After 30 years trying out various boat galley accessories, long-term cruising sailor Nica Waters offers her top recommendations for kitting out your sail boat’s kitchen with a few tried and tested items from our Tech Editor Fox Morgan’s Dehler 36 galley\u2026A well founded boat galley with just the right accessories for your food prepping style can make life on board an absolute joy.
\nNica writes \u201cWe recently rebuilt the galley on our 28\u2019 cutter, Calypso, the boat we\u2019ve owned and cruised intermittently on since 1992. This time, using the wisdom gained over the past 30 years, we incorporated more usable storage areas, installed a large undermount sink, and even splurged on Corian counters.\u201d
\n\u201cAs we moved aboard in April of 2021, we made sure that the galley items we brought with us are all ones we love and use frequently. After all, having the right tools makes cooking even more of a pleasure.\u201d
\nThe Marine Tech Editor, Fox Morgan loves their linear galley as it is especially well organised with just the right bit of kit in just the right places.
\n\u201cWorking in a confined space with limited storage, it\u2019s a balancing act to make sure you have enough galley kit on board and don\u2019t lack things that would make your life easier. Being judicious about what comes aboard can pay off handsomely both in terms of organization as well as the sense of space. For example, despite being a self-proclaimed cutting board addict, I had to be honest and realize that most of the time I use the same board over and over. I don\u2019t need to take 15 on the boat! Almost everything needs to serve double duty; almost nothing is single use.\u201d
\nIf you\u2019re just setting up a galley on the boat, here are some boat galley accessories you might not have thought of\u2026
\nBoat galley accessories \u2013 knives
\nAt the core of a good galley is its knives. You do not need to buy a complete knife set, which often include a number of knives you don\u2019t need, but rather buy individual ones.
\nA 9\u201d (or 7\u201d) chefs knife, a serrated blade for cutting bread, and a smaller paring knife are essential; the next one I\u2019d get is a long bladed boning knife for filleting your fresh catch of fish.
\nFind knives that fit your hand and feel good; some people prefer heavier ones while other people like light blades. Stainless steel blades will dull faster than carbon steel blades, but carbon steel blades will rust. Ceramic blades hold their edge for a long time but are notoriously hard to sharpen.<\/p>\n
ZWILLING Chef\u2019s Knife, Blade length: 20 cm, Wide blade, Special stainless steel\/Plastic handle
\nA chef\u2019s knife is an absolute must, ideally you\u2019ll have more than one of these. As a boat galley accessories go, this is an area not to be scrimped on. Buy good quality. There\u2019s a chance it will also be used for cutting and trimming lines on deck at some point too.
\nPrice \u00a363.84
\nBuy Zwilling paring knife from Amazon.co.uk
\nShop for Zwilling knives on Amazon.com<\/p>\n
ZWILLING Twin Pollux Bread Knife, steel, Silver\/Black
\nA bread knife is one of the staple boat galley accessories, you might be cutting bread with it\u2026 sometimes it\u2019s useful lashed to a pole for lopping a rope off your propeller too. Make sure you buy a good one of these!
\nPrice \u00a330.95
\nBuy Zwilling bread knife via Amazon.co.uk
\nShop for Zwilling knives on Amazon.com<\/p>\n
Ceramic Blade Paring Knife with Sheath\u00a0
\nTech Editor, Fox Morgan says \u201cOnboard Boogie Nights there\u2019s two paring knives. One steel the other is ceramic and 9 times out of 10 I\u2019ll reach for the ceramic blade. It is light and I like the white blade. It is SUPER sharp and I have already sliced the tips of my fingers off when not paying attention chopping an onion one day while distracted and chatting with my co-skipper. The blade protector stays in place and the knife lives in the cutlery drawer with other stuff. It\u2019s a few years old now but still sharp and still my first choice from the drawer. It\u2019s also great for slicing mooring lines for splicing or repairs. watch out for the super sharp blade really near the handle though. That can catch you out\u201d
\nFood prepping in the cockpit on a very hot day. Ceramic paring knife in hand. Look carefully, they can be difficult to see with their white blades. They do come in brighter colours, I would recommend trying a bright colour for safety.<\/p>\n
Price: \u00a316.99
\nBuy Ceramic paring knife from Amazon.co.uk<\/p>\n
Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn\u2019t affect our editorial independence.<\/p>\n
Having chosen your knives, you need to have a place to store them safely, and a way to sharpen them. One of our galley upgrades was a pair of magnetic knife strips which we\u2019ve attached to the underside of the deck in the galley area.
\nunder counter magnetic strip \u2013 doubled up for extra security
\n\u00a0
\nYou do need to make sure these powerful magnets are placed far from any compass or autopilot. We have two strips so the knives are secured in two places along the blade. Our stainless steel knives hold well, which is an indication of the quality of the stainless steel they are made from. (note from Tech Ed: beware that some stainless blades are not fero-magnetic due to their metal composition. So double check this if buying new blades and intend yo hang them safely on magnets.)<\/p>\n
MIU France Stainless Steel Magnetic Knife Bar, 15-Inch
\nPrice: \u00a332.87
\nBuy the MIU France Stainless Steel Magnetic Knife Bar on Amazon
\nIf you store your knives in a general cutlery drawer, be prepared to sharpen them even more frequently as the blade edges will be .amaged and dulled by contact with other utensils, although some knives do come with blade protectors that slide or clip onto the knife blade to keep it tip top and to avoid accidental injury when reaching into the cutlery drawer.
