I have been asked this question time and time again, so I thought it would make sense to address this question early on. Keep in mind that you will always be adding to your kitchen equipment and tools…either through your own purchases of things that suit your taste or from gifts you'll receive from relatives or friends. Heck, you may even win a great set of fancy cookware!
I’m not going to get into all the manufacturer stuff of who makes the best set of this or that. I can't help you spend your hard earned money on things that may be right for me, but awful for you. When you shop for these things, there will usually be a salesperson that will guide you through making the best purchases for your budget. All I’ll do is share some ideas for some basic starter equipment that will get you going (if you haven't already). I may even include some things that you'll add to your wishlist.
I’m not going to get into all the manufacturer stuff of who makes the best set of this or that. I can't help you spend your hard earned money on things that may be right for me, but awful for you. When you shop for these things, there will usually be a salesperson that will guide you through making the best purchases for your budget. All I’ll do is share some ideas for some basic starter equipment that will get you going (if you haven't already). I may even include some things that you'll add to your wishlist.
And if you’re looking for ideas to make your kitchen perfect and complete, I can’t help you there either. Why? Because I am what is known as “The Gadget Queen.” I absolutely love all of those nifty gadgets that do all types of cute stuff. And as long as there are inventors and as long as I’m able to cook, I’ll always need that “one more” gadget to make my kitchen perfect and complete!
So here we go.
COOKWARE (shouldn’t be too heavy, but heavy enough to endure high heat without burning the contents within the first 10 minutes…I’ve used my share of the lighter weight cookware and have found that it was always a bad investment)
Roasting Pan (with a rack and cover)
1.5-Qt Saucepan (with lid)
So here we go.
COOKWARE (shouldn’t be too heavy, but heavy enough to endure high heat without burning the contents within the first 10 minutes…I’ve used my share of the lighter weight cookware and have found that it was always a bad investment)
Roasting Pan (with a rack and cover)
1.5-Qt Saucepan (with lid)
2.5-Qt Saucepan (with lid)
3-Qt Saute' Pan (with lid)
4-Qt Stockpot (with lid)
8-Qt Stockpot (with lid)
12-Qt Stockpot (with lid)
4-Qt Stockpot (with lid)
8-Qt Stockpot (with lid)
12-Qt Stockpot (with lid)
12-Qt Multi-Cooker (great for pasta or steaming veggies)
Double Boiler (especially nice for melting chocolate)
8” Omelette Pan (nonstick)
10” Omelette Pan (nonstick)
10” Skillet (nonstick)
12” Skillet (nonstick)
Cast Iron Skillet (in as many different sizes as you can find at garage sales…make sure that they’ve been well-seasoned)
BAKEWARE
9” or 10” Nonstick Round Cake Pans (at least two)
9” or 10” Nonstick Springform Pan
9”x13” Nonstick Cake Pan
Heart-Shaped Cake Pans (1 or 2)
10” Nonstick Bundt Pan
Nonstick Mini Bundt (makes 6 or 12 cakes/muffins)
Nonstick Muffin Pan
10” Nonstick Bundt Pan
Nonstick Mini Bundt (makes 6 or 12 cakes/muffins)
Nonstick Muffin Pan
Nonstick Mini Muffin Pan (makes 12 or 24 cakes/muffins)
Heart-Shaped Mini Bundt Pan (makes 6 or 12 cakes/muffins)
Nonstick Jelly Roll Pan
Nonstick Jelly Roll Pan
Ringmold
9”x9” Square Nonstick Brownie Pan
9” or 10” Tube Pan (usually for pound cake or angel cake)
Cookie Sheets (the larger the better...you can get away with 2 but if you like to bake cookies, you’ll do well with 6)
13”x9” Lasagna Pan
Nonstick Loaf Pan (for meatloaf, bread, desserts, etc)
9”x9” Square Nonstick Brownie Pan
9” or 10” Tube Pan (usually for pound cake or angel cake)
Cookie Sheets (the larger the better...you can get away with 2 but if you like to bake cookies, you’ll do well with 6)
13”x9” Lasagna Pan
Nonstick Loaf Pan (for meatloaf, bread, desserts, etc)
Mini Loaf Pan (makes 4 or 6 loaves)
Mini Springform Pans (about 4.5" diameter)
KNIVES (invest in quality knives and you’ll never regret it)
3” Paring Knife
6” Utility Knife
8” Chef’s Knife
8” Serrated Bread Knife (also great for tomatoes)
Kitchen Shears
Sharpening Steel
CERAMIC BAKEWARE
9.5” or 11.5” Oval Dish
8”x12” or 9”x13” Rectangular Dish
Round Casserole Dishes (usually come in a set and have lids)
Single Serve dishes (usually come in a set of 6)
9” or 10” Pie Dishes
Mini Tartlette Dishes
SMALL APPLIANCES
Coffee Grinder (grinds fresh, whole dry spices wonderfully)
Standing Mixer
Hand Mixer
Food Processor
Immersion Blender
Bar Blender
GADGETS & TOOLS (forgive me in this section!)
