Spoons
With just a few nonvisual tips, you can measure properly with no trouble at all – even liquids.
- Measuring Solids: When you are trying to accurately measure solids, like flour or sugar, dip the measuring cup or spoon into the container and scoop. Then, hold the measuring device above the container and feel the ingredient inside the measuring device. Is it below the top? Then dip the device back into the container and add some more. Is it too much? You can use the flat side of a butter knife or your hand to brush across the top of the measuring device to clear the excess ingredient off the top. Doing this process above the container will ensure that you save any excess ingredients, and will also reduce spills on the counter, making your cleanup easier.
- Measuring Liquids: When measuring liquids, like olive oil or vanilla, you can use your fingers placed over the top edge of the measuring device to gauge how much liquid is present. You can hold the measuring device over a bowl as you pour it into the measuring device. That way, if you spill by mistake, the ingredient will go into the bowl and can be funneled back into the original bottle. This will help you save ingredients and also ease cleanup.
Where to Buy Accessible Kitchen Items
Whether you use large print, Braille, contrast, audio, or all of the above, there are a variety of websites you can browse to find accessible measuring devices. You can also find other accessible cooking tools, like talking meat thermometers and food scales. Enjoy browsing these websites for fun and accessible kitchen gadgets:
- LS&S (Learning, sight, & sound) Daily Living Products (includes several relevant categories)
- MaxiAids (Cooking category)
- NFB Independence Market
- The Braille Bookstore (Kitchen Corner category)
Contact us
Follow the Bridges Helpdesk Facebook page for more transition tips, and please contact the Free Helpdesk for Maryland Blind/Low Vision Transition Students, Families, and Educators anytime using:
- Our Accessible web form
- Email: Helpdesk@imagemd.org
- Text: Send to: (410) 305-9199
- Bridges Helpdesk Facebook page or Facebook Messenger
- Voice mail: Call (443) 320-4003, leave a voice mail message, and we will return your call
This unique project is being coordinated through The IMAGE Center of Maryland, a center for independent living in Towson, and it is funded by a grant from the Maryland Department of Education Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services.