There are a lot of tools and gadgets that can be found in a kitchen. Additionally, you can ask anyone if there are things in the kitchen that they never use and there will be plenty. The following are must have items any person needs in a kitchen. I will also include links to items that I have purchased. For the ones that do not include a direct link, just know that you don’t have to break the bank on buying it.
- Chef’s Knife
- You will be slicing and dicing so much. It is okay to splurge just a bit on a good knife. It will be something used with almost every recipe.
- My first chef’s knife was the 8″ Classic Japanese Chef’s Knife from Global. It’s still my go to.
- Steel mixing bowls
- A set of steel mixing bowls are handy for when baking or even just putting a bunch of sliced veggies or cut proteins in to use later.
- Another handy use is as a small scraps and trash container to have on the counter instead of making multiple trips to a trashcan.
- Apron
- Cooking can be messy, so it’s a good idea to protect your clothes (especially if you hate laundry).
- As a gift I got this heavy duty apron from Mythical Kitchen. It’s a bit snug on the size but it’s durable and has some useful pockets.
- Tongs
- A durable tool that is used for picking up things you do not want to grab (often super hot things that are in a very hot pan).
- Cutting board
- Save your counter and get a cutting board. Fancy wooden cutting boards are all the range, but know that these often need to be prepped to endure. The white plastic ones are fine but be sure to “go big or go home.” By that I mean, a larger cutting board is always more helpful than one that is too small.
- Thermometer
- There are lots of traditions on how to make sure something is cooked. The only sure fire way to know, is to actually check the temperature. Some can be expensive, but some are just under $20.