\nA knife sharpener can range from a simple whetstone all the way up to an electric knife sharpener; our preferred tool is an easy-to-use hand sharpener that guides the knife to the correct angle.<\/p>\n
WORK SHARP Guided Field Sharpener\u00a0
\nPrice: \u00a332.95
\nBuy Worksharp field sharpener via Amazon.co.uk<\/p>\n
Chef\u2019s Choice Professional Electric Knife Sharpener
\nPrice: \u00a3217
\nBuy Chef\u2019s Choice electric knife sharpener from Amazon.co.uk
\nThough this item possibly fails the \u2018multi-use\u2019 test, a Microplane zester is another must-have cutting tool in Calypso\u2019s galley. Coming with its own guard, this slender rasp-style grater makes quick work of ginger, garlic, and parmesan cheese and stores flat; it\u2019s also relatively easy to clean since you have access to both sides of the tool.<\/p>\n
Microplane Zester Grater Black for Citrus Fruits, Hard Cheese, Ginger, Chocolate, Nutmeg and Truffle from The Premium Classic Series with Stainless Steel Blade
\nPrice: \u00a318.30
\nBuy Microplane Zester via Amazon.co.uk
\nBuy the Microplane zester on Amazon<\/p>\n
Boat galley accessories \u2013 tongs
\nEveryone has their own preference as to tools to use to turn food in the pan. While spatulas and spoons, forks and even chopsticks all have their place in the galley, I can\u2019t speak highly enough of these locking tongs.
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
OXO Good Grips Tongs \u2013 12 inch
\nWe have two pairs as we use them so much. One might be in use at the stove, turning meat or stirring pasta, while the other is being used to toss salad. I find the 12-inch size to be far more versatile than the longer ones, and personally find the silicone-tipped ones go gummy too quickly. Just be careful if using these with a nonstick pan surface.
\nPrice: \u00a327.99
\nBuy OXO 12-Inch Stainless-Steel locking tongs on Amazon<\/p>\n
Colourworks Mini Tongs
\nThese Mini tongs are useful in so many ways around the galley. You can pull a hot packet of wet food out of the the boiling pan with them or give a small pot a stir or flip your bacon with them. These fit into places where the larger tongs do not. Silicon tips can also help to preserve nonstick if you have that on your pans. Tongs of all shapes and sizes are considered one of the most essential boat galley accessories.<\/p>\n
Price: \u00a33.49
\nBuy Mini tongs from The Range<\/p>\n
Boat galley accessories \u2013 blenders
\nRounding out the hand tools category is an immersion blender.
\nWhen I lived on land, I used my beloved Cuisinart food processor almost daily.\u00a0Space and power constraints on the boat mean it can\u2019t come with us cruising, but I really did want something that could do some pureeing and fine chopping tasks.
\nA good galley alternative is an immersion blender. This stick blender does require an electrical outlet nearby, but fits into small spaces and larger pots with ease.
\nWe call it the boat motor; it makes a lovely smooth vegetable soup as well making quick work of frozen fruit and yogurt for a smoothie.
\nThe accompanying small bowl and blade means that smooth hummus and other luxuries are possible on board.
\nYou can buy kits that come without some of the extra attachments (we in particular question the masher attachment), but they\u2019re more expensive.<\/p>\n
Braun MultiQuick Hand Blender
\nAs used for over 10 years on the Tech Eds boat, this tried and tested hand blender has been pressed into action offshore many times, whipping up cake batters and chopping tomatoes and anything else we care to throw at it. One of the best value for money items ever introduced to the galley. It\u2019s powered from a small inverter. Though, sometimes cake making goes a bit awry\u2026 sense of humour required when this happens. Thankfully we were moored up when this happened. This Braun hand blender was the secret weapon used in the great Atlantic bake-off during the Azab 2019 race.
\nutter carnage in the galley as the frosting went for a flyer.
\nChocolate and Guinness cake, the SV Boogie Nights signature arrival cake, once we got the frosting in the right place it was utterly delicious and a doddle to make thanks to the little Braun gizmo.<\/p>\n
Price: \u00a334
\nBuy the Braun hand blender via Amazon.co.uk
\nBuy the Braun 4-in-1 Immersion Hand Blender on Amazon<\/p>\n
Best pots and pans<\/p>\n
Made-In Stainless Clad Saute Pan
\nOn board, I tend to cook with an eye toward cleanup. Like most cruisers, we\u2019re water-conscious, and one way to minimize water use is to create fewer dirty dishes.
\nOne-pot meals are a good way to put this mantra into practice. A surprise favorite pan for this is a stainless steel 3.5-quart saute pan (if we were a family of 4 still on board, I might like a larger version.)
