A well-equipped kitchen allows you to prepare meals and treats for the people you love. It also opens up a world of cuisines, ingredients, and cooking techniques you might have yet to try.
Choose tools for several jobs, such as a large sauce spoon that can flip meats, baste, and more. Or get a salad spinner to dry lettuce quicker than a colander.
Knives
There are sleek, trendy kitchen gadgets, but even novice cooks can get by with just a few standard go-to knives. These basic cooking utensils will help you chop, cut and mash every ingredient in your cupboard.
A chef’s knife (or a good quality nakiri knife) is the cornerstone of any kitchen, used for nearly all cutting, chopping, and slicing tasks. A bread knife is also essential for slicing, as its serrated blade is perfect for cutting up fresh loaves of hand-made bread.
A metal or wooden skewer helps hold meat and vegetables in place during grilling or broiling. A digital instant-read meat thermometer helps ensure that your dishes are cooked to the right temperature.
Measuring Cups
The essential kitchen tools and equipment for cooking are the ones that help you accurately measure your ingredients. This is especially critical for recipes that require precise measurements, such as baked goods or pasta sauce.
GoodCook measuring cups are made with premium materials and feature nested (graduated) scale markings in various capacities, including 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, pints, and 1 cup. They are also designed to be clear so the chef can see what they’re measuring at eye level.
For wet ingredients, opt for a measuring cup with a pouring spout. This makes transferring liquids from cup to pan so much easier.
Measuring Spoons
Many recipes require precise measurements of ingredients. A pinch of this and a dash of that will work for some dishes, but other recipes (especially baked goods) need accurate measurements to turn out right.
Invest in a set of measuring spoons that includes basic measures like one tablespoon, teaspoon, and half teaspoon. Then choose a durable, long-wearing stainless-steel set that’s easy to keep together, stackable, and read. Look for narrow sets to fit into spice jars and double as a mini spoon for scooping dried herbs and spices. This affordable kitchen essential will pay for itself in no time.
Bottle Opener
When guests are over, it’s always handy to have a bottle opener to quickly remove the caps of beer, wine, or soft drinks. These heavy-duty bottle openers grips and twist the cap to easily remove it from a beverage container.
Traditional simple bottle openers look like a small solid handle or circular or rectangular opening that you push upwards to remove the bottle caps. More modern options look more like a flip flop, house key, or ring and can also double as a corkscrew.
Many bottle openers mount to walls and can be mounted where you need them most for convenience, reducing clutter in drawers or kitchen cupboards. These versatile designs are angled precisely for optimal cap removal.
Salt and Pepper Grinder
Salt and pepper grinders are essential kitchen tools that make your cooking routine more efficient. They also allow you to add just the right amount of seasoning without guessing or measuring with your hands.