Equipment You Need In Your Kitchen
Stocking your kitchen can feel like a never-ending task, especially for people in culinary arts programs. However, you don’t need every little handy gadget that hits the market. Here are some of the most useful items to always have in your kitchen, ready to use:
A spatula: Sure, you could use a spoon to wipe down the edges of your mixing bowls when you’re making sauces or baking a dessert, but you’ll miss a lot. A spatula is a cheap investment that will prove itself useful time and time again.
A slow cooker: We don’t always have time to make dinner after work, so rather than hitting a drive thru on the way home, just put all of the ingredients for your impending dinner into a slow cooker before you leave for work. It’ll be ready to eat by the time you get home. It seriously does all of the work for you.
A knife set: Whether you want to get fancy by having your knives stuck to a magnet on the wall or just use a good old-fashioned knife block, a variety of cutlery will always be essential in a kitchen. Make sure the set you’re looking at has paring, chef’s, serrated and butcher’s knives.
Baking dishes: Stop wasting your money on disposable aluminum baking pans and invest in a nice glass or stoneware one. Not only are these pans incredibly versatile, but unless you drop it, they’ll last forever. You can find some modestly priced ones that’ll end up saving you money in the long run when you’re used to throwing your pans away with your leftovers.
Proper glassware: Whether you’re a white wine kind of gal or whiskey on the rocks kind of guy, you can’t use those free coffee mugs for everything. Buy some proper pint and juice glasses for your regular every day beverages, and find yourself the proper glassware for your favorite cocktails.
A spoon rest: Not many people think about their need for a spoon rest until they find themselves sloshing red sauce all over their stove or countertop. A spoon rest is incredibly handy, and with so many different kinds, from pottery to plain plastic, you can be sure to find one to match your kitchen decor.
A cast-iron skillet: Cast-iron skillets tend to intimidate people, with the fact that they’re usually a little pricey. There’s no need to be nervous though! While cast-iron skillets can be expensive, they can be used for just about anything, from cooking steaks with grill-like quality to making omelets.
Oven mitts: Don’t almost burn your hands by using a dishtowel to take hot items out of the oven, and don’t stand there in a panic when you realize you’re using your only set of potholders to hold a dish you have to put on the table. Get over your toughness and just use some darn oven mitts.
