I can still remember when I first moved away from the family
home, and my Mother's great home cooking, into my first apartment. First there
was the joy and excitement of being on my own followed quickly by the stark
realization that I was on my own and had to feed myself. Delicious meals no
longer appeared on the table as if by magic.
Mom had equiped me with a few basics like a frying pan, some
dinnerware and flatware and my first cookbook, but my early attempts at
preparing dinners quickly brought me to the realization that I needed a lot more
equipment in my kitchen. Each new recipe required another trip to the local
kitchen store for some new pot or kitchen gadget.
Are you now in the same situation I was so many years ago and
just starting out on your own. Or are you the proud parent of a son or daughter
who is leaving the family nest for the first time. Wondering what you need to
start off with in your, or their, new kitchen. Following is a list of the
essentials every kitchen should have.
- Barest Essentials
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- Knives
- ------ -
- -Chef's knife, 10 inches (25cm), wide, weigthy blade for chopping or
slicing. A versatile tool it's not called a Chef's knife for nothing.
- - Serrated knife, 8 inch (20cm), for slicing bread and tomatoes. Worth the
investment.
- - Carving knife, 10 inch (25cm), with a long, thin, flexible blade for
accurate carving.
- - Paring knife, 3-4 inch (7.5-10cm)
-
- Pots and Pans
- ------------- -
- -Skillet, 10 inch (25cm), with a long handle and sloping sides
- - Saucepans, 4 cup (1 L) and 6 cup (1.5 L), with tight fitting lids
- - Saute pan, 10 inch (25cm), straight sided, heavy-bottomed pan about 2 ½
to 3 inches deep
- - Appliances
- - Blender, inexpensive, purees everything from milkshakes to soup
- - Electric mixer, heavy duty
-
- Kitchenware
- ----------- -
- -Colander, for draining and straining
- - Corkscrew
- - Cutting board, hardwood maple is best but plastic ones will do. Best to
get one board for meats and another for fruit and vegetables, otherwise
always be careful to use one side for meats and the other for fruits and
vegatables.
- - Grater
- - Rasp, metal carpenter's tool for finer grating and zesting
- - Turner or flipper, metal or coated, solid or slotted
- - Measuring spoons
- - Measuring cups for dry ingredients
- - Measuring cups for liquids
- - Mixing bowls, glass, small, medium and large
- - Pepper mill
- - Spatulas, rubber and heat resistant, small and large
- - Spoons, wooden, for mixing and stirring
- - Spoons, metal, slotted and plain, for stirring and serving
- - Whisks, small, medium and balloon, for sauces, beating eggs, whipping
cream
- - Can opener
- - Roasting Thermometer
- - Baking tray
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- Cleanup & storage
- ----------------- -
- - Plastic containers with lids for storing leftovers
- - Aluminum foil - Plastic wrap
- - Waxed paper
Start with this list and you will be well on your way to a
well-equipped kitchen. Just tick off what you already have, print the list and
take it with you shopping.
The old adage " quality pays for itself" really applies when it
comes to equipping your kitchen so buy the best you can afford. In future
articles we'll explore more fully what and how to buy the best quality for a
price that fits your budget.
In the meantime, I strongly suggest that you find a good,
reputable kitchen store nearby. Preferably one that sells wholesale and retail,
a place where both professionals and amateurs can shop and especially one that
has a reputation for knowledgeable staff. Start to build a relationship with
that store now and they will guide you in the proper selection of pots and pans
and kitchenware that fit your budget and cooking requirements.