You will often hear people talking about how affordable cooking at home is when compared to eating out. But it is also just as important to have a well-stocked kitchen with essentials that make cooking at home both enjoyable and achievable.
Whether you are stocking your kitchen from scratch, or you want to minimize the clutter, here are a few of the important tools and cookware items that all home cooks need.
- Chef’s Knife
A good quality knife is every chef and cook’s best friend. This is one of those items that can make preparing meals much easier. Carbon-plated steel knives usually stay sharp for a long time, but we still suggest visiting one of the specialty stores to find one that matches up to your needs. When you choose a chef’s knife make sure it feels comfortable to handle. The knife should be easy to control and feel balanced when you are holding it in your hand.
- Cast-Iron Skillet
Made with heavy, thick sides and bottoms, cast-iron pans heat evenly to a high temperature while retaining heat for much longer when compared to other pots and pans. They also provide an attractive sear to scallops and steaks. You can also use them in the oven to prepare cobblers or a loaf of cornbread. They are also virtually indestructible and with the right care, they usually last a lifetime.
- Dutch Oven
A Dutch oven is another classic cast-iron essential. Invest in a 5 or 6 quart for a family, or choose a 7 or 8 quart if you enjoy entertaining. This pan can either be used on your stovetop or in the oven. This means you can sear and brown meat and then put the pot in your oven to cook stews for a few hours. Dutch ovens are also great for baking bread, especially if you like a crackly crust.
- Saucepans
A good-quality set of saucepans is another essential item for the home cook. Large saucepans are great for preparing pasta, boiling corn or potatoes, or simmering large batches of broths or soups. Medium and small saucepans are useful for smaller meals such as rice, oats, or to boil eggs.
- Nonstick Skillet
Lightweight, easy-to-clean nonstick pans and skillets are perfect for wilting greens or scrambling eggs. We suggest ceramic coatings since some nonstick cookware contains PFOAs, which are chemicals that can harm the environment and your health.
- Metal Spatula
A sturdy metal or premium-quality plastic spatula is all you will need to flip, serve, and toss all types of foods. Think about easy over eggs, roasted vegetables, baked salmon, omelette’s, pancakes, and more.
- Silicone Spatula
Silicone spatulas are vital to scrape batters or food from a mixing bowl or food processor, folding cream or egg whites into a batter, or swirl icing over a cake. A silicone spatula is much better than a rubber one since rubber can melt when exposed to high heat.
- Kitchen Shears
Super useful, super basic, a good pair of kitchen shears can be used for many things from opening packaging, trimming the fat from meat, or snipping herbs. Shears are also useful for cutting up whole chickens. Look for shears that are easy to dismantle for cleaning.
- Whisk
Metal whisks are available in all sizes and shapes. Choose a medium-sized one that feels comfortable to hold. Whisks are essential items to combine dry ingredients before baking, to emulsify vinaigrettes, or to whisk eggs for a cake or quiche.
- Prep Bowls
This may sound obvious, but it is vital to have different-sized mixing bowls. Invest in glass or metal bowls since these are less porous and more hygienic than plastic. They also won’t retain odors or stains. Large metal bowls are ideal for salads, or cake mixtures and batters. Smaller bowls usually hold 1 to 2 cups offering an easy way to stay organized while cooking.
- Immersion Blender
Once you try a good-quality immersion blender, you probably won’t go back to your standing blender. This is a handheld tool that makes it super simple to blend pestos, smoothies, and soups. They take up a lot less space and they are easier to use and handle.