Cookie Cutters
Cookie Press (comes with great decorating/design tips and pastry bags)
Silpat Nonstick Liners/Baking Mats (parchment paper will do just fine)
Trivets
KNIVES (invest in quality knives and you’ll never regret it)
3” Paring Knife
6” Utility Knife
8” Chef’s Knife
8” Serrated Bread Knife (also great for tomatoes)
Kitchen Shears
Sharpening Steel
CERAMIC BAKEWARE
9.5” or 11.5” Oval Dish
8”x12” or 9”x13” Rectangular Dish
Round Casserole Dishes (usually come in a set and have lids)
Single Serve dishes (usually come in a set of 6)
9” or 10” Pie Dishes
Mini Tartlette Dishes
SMALL APPLIANCES
Coffee Grinder (grinds fresh, whole dry spices wonderfully)
Standing Mixer
Hand Mixer
Food Processor
Immersion Blender
Bar Blender
GADGETS & TOOLS (forgive me in this section!)
Cookie Cutters
Cookie Press (comes with great decorating/design tips and pastry bags)
Silpat Nonstick Liners/Baking Mats (parchment paper will do just fine)
Trivets
Cooking Twine
Bamboo Skewers
All-Purpose Shaker (especially nice for sprinkling powdered sugar)
Mortar & Pestle (for crushing peppercorns, fennel, etc)
Julienne Peeler
Measurement Magnet
Non-skid Cooking Mats
Pie Wedge Server (great for getting the slice of pie out with crust)
Whisks (Regular & Mini)
Whisks (Regular & Mini)
Biscuit Cutters
Jello Molds
Heart-Shaped Pancake/Egg Molds (or fun shapes for the kids)
Tortilla Warmer/Steamer
Extra Spice Jars
Timer
Box Grater
Timer
Box Grater
Pastry Blender
Dough Scraper/Cutter
Microplane
Cheese Slicer
Mandoline Slicer
Vegetable Brushes
Mini Processor (for nuts and herbs)
Pepper Mill
Ladles
Potato Masher
Cherry/Olive Pitter (everyone has to have one of these)
Zester
Swivel Blade Peeler
Spatulas
Skimmer
Microplane
Cheese Slicer
Mandoline Slicer
Vegetable Brushes
Mini Processor (for nuts and herbs)
Pepper Mill
Ladles
Potato Masher
Cherry/Olive Pitter (everyone has to have one of these)
Zester
Swivel Blade Peeler
Spatulas
Skimmer
Pastry Crimper
Wooden or Nonstick Utensil Set
Salad Spinner
Rolling Pin
Baster
Egg Slicer
Measuring Cups & Spoons
Glass Measuring Cup (at least 4 cup volume)
Cutting Boards
Wooden Lemon Reamer
Ceramic Mixing Bowls (sometimes they come in a set and have covers)
Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls
Strainer
Colander
Tongs (9” and 12”)
Instant-Read Meat Thermometer
Funnel
Dumpling Press (for appetizers, hors d'ouevres, ravioli and pastries)
Turkey Baster and Injector
Silicone Basting Brushes
Meat Pounder/Tenderizer
Adjust-A-Cup Measuring Cup (this is great for measuring honey, peanut butter, syrup & shortening)
Tupperware
Apple Corer
Melon Baller
Flour Sifter
Potholders
Pastry Brush
Cookie Cooling Racks
Cookie Scoops (actually they’re ice cream scoops but work great for cookies, meatballs or anything you’d like to be uniform in size)
The End (for now)
Now, I can almost hear your screams fighting to get out…”I can’t wait to tell her a thing or two! Who can afford all this?! She won’t be a smiling chef if I can help it! I’m going to wipe that smile right off of her face right now! Let me get these fingers working!”
Whoa! Calm down. This is only a list of stuff that I have accumulated over the years and have found to be useful in my preparations. The key word is “useful.” I didn’t say “necessary.” I didn’t run out to the fancy kitchen utensil store and purchase these things in one fell swoop! I just wanted to share with you items that you may happen to see one day when you’re at the dollar store or passing through Wal-Mart. You’ll be able to remember it, take a look at it and see if it’s a tool that just might be “useful” to you.
So until next time…
Wooden or Nonstick Utensil Set
Salad Spinner
Rolling Pin
Baster
Egg Slicer
Measuring Cups & Spoons
Glass Measuring Cup (at least 4 cup volume)
Cutting Boards
Wooden Lemon Reamer
Ceramic Mixing Bowls (sometimes they come in a set and have covers)
Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls
Strainer
Colander
Tongs (9” and 12”)
Instant-Read Meat Thermometer
Funnel
Dumpling Press (for appetizers, hors d'ouevres, ravioli and pastries)
Turkey Baster and Injector
Silicone Basting Brushes
Meat Pounder/Tenderizer
Adjust-A-Cup Measuring Cup (this is great for measuring honey, peanut butter, syrup & shortening)
Tupperware
Apple Corer
Melon Baller
Flour Sifter
Potholders
Pastry Brush
Cookie Cooling Racks
Cookie Scoops (actually they’re ice cream scoops but work great for cookies, meatballs or anything you’d like to be uniform in size)
The End (for now)
Now, I can almost hear your screams fighting to get out…”I can’t wait to tell her a thing or two! Who can afford all this?! She won’t be a smiling chef if I can help it! I’m going to wipe that smile right off of her face right now! Let me get these fingers working!”
Whoa! Calm down. This is only a list of stuff that I have accumulated over the years and have found to be useful in my preparations. The key word is “useful.” I didn’t say “necessary.” I didn’t run out to the fancy kitchen utensil store and purchase these things in one fell swoop! I just wanted to share with you items that you may happen to see one day when you’re at the dollar store or passing through Wal-Mart. You’ll be able to remember it, take a look at it and see if it’s a tool that just might be “useful” to you.
So until next time…
Always Enjoy!
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