Pantry Basics

A Well-Equipped Kitchen Makes Cooking a Breeze
March 16, 2012 • Posted by Jean at Delightful Repast

Whether you're just starting to equip your first kitchen or you've been cooking for a long time and feeling frustrated at not having just the right tool for every task, a list can be helpful. Think about the foods you usually cook and the recipes you would like to add to your repertoire, and make note of the equipment needed.

The less time you have for cooking—and the less you enjoy cooking—the more you need a well-equipped kitchen. It's hard to be enthusiastic about cooking when each attempt is complicated by not having the right tools. You won’t need everything on this list, but it will give you a starting point.

Knives and Cutting

  • 8- or 10-inch chef's knife
  • paring knife
  • bread/serrated slicer
  • dishwasher-safe cutting boards (a separate one for meat)
  • a sharpener and a steel

Measuring Cups and Spoons

  • two sets of metal or plastic measuring cups and spoons
  • 2-cup/4-cup/8-cup glass measuring cups with spout

Spoons and Spatulas

  • slotted spoon
  • wooden spoons
  • sturdy metal or nylon spoons
  • soup ladle
  • tongs
  • turners
  • rubber spatula

Mixing Utensils

  • electric hand mixer
  • wire whisks in different sizes
  • small/medium/large mixing bowls

Sieves and Colanders

  • small/medium/large stainless steel sieves
  • stainless steel colander

Pots and Pans

  • small/medium/large saucepans with lids
  • 5- or 5.5-quart enameled cast-iron Dutch oven
  • 7- or 8-quart stockpot with pasta insert
  • 12-inch flare-sided (or 10-inch straight-sided) skillet with lid
  • 12-inch straight-sided skillet with lid
  • 6- or 8-inch nonstick skillet
  • 16x13x4-inch roasting pan with rack
  • 18x13x1-inch half-sheet pan
  • two 8- or 9-inch round cake pans
  • 8- or 9-inch square baking dish
  • 13x9x2-inch baking dish
  • two loaf pans
  • two 9-inch glass pie plates
  • two 12-cup standard muffin/cupcake tins
  • two wire cooling racks
  • two cookie sheets (one can be the half-sheet pan)

Miscellaneous

  • swivel-bladed vegetable peeler
  • salad spinner
  • potato masher
  • grater(s) with various sized holes
  • rolling pin
  • smooth-edge manual can opener
  • kitchen timer
  • kitchen shears
  • corkscrew
  • instant-read thermometer
  • tea kettle and teapot
  • food processor
  • toaster
  • waffle maker
  • glass freezer containers
  • dozen (at least) dish towels

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Comments

Add New Comment | Blog Comments (1):

March 27, 2012 10:18 AM Ronnie B
A well-equipped kitchen should include equiptment that should work properly for a sufficient ammount of time for the price.
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