Tablets in the kitchen: Geek meets gourmet

Perhaps no one is more particular about his or her tools than a cook. Nearly any experienced chef has a favorite set of cutlery, a certain skillet he or she wouldn't trade for the world and, of course, ingredients that can't be substituted for anything.

One kitchen tool that is changing, however, is the cookbook. Increasingly, cooks -- whether in a gourmet restaurant or at home in the kitchen -- are replacing their cookbooks with tablet computers.

There are several advantages to using a tablet in the kitchen. For starters, a cook can store a virtually endless number of recipes on the device. Tablets also offer access to a wealth of information through online resources, such as recipe websites and cooking forums.

The tablet's shape is also beneficial in the kitchen. With its slim frame, a tablet will not take up very much valuable counter space. Additionally, cooks do not need to worry about the pages flipping closed as they would with a regular cookbook.

However, cooks must be mindful not to damage their tablets with their messy hands. It is advised that a cook uses some sort of protective covering on his or her tablet to protect against splashes, spills and other mishaps that may ruin the device.