If you're on a budget and want to stock your kitchen, no problem! That's the precise reason for this list of kitchen must-haves - So a person doesn't have to spend more on useless pieces of equipment that will rarely be used. Only the absolutely necessary items will be discussed here.
1. Silverware: Also referred to as cutlery or utensils - These are the most basic and important tools for your home kitchen. Without them, a person can't even eat and enjoy the fruits of their labor cooking. Get yourself at least 4 each of forks, butter knives, soup spoons, tablespoons and teaspoons. It is optional to get 2 sizes of forks, the larger, longer tongs for a main meal, and shorter tongs for salads and desserts.
* Tip: A great thing about silverware is you can use it to actually cook with in a pinch. If you're using stainless steel pots and pans, you can use them to stir food, or flip items without worrying about scratching a Teflon or other non-stick surface.
2. Bowls: Of course, bowls are needed for cereal, soups, desserts and the like. So, be sure to include at least 4 bowls for these purposes that match. On top of that, bowls are needed for mixing, serving, and storing. In these cases, varying sizes from larger for making cookie dough or pie filling, down to smaller sizes for making the best vinaigrette dressing or slurry for a gravy.
* Tip: Invest in a set of mixing bowls, especially if space is an issue, because they all fit nicely together that will easily stow away in a cupboard or deep drawer. Usually, mixing bowls will come in sets of 3-5.
3. Frying Pan: A good quality frying pan is maybe the most important kitchen essential when it comes to cooking. With the ability to simply warm, sear, fry, saute, steam or boil food, a larger, deeper frying pan is more versatile.
Teflon and other variants of non-stick surfaces are available, but there's nothing like a stainless steel frying pan or a cast iron frying pan. Granted, a cast iron frying pan must be "seasoned" and treated in such a way that it lasts, so for a newbie in the kitchen, a stainless steel frying pan may be more effective and easy to use.
* Tip: If possible, a small frying pan is a great investment for the kitchen in addition to the larger one. It's less to clean and is great for people cooking only for themselves.
* Tip: Never use a Teflon or other non-stick coated frying pan that's scratched or chipping to cook with. Ingesting the particles that chip off into food being cooked in them is very dangerous to ingest! Throw it out and purchase a new one immediately.
4. Sauce Pots: Thicker gauge stainless steel pots are usually of a greater quality, but are often much more expensive. So, the budget being used to start this kitchen will determine the quality of pots acquired. Glass pots are a bit of a pain because they can break, are clunky and often get a hard water film on them making them look cloudy.
Pots often come in sets too, but if a decision needs to be made for the bare bones essentials, a small pot and a medium pot should be chosen.
5. Stock Pot: An important part of a family kitchen or college apartment kitchen alike. Not only can soups, stews and chilis be made, but boiling pasta, vegetables like corn-on-the-cob or items like shrimp make this stock pot a perfect addition. Also, desserts like Rice Krispie treats require a large pot of this magnitude.
6. Colander: These are used to drain pastas or boiled veggies like potatoes. However, they are also wonderful for cleaning fruits and vegetables when preparing them to eat fresh or to cook. The water and dirt flow through the holes leaving fresh, clean food.
* Tip: Lettuce or other veggies a little wilted or soft and a salad is supposed to be made for lunch or dinner? No problem! Simply place colander in the kitchen sink filled with very cold water. Allow the veggies to submerge in the water while the rest of the meal is being prepared, or for at least 10 minutes. Many vegetables with have absobed that water and will be ready to make a beautiful salad.
7. Wooden Spoon: Sure, plastic and metal cooking utensils are available and popular, but nothing can cook like wooden utensils. Wooden spoons and turners won't scratch non-stick surfaces, float if dropped into a pot of boiling water and are well, a classic and traditional piece in a kitchen.
Perfect for mixing, stirring soups and pastas and even for sauteing onions in a frying pan, these are the most versatile tools in the kitchen.
8. Spatula: Spatulas are mainly used to scrape bowls when mixing - used often in baking. However, there are high heat resistant spatulas now made of silicone based materials that work well for stirring and sauteeing food in the frying pan or using to check food in the oven.
9. Turner/Flipper: Whether turning pancakes, flipping burgers on the grill or perogies in a pan, a turner is essential too. Every kitchen should have a long-handled turner made of metal for the barbecue. For use in a frying pan, it depends upon what kind of frying pan that's used in the kitchen.
* Tip: Do not use a metal turner in a non-stick coated frying pan because the surface can be damaged.
This is a starter kitchen with all of the essential tools needed to start cooking and creating lasting memories for years to come.
There are a number of great kitchen product reviews out there, so be sure to do a little research on what you're interested in before you purchase.
Bon Appetit!
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