Whether you are setting up your kitchen for the first time or need to replace some worn-out items, keeping your kitchen stocked with the proper tools is the first step to a great meal. Investing in these kitchen tools will make cooking an enjoyable and easy activity that you’ll look forward to. Here are our must-have kitchen tools.
- Knives
Without a proper chef’s knife, food prep can be miserable. Those butcher blocks full of knives look nice on your counter, but you really only need three: a serrated knife, an 8- to 10-inch-long chef’s knife and a paring knife are good basics. Buy the best knives you can afford—they will last for many years.
- Knife Sharpener
Once you have the right knife, you’ll need to keep it sharp. (A dull knife is a danger to you and whatever food you’re chopping.) But there’s no need to go through the hassle of hiring a sharpening service or to spend big bucks on a fancy electric gadget. With both coarse and fine grits and slots for Western and Asian-style blades (which need to be sharpened differently), all of your knives will be covered.
- Cutting Board
Two cutting boards are ideal—one for raw proteins and one for cooked foods and produce—to avoid cross-contamination when cooking. For raw proteins, we prefer using dishwasher-safe plastic cutting boards. As for cooked foods and produce, either a plastic or wooden cutting board will work.
- Bowls
A set of 3 stainless steel mixing bowls that fit inside one another is a space saver. They are inexpensive, versatile, and will last a lifetime.
- Measuring Spoon and Cup
You will need one full set of measuring spoons and two sets of measuring cups. One set of cups should be for measuring liquids—these usually have handles and pour spouts—and one set, for measuring dry ingredients, that can be leveled off.
- Cookware
Nonstick skillets are great tools for beginner cooks, but remember never to use metal utensils on these pans—scratched surfaces negatively affect their nonstick surfaces. You’ll want both small and large nonstick skillets. You’ll also want small and large stainless-steel skillets, as well as small and large saucepans and a stockpot. A wok is a necessity for high-heat, quick-cooking dishes like stir-fries.
- Instant-Read Thermometer
Found in nearly every supermarket meat section or with other kitchen gadgets, an instant-read thermometer is essential for making sure meat and poultry are safely cooked and done to your preference.
- Utensils
Having a variety of utensils is helpful to make different recipes. If you like to cook, go-to utensils like a vegetable peeler, wooden spoons, a meat mallet, slotted spoon, tongs, a ladle, and nonstick spatulas are perfect. If you like to bake, a wire whisk and a rolling pin are especially useful.
- Colander
With colanders, we like ones that have feet and that can fit a lot of pasta. It’s also important to make sure it will fit in your sink!
- Bakeware
Whether you’re baking a cake or roasting a chicken, it’s important to have the right pans for your oven. Standard-size 9-by-13 baking pans and 8-inch-square glass baking dishes are useful for any meal, while specialty pans for pizza, roasting, and baking are also good to invest in.