There are some basic pieces of equipment which every kitchen would be absent without. It’s often the most simple things which get overlooked during cooking, so ensuring that you have a kitchen which is well equipped with the basics will give you a head-start when making more complicated dishes. Here are some of the basic pieces of equipment that you should consider investing in:
- Knives. Have a set of knives which are various shapes and sizes, with both serrated and smooth blades.
- Mixing bowls. Inevitably, you’re going to need a variety of different sizes. Buy a set of nested bowls for easy storage.
- Pans. Have a set of pans that are different sizes, as well as at least one decent frying pan and a wok.
- Wooden spoons. Buy plenty – they will always be useful!
- Whisks. These are essential for cooking anything which you need to rise. You can use a fork as a last resort, but a whisk will always get the best results.
- Garlic press. Chopping garlic by hand is incredibly frustrating and time consuming. A press will leave you with a smooth paste as opposed to small lumps which won’t cook down much.
- Spatulas. Ensure that you have a variety of shapes and sizes for different dishes. You can use them for icing cakes and baking as well.
- Tin opener. There is no real substitute for one of these so you’ll need to make sure you have one in your kitchen.