The start of the pandemic and lockdowns have spurred a large rise in home cooking over the past few years. Many consumers have found that they love cooking delicious meals at home and others have struggled with the adjustment.
You must have the right kitchen essentials to become the best home cook possible. Does your residential kitchen lack the tools to take your meals to the next level?
The following guide will explore the best kitchen cookware and tools you need to bring out your inner chef.
Quality Knives and Cutting Board
You’ll be using knives frequently if you plan to prep and cook at home often. So, a quality chef’s knife is a smart investment for spring home cooks. Check out Messermeister knives for examples of different chef kife options.
Consider purchasing a serrated knife and a paring knife in addition to your chef’s knife. Serrated knives allow cooks to easily cut through things like tomatoes and bread. Paring knives work better than a chef’s knife for smaller, more fragile cooking tasks.
Just like your knife, you’ll also use a cutting board for almost every meal. Choose a board that’s long-lasting, well designed, dishwasher safe, and odor resistant.
Essential Cookware
A good non-stick pan is a must-have item for any kitchen. You’ll use this pan to make everything from pancakes and eggs for breakfast to seared meats, sauteed vegetables, and sauces for dinner. Consider a two-piece set to cook two things at once.
Next, purchase a saucepan to cook with liquids, boil pasta and vegetables, and simmer different sauces. 4-quart saucepans are a good size when cooking for between 1 and 4 people.
Make sure to buy a few sheet pans for things like roasted vegetables, cooking meats, and general baking. It’s also easy to clean sheet pans after cooking your dinner.
Have a few large glass baking dishes for cooking meals in the oven like casseroles and enchiladas. They’re also microwave safe, so also get smaller sizes around 8 inches for tasks like pre-cook vegetables.
Essential Utensils
Buy a set of measuring spoons for recipes that require specific measurements. you can also use them to scoop different herbs and herbs and spices.
Measuring cups get used often for everyday cooking and they’re crucial for baking. Consider getting separate measuring cups for liquids and dry ingredients to make cooking easier.
Wooden spoons won’t damage cooking surfaces because they’re not abrasive and they’re also durable. Buy a wooden spoon set that has a mixture of spoon types for different situations. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t put wooden utensils in the dishwasher.
Have a whisk on hand to mix and emulsify ingredients such as vinegar and oils. Also, keep tongs in your kitchen to flip big pieces of meat or move ingredients inside your frying pan.
Selecting Kitchen Essentials
Now you know several kitchen essentials you must have on hand for everyday cooking. Start with a quality knife and cutting board to make prepping a breeze. Then, purchase the most necessary cookware and untensils to round out your cooking tools.
Check out our health and fitness category for more fantastic cooking tips to up your chef game.
