This is Chef’s Staples, where professional chefs dish on the gear they couldn’t cook without. This week: Chef Danielle Chang of the PBS Series Lucky Chow.
Television host, cookbook author and brand founder, Danielle Chang has a lot on her plate. Chang’s PBS series “Lucky Chow,” explores Asia’s influences on American food culture, and its fourth season premieres in early May. Her company, LUCKYRICE, a lifestyle brand that organizes food and drink festivals across North America, spawned a cookbook of the same name. Lucky Rice: Stories and Recipes from Night Markets, Feasts, and Family Tables was lauded by chefs like Daniel Boulud and Jean-Georges Vongerichten for its spicy recipes and colorful stories. From an Instant Pot to a cult-favorite whiskey ice maker, here’s what she can’t cook without.
Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer
“I’m late to the Instant Pot revolution, but this pressure cooker seriously changed my life. I am now able to make comforting, soothing slow-braised favorites — like the Taiwanese beef noodle soups that I grew up with or fragrant chicken broths laced with traditional Chinese medicinal herbs for when my daughters are under the weather — all in a fraction of the time needed. I feel like the Instant Pot ups my game as a cook because the technology results in super tender braised meats and vegetables that are never dried out or over-cooked.
I didn’t think my Instant Pot could get better but I was just gifted with their latest model, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp and Air Fryer, which has 11 functions. With the addition of the Air Fryer lid, I can use it to quickly air fry, roast, bake, broil and dehydrate. My favorite snacks to make are Japanese fried chicken karaage, which I deep-fry with a coating of rice flour for a crunchy but light batter. My next project is to dehydrate any overripe and soon-to-spoil fruit. This gadget really helps me to save time and food. There’s virtually no wastage in my kitchen.”
