A Short List: What Every Kitchen Needs...
1) An assortment of pots and pans, not limited to, but definitely including: Large and small frying pans, assorted sauce pans, at least 1 non-stick frying pan, large stock pot, small 6" pans are great for frying eggs, and lids for all.
2) An 8" or 10" chef's knife, a serated knife for breads, etc., small paring knife, 12" carving knife, sharpening steel and polypropylene cutting board.
3) Assorted pyrex baking dishes. These usually come in a set of 3 different sizes. Cookie sheets, pie pans, and a pizza sheet.
4) Vegetable peeler, micro-plane grater, cheese grater, lemon reamer, garlic press, tongs, spatulas, spoons and slotted spoons, strainer, ladles, wisks, rubber spatula, can opener.
5) Assorted measuring cups, measuring spoons, a meat thermometer, candy thermometer and a food scale is real nice, too.
6) Everyone needs a Kitchenaid electric mixer. They come in many designer colors! A crock pot, vegetable juicer, and blender are also musts.
7) A good assortment of dried spices, oils and infused (flavored) oils, several different vinegars, a few extracts (vanilla, almond, pepermint, etc.) and several types of hot sauces.
These are not, by any means, the only things a good kitchen needs. I consider them to be the essentials from which to build.
Also, try to use fresh herbs whenever possible, with the exception of long-cooked stews and soups, etc. They have much a stronger and truer flavor. If you're using fresh herbs, only add them during the last few minutes of cooking or they get bitter and foul.
PLANT AN HERB GARDEN! You can do this in a window box, on the kitchen window sill (even in winter), in flower pots on a balcony or in the yard. Trust me...your food will be better...and herbs take zero maintenance except a little water.
I hope this will help those new to the kitchen or those wanting to expand their horizons a bit.
Buona Fortuna!
Kap
"It's not easy being green"
"It's not easy being green"
1) An assortment of pots and pans, not limited to, but definitely including: Large and small frying pans, assorted sauce pans, at least 1 non-stick frying pan, large stock pot, small 6" pans are great for frying eggs, and lids for all.
2) An 8" or 10" chef's knife, a serated knife for breads, etc., small paring knife, 12" carving knife, sharpening steel and polypropylene cutting board.
3) Assorted pyrex baking dishes. These usually come in a set of 3 different sizes. Cookie sheets, pie pans, and a pizza sheet.
4) Vegetable peeler, micro-plane grater, cheese grater, lemon reamer, garlic press, tongs, spatulas, spoons and slotted spoons, strainer, ladles, wisks, rubber spatula, can opener.
5) Assorted measuring cups, measuring spoons, a meat thermometer, candy thermometer and a food scale is real nice, too.
6) Everyone needs a Kitchenaid electric mixer. They come in many designer colors! A crock pot, vegetable juicer, and blender are also musts.
7) A good assortment of dried spices, oils and infused (flavored) oils, several different vinegars, a few extracts (vanilla, almond, pepermint, etc.) and several types of hot sauces.
These are not, by any means, the only things a good kitchen needs. I consider them to be the essentials from which to build.
Also, try to use fresh herbs whenever possible, with the exception of long-cooked stews and soups, etc. They have much a stronger and truer flavor. If you're using fresh herbs, only add them during the last few minutes of cooking or they get bitter and foul.
PLANT AN HERB GARDEN! You can do this in a window box, on the kitchen window sill (even in winter), in flower pots on a balcony or in the yard. Trust me...your food will be better...and herbs take zero maintenance except a little water.
I hope this will help those new to the kitchen or those wanting to expand their horizons a bit.
Buona Fortuna!
Kap
"It's not easy being green"
"It's not easy being green"
;)
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