Lately it seems that the kitchen industry has come up with just about every single-use gadget for just about everything in the kitchen, but everyone starts somewhere and needs the kitchen essentials. After a while all these gizmos can start to add up and not get much use. If you are looking to set up a kitchen from scratch or going through a much-needed arsenal refresh here is what you actually need for everyday cooking. The most important quality for your kitchen essentials is versatility. Below are my current kitchen essentials and what I believe every home chef absolutely needs.
Chef’s Knife
This should be the number one kitchen essential item on your list. It is going to be near impossible to do any sort of even decent cooking without a proper chef’s knife. This will be used for chopping, slicing, and dicing a wide range of ingredients, such as vegetables, meats and herbs. The price range can vary based on quality and can run you anywhere from under a hundred dollars to multiple hundreds. I will say you should look at this as an investment because the higher quality knifes will last you for decades if taken care of properly.
Cutting Board
A good cutting board will not only help with the longevity of your knife and countertops but also food safety. If you are a meat eater you will want to invest in two cutting boards one for meat and one for all other items. There are many different options when it comes to which type of cutting board to get. Personally, I opt for one sturdy plastic cutting board that can go into the dishwasher for meat. For the second one I prefer to have heavy wood cutting board, but keep in mind it takes a little more maintenance to keep a wood cutting board.
Pots and Pans
Having a variety of pots and pans in different sizes is essential for boiling, frying, sautéing and much more. I prefer non-stick pans and pots or stainless/carbon steel, but it is a lot easier for food to stick.
Measuring Cups and Spoons
Accurate measurements are vital for consistent cooking results especially when it comes to baking. I would start out with a set of dry measuring cups, measuring spoons and a liquid measuring cup.
Tongs
Perfect for flipping meats, tossing salads, and serving. I prefer the tongs without the plastic end mainly for sanitary reasons and I feel like those pesky plastic tips always either fall off, melt, or chip.
Baking Sheets
These will last you forever, I currently still have some that are hand me downs from my grandma. You can get these in sets of 3 or just one that is big enough to bake cookies or roast veggies.
Instant Read Thermometer
Absolutely essential for meat eaters. Important for food safety and to prevent from having meat that is dry as a bone. I prefer an instant read especially when reaching into a hot oven or grill to prevent burning my hand.
Spatulas
These are versatile tools for flipping, stirring and scraping the sides of bowls. I recommend a variety of heat resistant spatulas such as a silicone or rubber tipped spatula, and a offset spatula for flipping and grilling.
Mixing bowls
I use these on almost a daily basis. There is a bowl size that can be used for basically anything in the kitchen, plus they stack up very nicely and to save plenty of space. Personally, I prefer stainless steel mixing bowls over plastic or glass because of its durability. However, my second option would be glass because of the visibility through the bowl to see if everything is mixed.
Kitchen Shears
A super basic tool but useful in a multitude of ways from opening packages to trimming meats to cutting herbs. They are also useful to save your knife from chips when cutting up a whole chicken… learned this from experience.
