Whether you’re a complete foodie or you like to whip up something tasty at home for your family, there are certain kitchen essentials that everyone should have around.
You might be wondering what the kitchen really needs and how to make sure it’s up to par. Well, if you’re a beginner at cooking, you should start by stocking your kitchen with the essentials. These items are vital because they allow you to cook delicious, healthy meals without spending a fortune.
Here are some of my favorite kitchen equipment that I always keep around. This kitchen accessories checklist can help you decide what you’re missing from your kitchen and what you need to improve it. So, let’s get started!
12 Basic Kitchen Tools Every Cook Wants
- Chef Knives
- Cutting Boards
- Cookware
- Instant-Read Thermometer
- Silicone Spatula
- Tongs
- Dutch Oven
- Immersion Blender
- Measuring Spoons & Cups
- Prep Bowls
Let’s discuss these essential tools in a bit of detail that you must have in your kitchen
1. Knives
A chef’s knife is the culinarian best chum; that’s why help yourself to choose a knife that you can use easily. It should be balanced in your hands, easy to hold and operate, and not too heavy and flimsy. Carbon-coated stainless steel will remain sharp over time, but you should contact a specialty store to find the best for you.
Without a proper chef’s knife, food preparation can be bleak. So go for an 8-inch chef’s knife to fulfill your kitchen need. From several knife types, such as utility knives, bread knives, paring knives, steak Knives from Amushome, etc., choose what type you need the most and help you cut smoothly.
2. Cutting Boards
A sturdy and stable surface is essential when cooking food. A wooden chopping board prevents the knife from becoming dull quickly and makes cleaning easier.
Two chopping boards are ideal to avoid mutual contamination during cooking. I recommend a safe plastic cutting board in a dishwasher with a non-slip grip for raw protein. For cooked foods and products, plastic or wooden chopping boards are suitable.
3. Cookware
Cookwares are essential for quick and hot dishes like stir fry. Most chefs prefer this large carbon steel model with a flat base and long wooden handles to protect their hands when cooking at high heat.
You may need both small and large non-stick pans, stainless steel pots, saucepans, and pots for your kitchen to make your life easier. Non-stick cookware is an excellent tool for novice cooks, but you must avoid using metal tools in these pots. Scratches on the surface adversely affect the non-stick coating.
4. Instant-Read Thermometer
An instant-read thermometer is a vital tool for every kitchen as it helps check easily and quickly if the meat is cooked well and guides on safe cooking temperatures for food.
Instant reading thermometers are excellent for almost every meat and are readily available in the supermarket to make your meat-making journey easier.
5. Silicone Spatula
A silicone Spatula is one of the high-quality products to cook as it does not get melted at high temperatures. This is essential for scraping the sides of a food processor or mixing a bowl, swirling icing over a cake, or lifting egg whites under a cake dough.
Ensure the spatula is silicone, not rubber; otherwise, it may melt at high heat. If you use garlic to make many things, you may need another spatula just to bake the sweets because the smell of garlic doesn’t go from a silicon spatula.
6. Tongs
Metal tongs are inexpensive and will last a lifetime for you. Chefs are constantly finding new uses for tongs, such as spinning chicken breasts in a pan or putting them in the oven to check the roast. It’s also great for serving family-style dinners.
7. Dutch Oven
If you are cooking for a small crew, look for 5 or 6 liters, or grow up with 7 or 8 liters to feed the crowd, the dutch oven stands as an excellent option for you. This pan can be placed on the oven or stove, so you can burn the meat and then slowly cook the stew in a low oven for several hours.
It’s like the original slow cooker, and you can also use a Dutch oven instead of the large saucepan above. The Dutch oven is also a great choice for baking bread with super crispy skins.
It’s no wonder that Dutch ovens are considered one of the best kitchen products.
8. Immersion Blender
An immersion blender is a handheld device, so by using it, you can easily blend soups, smoothies, and pesto at the push of a button. It’s easier to manage and occupies much less space than a traditional blender. After buying the hand blender, I said goodbye to the stand mixer.
9. Measuring Spoons & Cups
If you want to prepare fresh and delicious food with an authentic taste, you just need complete measuring spoons and two sets of measuring cups. Here measuring tools become necessary for perfect cooking equipment.
There should be one set of cups for measuring liquids and another set for leveling dry ingredients. Adding these measuring tools to your kitchen will help you make perfectly-tasted dishes.
10. Mixing Bowls
Having a variety of mixing bowls in your kitchen is vital. Try to buy metal and glass as they are less porous than plastic and do not pick up dirt or odors. My small bowl holds 1-2 cups and is a great way to practice meals in the kitchen and keep them very organized during cooking.
11. Cast Iron Skillets
Cast Iron skillets are the perfect kitchen tool that is inexpensive, easy to use, can withstand heat and wear and tear, and adds a rustic look to your kitchen.
I remember being so excited to receive my first cast iron skillet as a gift when I was younger; I was sure it was the best present ever.
I use mine daily. It’s very versatile, and I use it for cooking for dinner, making pancakes and waffles, fry eggs, cooking bacon, making french toast, and baking cookies and cakes. This is the only pan that I use in my kitchen. It has a lot of value. It is durable and makes me feel good to use it.
12. Food Storage Containers
Food Storage Containers For Kitchen is a good source to store your food items at home. These containers are very helpful to keep your food items safe and clean. There are many available food storage containers for the kitchen and are suitable for storing various foods like rice, pasta, grains, pulses, flour, etc.
They can also be used for keeping various spices, sauces, vegetables, and other dry goods.
Wind Up
There is a growing demand for kitchen accessories that can really improve your cooking experience. So, before you even think about buying any new kitchen tools, make sure you opt for the right one.
I recommend you keep a list of essential kitchen accessories with you; it will save you a lot of trouble and take your cooking skills to the next level.
If you have further questions, please let us know in the comment box.
