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Must-Have Kitchen Accessories: THE List
Frequently we are asked specific questions about outfitting the perfect kitchen. What is the preferred kitchen knife? What are the most important kitchen utensils? What is the best use of all my kitchen supplies? And, for goodness’ sake, however will I be able to afford the tools it takes to make a delicious meal if I have to find them all at a gourmet kitchen supply shop?
How very delighted we, Cooking with Caitlin, are to get to field these questions. The hard part is deciding which cliché, among the many appropriate ones, best answers them. Don’t believe the hype. Keep it simple. No need to keep up with the Jones’ (newly-remodeled, fit-my-foyer-in-one-of-the-kitchen-sinks, and featuring-a-wine-room) kitchen. Try not to over think it. Blame it on the rain. (Alright, that only applies in Milli’s or Vanilli’s kitchen, but thanks for indulging me nonetheless.)
You needn’t walk farther than a dozen steps into the mall to be seduced by shiny shrimp smokers, elegant circular cookie cutters, and gorgeous stones disguised as essential pizza supplies. But keep your wits about you. The fact is there is a relatively short list of cooking supplies required to create just about any spectacular dish. You can do so much with so little, and often you can even use what you’ve got for double duty.
Take it from Caitlin, the girl who attended culinary school and still uses homemade smokers, baby bottle tops as cookie cutters, and warped and weathered tins for the crispiest pizzas. Professional kitchen supplies do not a great chef make; what you see before you is all you really need.
tongs
wooden spoons
heat-resistant spatula to scrape cookies off a sheet
3 great knives (10-inch chef’s knife, serrated knife, and a small paring knife)
1 large non-stick skillet
1 small non-stick skillet
2 large sauce pots
2 small sauce pots
colander
mixing bowls (usually coming in 3 different sizes)
food processor
electric hand mixer
cutting board
whisk
2 muffin tins
3 cookie sheets
microplane (This can mince garlic, zest citrus, and double as a cheese grater. The box graters are not as useful as one really great microplane.)
1 9x13 cake pan (This is great for baking, allowing food to set or rest, and even as a roasting pan as it usually can hold two whole chickens)
vegetable peeler
If you’re creating a wedding registry, consider adding a stand mixer (traditionally Kitchen Aid brand) to the list, but know that the list above includes the things you NEED to start a home kitchen. Kitchen gadgets, like a garlic press, are not included because they only perform one function, like press garlic. And every other tool is dish-specific (for example, you will only use a pie plate for making pies, or a circular cake pan for baking cakes). Most of the accessories above even may be found in your local grocery next time you pick up some milk. The rest may be purchased at a discount department store. And everything altogether can be picked up at Shop CWC.
