A well-equipped kitchen is crucial for any home cook; creating decadent meals will be highly challenging if you don’t have the proper utensils. Just imagine trying to bake a cake without any mixing bowls or attempting to chop fresh herbs and veggies without a sharp knife.
So whether you are moving to a new home or you’ve been battling to navigate an ill-equipped kitchen for some time, here are five essential utensils you should have.
A Chef’s Knife
A good chef’s knife can make a world of difference to any home cook. The right knife is one tool a cook can’t go without; it’s the most used utensil in every kitchen.
While you can also consider investing in a basic set of kitchen knives that include a chef’s knife, a paring knife, a serrated knife, a boning knife, and a honing knife, a chef’s knife is the most versatile option. Moreover, when investing in high-quality kitchen knives, you will need a sharpening stone to keep the blades sharp.
Mixing Bowls
Mixing bowls are exceptionally versatile as well. You can use them for storing, baking, and cooking. So, it’s essential to have various sizes as well.
It’s essential to have small, medium, and large mixing bowls, and it’s worthwhile to get an extra-large mixing bowl if you have a big family or frequently make larger quantities of food. When it comes to choosing suitable mixing bowls, stainless steel and glass are quality options, while plastic alternatives are more affordable, although plastic won’t last as long.
Cutting Boards
Even though you can get by chopping your ingredients directly on the countertops, your countertops will quickly become damaged, and so will your kitchen knives. Instead, it’s wise to invest in cutting boards to protect your countertops and utensils.
Once again, it’s a great idea to get a few boards in different sizes. In addition, it’s also wise to get cutting boards of different materials, like wood, glass, and plastic. Different board materials will help you avoid cross-contamination as you can assign different ingredients to different boards.
A Wooden Spoon And A Spatula
While it’s impossible to fry eggs or make pancakes without a spatula, it’s just as tricky to stir food properly without a wooden spoon.
You can purchase these utensils individually or opt for a utensil set that also includes a ladle, a whisk, tongs, and a peeler. All of these utensils are considered essentials.
Measuring Cups
Measuring cups are crucial when measuring ingredients for baking and cooking. Whether you’re making BBQ sauce or baking scones, your recipes won’t come out right if you don’t have utensils to measure ingredients accurately.
Glass measuring cups are a quality investment, but plastic alternatives are also suitable. While you’re shopping around for measuring cups, you can also consider measuring spoons that will help you add smaller amounts of ingredients, such as salt, spices, and herbs.
A well-equipped kitchen needs various utensils. With this, it’s essential to consider quality utensils as they will last much longer.
