Skimmer is a preferred and necessary utensil in a Restaurants operations. It is really impossible to work at a commercial kitchen without a Skimmer. It's a unique and has amazing capacity to perform in daily kitchen operations.

Also known in Hindi as Jhara ,the Skimmer has different types and size according to its uses.

A mesh skimmer is a kitchen tool commonly used in cooking. It's a utensil with a long handle and a flat, perforated or meshed scoop at the end. In restaurant or at home Chefs and home cooks use it primarily for skimming and removing solid particles or foam from the surface of liquids like soups, broths, and frying oil. This in turn helps in achieving a clearer and cleaner liquids or oils in the cooking processes.

1. Materials

• Stainless Steel : These types of skimmers are very durable, easy to clean, and resistant to rust and staining. They are always a first choice for most kitchen daily tasks.
• Mesh or Perforated : Some special tasks like skimming foam or straining small food particles, from stocks or boiling water a mesh or perforated skimmer is ideal and best. The fine holes allow for precise skimming without losing any ingredients.
• Wire : Wire skimmers are great and ideal choice for performing tasks like deep-frying and blanching. They allow excess oil or water to drain quickly from them.

2. Size

• Always consider the size of the skimmer's head. A larger head is very suitable for skimming larger quantities of food items, while a smaller one is more accurate and  precise for dedicated tasks like poaching eggs.

3. Handle length

• The handle length should provide a comfortable grip and keep your hand at a safe distance while working from hot liquids or oil. Longer handles for skimmers are better for deep frying food items, while shorter handles are more suitable for stove top tasks.

4. Shape

• Skimmers come in various shapes. Like a flat and round skimmer is versatile and good for skimming, while a slotted or spider skimmer with a deeper basket shape is excellent for scooping solid ingredients.

5. Multipurpose and Specialized

• You can decide whether you want a multipurpose skimmer that can handle various tasks in your kitchen or a specialized skimmers designed for specific tasks like frying or straining in your kitchen.

1. Large Skimmer ( Jhara) :-

When a large amount of Rice or Noodles is boiling then this type of Skimmer or Jhara is commonly used to remove the cooking items from the surface of boiling water.

It is widely used in kitchen operation for skimming  large amount of foods from boiling water or hot oil. Particularly used in banquet operations.

2. Medium Skimmer 

This type of Skimmer is use to skimmed Fry items from hot oil. Like French fries potato wedges and papad.

You can also skim different types of snacks or small size appetizer using this type of skimmer.

Skinner used to skim some food items from hot oil are..

•  Golden fried pineapple
•  Crispy Chicken
• Chilli paneer

3. Small Skimmer

This type of Skimmer is commonly used at home. Like. To skim Puri, deep fried fish or chicken from hot oil.

4. Chinese spider

This one is commonly used in Restaurants operations. When large amounts of vegetables or Rice is boiling in hot water, you can easily skimmed them using it.

5. Small Chinese Spider

This small Skimmer is generally used in household operations.

6. Skimmer (Jhara)

It has very small mini size whole on its base. Commonly used to remove excess fat or small particles from soups and Stew.

7. Boondi Jhara

This type of Skimmer or Jhara is commonly used in Halwai kitchen, Indian sweet making  kitchen. It is used to make boondi or motichur laddu.

Uses :

1. Skimming French fries from hot oil.

2. Skimming Indian Pakoda from hot oil.