Having essential cooking tools in your home will make your life so much easier. You don't need to buy every trendy, glamorous, and exciting new appliance to cook. The most basic and simple tools are all you need to start preparing your favorite meals. Read through the following basic kitchen essentials to start cooking just about anything without spending a fortune to fill your cupboards with appliances you will barely use.
1. Non-stick frying pan
Every household needs a non-stick pan to take their breakfast to the next level. It is also a super versatile pan that can be used for searing meats, sautéing vegetables, and making sauces.
2. Saucepan
When cooking using liquids such as boiling pasta, vegetables, or simmering, the perfect cookware to use is a saucepan. A 4-quart saucepan is easy to move around, to handle, and it is great whether you are cooking for yourself or preparing family meals.
3. Sheet pan
Give your pans a lot of action by roasting vegetables, baking meats, toasting nuts, and of course, baking cookies. These sheet pans also make for an easy clean up on days you don't feel like being on your feet for too long.
4. Glass baking dish
Glass baking dishes are perfect for baking things like casseroles and enchiladas in the oven. It is the best utensil in your cupboard when you want to cook your vegetables and your stove and oven are occupied. These dishes are microwave safe, easy to use, and easy to wash. These are great options to be used if you are looking to replace non-stick bakeware.
5. Knives
There's no kitchen without a knife. You're going to be using a knife for almost anything and everything. If you're on a tight budget that restricts you from buying different knives and you do not have enough space in your cupboard, get a chef's knife. You will use it most of the time during your cooking period. Apart from the chef's knife that can help you in your cooking preparations, it's better to get a serrated knife and a paring knife for their different roles and usage. Serrated knives let you slice through tomatoes and bread with ease, and paring knives are great for smaller, more delicate jobs when a big knife just doesn't cut it. Cheap steel will cut through almost anything.
6. Wooden spoons
Wooden spoons are not abrasive on your cooking surfaces and they will last longer if not forever. Avoid putting wooden spoons in the dishwasher. For variety purposes, choose a set with a variety of wooden spoons. You can use it for different kinds of cooking.
7. Peeler
When setting up your kitchen with essentials, make sure you have a good, sharp peeler. It should be able to remove the peels of vegetables, fruits, and shave off cheese.
8. Cutting board
To help you prep various ingredients and prevent cross-contamination, a gripping cutting board will protect your fingers during all your cooking. Two cutting boards are ideal: one for raw proteins and one for cooked foods and produce, to avoid cross-contamination during food preps. A plastic cutting board can be placed in the dishwasher for full disinfecting. For raw proteins, use a dishwasher-safe plastic cutting board.
9. Can opener
A can opener is something you do not want to forget. Canned beans and vegetables make for quick cooking and are great pantry staples, but a bunch of things also come in cans that require a can opener, such as coconut milk, curry paste, fruits, crushed tomatoes, etc.
10. Colander
Every kitchen needs a colander for draining out boiled pasta and vegetables. A colander can also be used to drain canned beans and to wash vegetables.
11. Bowls
A set of stainless steel mixing bowls that fit inside one another can save you space in the cupboard. Bowls are inexpensive, versatile, and will last a lifetime.
12. Blender
Having a blender on hand is great for making smoothies or salad dressings. Use this kitchen appliance to make sauces, dips, spreads, soup, beverages, desserts, and burgers. Depending on your needs and budget, you can choose between a high-speed blender and a standard one.