5 Reasons Why You Should Be Using Side Towels (like the pros do)

 I used to go through half a roll of paper towels every time I cooked trying to keep things clean.  Then, I figured out that all I really need is maybe a couple of paper towels (for patting things dry, holding my cutting board in place, etc) and a stack of clean, fluffy, super absorbent kitchen towels.  

A pack of them from Amazon is very affordable – in fact, it’s roughly the same price as a giant package of paper towels at your local grocery store.  Fold them up, keep them within arms reach, and when you’re running low toss them in the washing machine with a bit of bleach and voilà! – clean towels! 

Aside from a good knife, one clean towel is a chef’s best friend.

Without further ado, here are 5 reasons why you might want to consider using reusable kitchen towels, like the pros do:

Reason # 1: It’s way cheaper. A package of brand-name paper towels at the store will cost you upwards of $20 or more these days, and once you use them up, that’s it! Reusable kitchen towels are the same price, and will provide you with months of use. Plus, when they’re finally to grimy to use in the kitchen, they can be repurposed as cleaning towels for the bathroom, the car, etc.

Reason # 2: They’re versatile. I use these towels to wipe my knife, wipe my cutting board (which you should to between each prepped ingredient), mop up spills on the counter, grab hot pots, pans and lids, adjust oven racks, retrieve things from the oven, etc. 

Reason # 3: It’s better for the environment. Not only does making the switch to kitchen towels save trees, it keeps stuff out of landfills. We’d like to think that our paper and cardboard products get recycled, but if we’re being real, only 38% of it actually gets recycled each year… the rest ends up in a landfill anyway.

Reason # 4: They’re always within arms reach. If you keep a stack of them handy, you can use as many of them as you like – guilt free! Spill something? No problem. Need to wipe the counter? No problem. Need to dry your hands? No problem. Need to spiffy up a plate before sending it out into the dining room, or perhaps taking an epic food photo? No problem.

Reason # 5: It will help you work clean – which, in turn, will help you keep organized. To quote the late, great Anthony Bourdain:

Working clean, constantly wiping and cleaning, is a desirable state of affairs for the conscientious cook… Messy station equals messy mind. That explains why side towels are hoarded like gold by good cooks.

– Anthony Bourdain, KITCHEN CONFIDENTENTIAL

So, for all of these reasons, I hope that you’ll take a moment to purchase yourself a stack of clean, fluffy towels for your next culinary adventure.

Just, for God’s sake, whatever you do… don’t get into the habit of tossing it over your shoulder.