\nThis straight-sided skillet goes from stove top to oven flawlessly; the tight fitting lid for it means it can also work to cook rice or pasta. Watch for a handle that\u2019s short enough to fit in the oven.
\nPrice: \u00a3123.99
\nBuy the 3.5 quart Stainless Clad Saute Pan on madeincookware.com<\/p>\n
Kuhn Rikon Duromatic Inox Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker with Long Handle, 5 Litre \/ 22 cm
\nPressure cookers are another conservation tactic, working to save on cooking fuel as well as time spent in the galley. The premise behind these pots is that they cook foods at a higher temperature by applying pressure, meaning that cooking takes less time.
\nFor example, if we decide at 5 pm that we\u2019d like black bean soup for dinner; the pressure cooker takes beans from dried to yummy in half an hour. This pot doubles as my largest mixing bowl as well as a regular, non-pressurized pot for pasta.
\nUnfortunately, the Fagor brand we use has been discontinued, but this recommended one has been in use on my friend Behan\u2019s boat for the past ten years.
\nPrice: \u00a3132.53
\nBuy the Kuhn Rikon Duromatic Pressure Cooker on Amazon<\/p>\n
Instant Pot Duo Nova 7-in-1 Smart Cooker, 5.7L \u2013 Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Saut\u00e9 Pan, Yoghurt Maker, Steamer and Food Warmer
\nIf you have the electricity and storage space to spare, multi-cookers (essentially, electric pressure cookers with a few other bells and whistles) are all the rage in the United States. I\u2019ve never used one but have yet to meet anyone who is not wildly impressed.\u00a0Many boats are shifting away from propane as a cooking fuel especially as lithium batteries are becoming more widespread, and a multi-cooker is a favourite boat galley accessory for cruisers with an electric galley.
\nPrice: \u00a369.99
\nBuy the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker on Amazon<\/p>\n
Tefal Ingenio Essential Non-Stick Pots and Pans Set, 5-Piece, Starter Kit
\nThe Tefal Ingenio pans are also a boat galley favourite as they can go from stove top to oven to cool box and back again with their removable handles and clip lids to stop spillage.
\nThe Tech Ed writes \u201cThese have been in use onboard SV Boogie Nights for around 8 years now.
\nTefal Ingenio pans, with quick release handle removed for better balanced pans when sailing offshore. Stackable and versatile. An excellent investment for the galley.
\nThe small frying pan is looking a bit tired because it get\u2019s the most use but the clip handle, lids and pans are still going strong. The good thing is that you can buy the pans individually so you can make your own set that suits your particular galley needs. The handles are easy to find, often in European supermarkets too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Price: \u00a356.99
\nBuy Tefal Ingenio starter kit from Amazon.co.uk<\/p>\n
Best of the rest
\nOther favorite boat galley accessories and tools are personal: there\u2019s the wide-mouth thermos I use to make yogurt, the citrus juicer I bought in an eclectic hardware store in the Dominican Republic, the French Press coffee maker we use every morning.<\/p>\n
Zulay Metal Lemon Lime Squeezer \u2013 Manual Citrus Press Juicer
\nIf lemons and Lime are your thing, then much like a garlic press, you\u2019ll love this and it will make life just a little neater. Cocktails and cooking are a little bit better with a dash of citrus. The boat galley accessory you never knew you needed\u2026
\nPrice \u00a323
\nBuy Zulay lemon squeezer via Amazon<\/p>\n
CLASSIC LEGENDARY FOOD JAR | 1.0 QT
\nA robust food flask with a wide mouth. Its ubiquitous design can be seen around the globe in the ditty bag of anyone who travels or wants to travel relatively light but head away from it all. This isn\u2019t just a boat galley accessory, but a trekking and hiking accessory too.
\nPrice $41
\nBuy Stanley food flask via Amazon<\/p>\n
Frieling USA Double Wall Stainless Steel French Press Coffee Maker with Zero Sediment Dual Screen
\nIf you\u2019re a coffee lover then a decent press will really enhance your mornings. Avoid glass and go for something sturdy, reliable and without consumable parts, such as paper filters. The dual mesh inner keeps the coffee grounds away from your cup and you\u2019ll have enough in this press for more than one cup.
\nPrice \u00a3232
\nBuy Frieling stainless coffee press via Amazon<\/p>\n
Luci Solar String Lights + Phone Charger with 100 Lumens
\nOne special tool, although not a galley-specific item, that has immeasurably improved our dining life at anchor is these Luci string lights. Solar powered, they clip easily to our bimini top and provide light and ambience for dinners in the cockpit.
\nMy husband was skeptical at first and now is the first person to reach for them when the sun starts to go down!
\nPrice: \u00a340
\nBuy Luci Lights via Amazon
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\nDidn\u2019t find what you\u2019re looking for? Head to Amazon\u2019s dedicated sailing page for more marine products.
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The post Boat galley accessories: essential cooking tools for cruising sailboats appeared first on Yachting World.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
After 30 years trying out various boat galley accessories, long-term cruising sailor Nica Waters offers her top recommendations for kitting out your sail boat’s kitchen with a few tried and tested items from our Tech Editor Fox Morgan’s Dehler 36 … <\/p>\n