A few weeks ago a friend asked me “What all do I need in my kitchen to make me a great cook?” Interesting question, right? Well that got me thinking. Some people may not know some of the basic items you should have in your kitchen to effectively prepare what I call “good eats” so here we are. We’re going to cover things that help make your cooking easy and your kitchen effective.
First up- The drivers of the kitchen- a quality set of knives. They don’t have to be uber expensive, but they should be sturdy, have strong handles, and be sharp. I like this Kitchen Knife Set (and we) always hand wash our knives. Putting them in the dishwasher dulls them and can even ruin your knife.
The use of a good set of knives means you need quality cutting boards. It’s a good idea to have several. I don’t like to mix my raw meat with my raw veggies so I have a cutting board specifically for meat and one specifically for veggies. I also have wooden butcher block for carving of meats. Grab these and these if you’re looking for a set.
The wooden spoon is sturdy and dependable. I use them in almost everything. A good wooden spoon can hold up to your yummy spaghetti sauce, and scrape the yummy bacon bits of a pan in no time flat. Check these out if you don’t have a set.
After you chopped your good eats, you’ll need something to cook them in. I post a lot about using a Dutch oven. A Dutch oven is basically a heavy bottomed pot. There are many different types of Dutch Ovens. Do a little Google search and … your head will spin. The Dutch ovens I have are cast iron enamel. The cast iron enamel Dutch Ovens are great conductors of heat and can be used on top of the stove as well as in the oven. I have the following: Lodge Braiser Small. A Dutch Oven, can fry, roast, braise, bake, steam… the possibilities are truly endless. There are several more expensive brands, but go by what is in your budget. I can attest for the items I have in my kitchen, they’ve lasted years. If you’re looking for the high-end brand, Le Creuset, I suggest checking your local TjMaxx, JCP or Macy’s before paying full price. Save a couple of coins if you can.
Lastly, after you chopped your good eats you’ll need good oil for searing, frying, or roasting them in. In the image, I have grapeseed oil pictured, but I currently use the following in my home: Canola Oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Vegetable Oil and Vegetable shortening. Each fat has its own job. Grapeseed oil has a high smoke point and it can pretty much do any and everything.
I hope this kitchen basics guide has been helpful to you.
