So I had a special request to do a post about kitchen essentials. I interpreted this as being about tools that I absolutely need (or totally enjoy having) in my kitchen. They range from things that you can use everyday to things you may use once every year.
Mark Bittman wrote a great article for the NY Times about this. His spin was outfitting a kitchen on the cheap. Definitely worth checking out. Next time I move there are a few things on the list that I need to buy.
Now for my picks…
Wooden Spoon — this is probably the most important kitchen tool. I use my wooden spoons for just about everything. I actually have two, one for sweet and one for savory. That way when I”m making cupcakes they don’t taste like shrimp.
Dutch Oven — I’m OBSESSED with dutch ovens. For the longest time I was coveting Le Creusets but couldn’t bring myself to buy one. Then I did some sleuthing and discovered that Target makes a dutch oven by Chefmate that Cooks Illustrated ranked as being as good as Le Creuset. Only difference, price. The Target oven was about $40 whereas Le Creuset is about $160. I bought the Target version and it has changed my life. It’s about 4.5-5 qt which is a great size for making soups or braising meat or making sauces. A few weeks ago I caved and bought the 3.5 qt Le Creuset from Williams Sonoma. This is the perfect size for making the No-Knead bread.
Tongs — Until fairly recently I doubted the power of the tongs. I always thought they were pretty useless. Until I started using them. They are an AMAZING thing to have around. Now you’re probably wondering what the heck do I need tongs for? Well… for flipping meat, for grabbing pasta, for grabbing things out of hot water in general etc. Seriously, by tongs and you’ll find about 50 things to use them for.
Candy Thermometer — Ok, this one isn’t such a staple if you don’t get too creative with your food. BUT if you ever have aspirations of making jam, ice cream, candy or deep frying it is SO essential. It takes the guesswork out of cooking and makes life a lot easier. Once I started using a thermometer to make jam it turned out SO much better. The bonus, candy thermometers can USUALLY be used as a deep frying thermometer.
Microplane — I love this tool. I bought it not too long ago. I had some left over cash on a William Sonoma gift card to spend. I didn’t want to get too involved and make a big purchase so it came down to a microplane OR a fancy pepper grinder. I clearly went for the microplane. I no longer by the preshredded Parmesan. I could spend hours grating citrus rind because it’s so easy. Don’t even get me started on the ease of grating ginger.
Whisk — Simple, I know. But it’s hard to recreate the magic of the whisk without a whisk. Scrambled eggs come out better. You need one when you’re making a sauce. Sure, sometimes you can use a hand mixer, sometimes you can use a fork but it doesn’t always work that way.
Can Opener — For some reason, growing up we didn’t have a can opener. How did we open cans you might be wondering? Well, my mom would get a large knife and cut the can open. This went on for YEARS for absolutely no reason. I don’t remember any slips or injuries with the big knife, but there could’ve been. Please, just buy the can opener.
Cuisinart Blender/ Food Processor — I bought this from a couple on Craigslist who were moving from NYC back to France. Pretty much brand new for MAYBE $25. A steal I tell you, a steal! I love that it does double duty. I love that it doesn’t take up that much space. I love that you can buy any parts that you may break on the website. I love that I can grate cheese in seconds and without taking off a knuckle.
Baking Dish — My 8 x 8 glass baking dish is my best friend. I can use it to make brownies. I can make a casserole. I can roast a piece of meat in it if it comes down to it. It’s a beautiful thing really. Just be careful about going from the fridge directly to the oven. Glass dishes have been known to explode. NOT GOOD.
Mixing Bowls — a few years ago I got a set of about 8 mixing bowls in varying sizes. One of the best gifts ever. I use my bowls for mixing (duh) but also for doing prep work or storing food for later or putting dough aside to rise. I had to give up my bowls when I moved back to Toronto but I definitely need to invest in another set.
The Best Of The Rest….
Measuring cups/spoons – I like recipes. I don’t always follow them, but I like them. Especially with baking, measuring is essential.
Spatula — totally necessary. Haven’t you ever had to flip something?
Knives — all you need are a chef’s knife and a paring knife. Maybe a bread knife if you buy or make whole loves.
Pots/ Pans — I have this set from Calphalon and it does an excellent job.
Cookie Sheet – not just for baking cookies!
Strainer — for washing veggies, draining pasta etc.
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I like to add to this list: parchment paper! Since I discovered this all goodness paper, I’ve been roasting vegetables more, baking more, roasting nuts, and doing all sorts of things that I would have found cumbersome before, simply because I had to worry about things sticking to the pan and me having to exercise muscle to scrub off residue.
Needless to say, I couldn’t live without parchment paper.
Hand blender. Mine has attachments that make it ultra useful. It is great to make smoothies or puréed soups. I have also used it to get tapenades to a good consistency and when I make my homemade veggie burgers. Awesome tool and so perfect for a small kitchen.
Porridge pot. Okay, it’s a Paderno 2-handle mini-casserole. Possibly a promotional item. It holds maybe a cup or two at the most, has super even heating with it’s aluminium base and stainless-steel body, and it has a lid. It makes the best porridge in winter and you can take it from the oven and put it on a hotplate and get to work eating without the worry of a bowl. I love that thing.
Tea cup. A tea cup is a measuring cup when you feel like measuring. It is also a ladle. It is also an ashtray. It is where you pour off the grease before deciding if you’ll use it or throw it or give it to the stray cats. It is a planter for pet aloes (to sooth the burns you get in the kitchen). It is of many uses. I always have a few too many tea cups, many missing handles. The handless ones are the most loved.
Loaf pans x 2. Banana bread. Kinda important food group, kinda important item.
Soup pot! I like to make giant batches of soup and freeze them. It’s a staple of mine so a giant pot (or two) is something I can’t live without.
Emile Henry mixing bowls. I had a matching set of 3 and a pie plate too (W-S discontinued colour I got with company discount way back), but the largest bowl met a roommate and the pie plate sat on my freezer until I opened the door and it fell… I love these though and recommend them because they are perfect at holding heat and distributing it evenly. They are my bread rising bowls and they’re oven safe, so you can put extra cinnamon rolls into the mixing bowls and cook them in that too (or the milk brioches I used to make in my wheaty days and for milk based breads, they cook far more evenly than glass).
Corkscrew. Have you ever tried putting a screw into a cork and then using pliers to take it out? It’s just not classy. And not portable either.
Sugar spoons. Everything tastes better with tiny teaspoons to stir and eat with. Like yoghurt. I bow to aesthetics on occasion.
I went for years without a strainer: just used a pot lid and never bought spaghetti. If you ever find rice farfalle, you let me know.
Wooden spoons: I have never understood those either. I think my mom abhorred them or something.
I have a few other things I use of course, but just listed the ones that pop out the most at the moment.
I like the difference in our lists: it makes me smile.
–>Do you think people cook how they live?