What is an adapted cooking utensil?
An adapted cooking utensil is a tool used in the kitchen that may be modified to enhance the cooking and eating experience for an individual with a disability. They may be useful during sessions for meal prep or simply for eating. There are many tools and tips for users with mobility limitations, vision loss, or unsteady hands.
Innovative kitchen tools and accessories are designed specifically to make cooking easier and safer for everyone, ensuring that anyone can cook confidently!
Adapting cooking tools is crucial to ensure accessibility for individuals with disabilities, fostering inclusion and independence in the kitchen. By customizing utensils and appliances, everyone can enjoy the joy of cooking regardless of physical limitations, promoting equal participation in culinary experiences.
Types of adapted kitchen tools and utensils:
- Swivel utensils assist users with little or no muscle control to keep the food on the fork or spoon. The tool swivels with movement to keep a level platform.
- Lipped plates are commonly used by individuals with poor hand coordination. The plate rounds up at the edges so that the consumer can scoop their food onto the utensil more easily.
- A rocker knife is a large knife that rocks back and forth while cutting rather than sawing the food. This knife may be safer to use as the individual prepping does not have to pick up the utensil after each saw and risk cutting themself.
- Pronged cutting boards include little pricks or prongs that hold the food in place while one cuts.
- Non-skid mixing bowls or cutting boards are useful for individuals with shaky hands. The non-skid materials allow for the cooking object to stay put.
- Easy grip utensils include larger handles for easier gripping and can be weighted or non-weighted. The weighted utensils are commonly used by individuals with Parkinson’s disease or other conditions that include tremors to control unsteady hands while eating.
- Grip straps are very similar to easy grip utensils as they aid with limited dexterity. A grip strap is attached to the fork or spoon and slides over the hand or wrist so that the individual and hold the utensil without squeezing.
- Angled utensils are designed to be lightweight and bent for more independent feeding.
- Finger loop utensils consist of a small loop that slips over the thumb or pointer finger to ensure proper hold. These can also be used by individuals with little or no grip strength.
- Spout cups can be used for individuals who may have poor mouth control or spill frequently. Typically, these types of cups have lids and the user will suck rather than drink.
- Openers come in a variety of tools, including manual or automatic. Many can be used to open jars, bottles, or cans and can consist of grippers, corkscrews, and other mounted openers. Mounted openers are typically nailed to a wall or hard surface and utilized by individuals with one hand.
Where can I find adapted kitchen tools?
You can find adapted tools through simple Google searches or Amazon. Borrowing from local rehabilitation centers or occupational therapists is also an option. Be sure to partner with local disability organizations to access these tools.
Another option to find adapted utensils would be to check local assistive technology resources. These programs provide short-term loans of assistive technology to persons with disabilities who wish to try out different types of devices. This service also goes beyond adapted cooking tools, such as testing out recumbent bikes, for example. These types of programs may also provide alternate sources of financing to assist people with disabilities purchase assistive equipment.
Additional Resources
• https://disabilityfeast.wordpress.com/2015/08/26/accessible-food-and-cooking-tips-for-little-people/
Independent Cooking with Adapted Tools
In this video, an individual who is limb different and uses a wheelchair shares tips for cooking independently and using adapted kitchen tools.
Independent Cooking with Vision Loss
In this video, an individual who has vision loss shares tips for kitchen accessibility and cooking independently.
Inexpensive Tips for Cooking Accessibility
In this video, a woman explains how a kitchen can become more accessible for a person with vision loss. She also demonstrates the use of several adapted utensils and shares how to modify equipment inexpensively to benefit individuals.