Cooking is an art, and you most certainly need some tools to create this art. The tools required for cooking can potentially be endless. Everything related to the kitchen seems to have multiple versions. Different brands also compete and try to create a tool every other day. Nonetheless, some tools are essential for every cook and every kitchen.
Regardless of how often you use your kitchen and the kind of recipes you prepare when you’re in it, it’s essential for you to have the following kitchenware:
Must have tools for every kitchen
1. Knife
Knives are an essential tool for your cooking needs. If you don’t have a high-quality knife in your kitchen, it’ll be challenging for you to prepare simple meals or follow cooking guides from online sources, such as Foodshark.
But while choosing, swapping to a high-quality knife from a regular knife will create a massive difference in the flow of the work. A chef’s knife is used for all your cutting needs whenever you cook. So, using one high-quality knife will make your job easier and faster. Also, another great advantage is you can use it for numerous years, and since you are going to be using it a lot, it best to get a good one even if it costs a few extra bucks.
2. Blender
For smoothies, shakes, and salad dressings, you undoubtedly need a blender. And you might need different types as well. A blender is a versatile kitchenware that allows you to do many things with it. The kitchen blender is a must-have for almost every household. Among the different electronic blenders, Vitamix blenders are considered to be the most powerful and you don’t have to worry about burning the motor while using one of these bad boys. Handheld immersion blenders are also very useful due to their portability.
3. Spatula
Spatulas typically come in three types, which are spreaders, scrapers, and flippers. Each one has its specific advantages. You also have wooden spatulas, silicone spatulas, and steel spatulas to choose from as well.
Depending on the kind of cooking you do in your kitchen, you can choose to buy all of the different types of spatulas or choose two or three types. Spatulas are usually inexpensive, allowing you to buy several types without breaking the bank.
4. Box Grater
Multi-functionality at its finest. Whatever or whenever you need to shred something, you know what to use. Form any sort of root vegetables to hard-boiled eggs, spices, butter, and cheese you can use a box grater to get the perfect grating.
Compared to a traditional grater, a box grater is easier and more convenient to use. Because of its size, the box grater will also save you a lot of time and effort when grating ingredients.
5. Peeler
To make your work a little easier, having a peeler is a must-have item in your kitchen. You can use it to peel vegetables as well as some fruits. A peeler mainly lessens the time for cooking preparation and speeds up your work. There are different types of peelers such as Y- peeler, ring peeler, mechanic, and even electric.
6. Kitchen Shears
Not the most essentials of the tools needed, but a lovely edition to have. It makes your work easier and fun. This can make cutting freshly washed herbs, lettuce, and other green herbs way easier. Aside from cutting veggies, there are some multifunctional shears that help you open bottle caps and cracks nutshells.
Aside from making it easier for you to cut through different things and ingredients, having kitchen shears can also improve your safety when preparing meals in the kitchen. When you have one, you won’t have to manually open cans and get hurt from the sharp edges of cans.
7. Cutting board
For all your cutting needs, you undoubtedly need a cutting board. Cutting boards also keep your knife from getting dull. Though plastic boards are cheap and easy to clean, you really should go for the sturdy wooden ones. Aside from being more durable, wood also absorbs bacteria after proper cleaning and keeps it intact, stopping it from multiplying and eventually dying.
8. Rice cooker
Rice cookers are very easy to use. You just have to pour in the right amount of rice and water, plug it in, and voila! You have your steamy freshly cooked rice ready for you without much work. You can also keep the rice warm by just putting it in warm mode.
Contrary to popular belief, you can actually do a lot of things with your rice cooker aside from merely preparing rice. Today, you can maximize your rice cooker by preparing pancakes, steel-cut oatmeal, and even pasta in it.
9. Instant pot
It gives you the facilities of a pressure cooker and then some. Cooks your breakfast in minutes. Yogurt, mac and cheese, lasagna, it can make it all. Being multifunctional and user-friendly makes cooking way more comfortable.
You can also prepare several varieties of orange chicken, chicken teriyaki, and spaghetti using your instant pot. The internet is a goldmine of information for instant pot recipes, so make sure to use the platform when cooking with your instant pot.
10. Kettle
Kettles are mainly of two types. There are electric ones, and then there are stove kettles; both of these types also have variations. Electric kettles differ in technology and temperature capabilities, and the stove ones vary from stainless steel to cast iron and copper.
Kettles are essential for preparing hot drinks and soups. You can also use kettles to prepare boiled eggs, rice, and even potatoes.
11. Instant read thermometer
This does exactly as the name suggests. Reads the temperature and answers the ever-burning question, “Is it done yet?”
12. Can Opener
You need at least one, whether it be manual, electric, or old-fashioned, or how else are you going to open those cans so easily.
13. Bowls
Everyone uses bowls, and they come from different materials as well, like glass, ceramic, stoneware, fine china, and even bamboo. The choice of material is entirely up to the owner as most bowls are used for similar purposes. The price ranges because of the content. In the case of a mixing bowl, you will need a sturdy one, like steel.
14. Measuring Spoons and Cups
Every recipe in every cookbook will tell you to add a certain amount of ingredients by spoon or cup. So, yes, it is imperative and also seen in almost every household. Like every other item on the list, these also have variations, and they generally come in sets.
When buying measuring spoons and cups, consider the kind of ingredients you usually work with. You’ll need a different set of measuring spoons and cups when cooking with dry and wet ingredients.
15. Colander
Colanders are not only used to wash vegetables. You can rinse the rice and grains, and even drain and prepare pasta and noodles. The best colander to rinse your rice and grains is the one made out of fine mesh. A plastic colander is lightweight and cheap but is also less durable.
16. Pans and Pots
No need to even mention the usefulness of pans. But different types specialized for different needs. The most common one is a stainless steel skillet, which is generally used for your everyday frying, searing, and sautéeing. The most durable skillets are cast iron skillets. Then, you have your average saucepan for cooking soups and stews. Besides these, there are grill pans, baking sheet pans, muffin pans and many more. For multifunctional use, you can use a large stockpot.
17. Trash can
Not necessarily an item used for cooking, but after all the hard work and spending all that time cutting chopping peeling and preparing food, you definitely would want to dispose of the waste quickly. Trash cans also vary in price and usage. The most advanced and comparably costlier ones are automated ones.
Each of the items on the list has multiple versions and types. But keeping the types aside, these are the kinds of tools you will find and in every kitchen used by any cook.
