Determine a Budget for Kitchen Essentials
Hold on, you might say — $350 sounds like a lot of money! To many of us, $350 is not exactly pocket change (also, we are in fact talking about $350 or less). Yes, it could also represent half of your weekly rent, or the cost of your textbooks for a whole semester, depending on where you live and at what stage you are currently at in life. But remember that you can easily splurge almost close to that amount for a single set of knives and cookware (even for a single pan or knife) and we are not just equipping you with one pan, but with everything you need (not want) to take that bare kitchen from futile to tasteful.The Purpose of This List
We prioritize items you need to maintain habitual cooking. We identify smart buys, concentrating on commercial kitchen tools. We look for materials with quality We search for items that are pleasant to use. (Super cheap kitchenware is false economy since they are harder and not so fun to use, plus it causes discouraging results).What is Excluded in The List
We created this for a new cook and for someone who is just beginning to learn about kitchen basics or someone who is just starting out to cook a wide variety of meals. But as cooks sharpen their skills over time, eventually they form notions on which tools work best for them. So by all means, if there is a specific item you absolutely can’t live without, customize away! A few things not included in this list: Tableware: Dishes, glassware, serving platters, and serving utensils. Small Appliances: Kettle, mixers, food processors and toasters. Storage: Food Storage containers.New or First Kitchen Essentials & Tools
Pots & Pans to Cook up a Storm
We are only selecting three pans for this list and this may be debatable. Where is the cast iron skillet? Where is the BIG bargain set of non-stick frying pans and pots (especially the ones where the utensil sets are thrown in)? We leave those out for just one pot and two pans. Pyrolux Pyrostone 2pc Frypan Set 20 and 28cm | $69.90 A kitchen can never go without a piece (or two) frying pan. A non-stick frypan will make frying omelettes, frittatas and stir-frying such a breezy task. We are recommending the 2pc set from the Pyrostone range by Pyrolux. They are excellent pieces of cookware because of its stone line properties. What is important is that these two are highly durable. This induction cookware can be used on any stove top and if you need to use it in the oven or the grill, it can withstand the heat of up to 180°C. Since it is also PFOA free, it is abrasion resistant.
Wham Cook Non-Stick Select Oven Tray | $6.00
The best baking tray is made for commercial kitchens and won’t warp over time. Wham Cook’s oven tray non-stick coating made using Electro-Chrome Coated Steel that has a metal base with rust prevention properties. The tray can withstand temperatures of up 230 degrees Celsius. It fits a standard oven, but if you have a smaller oven be sure to check the proportions. If not, a half pan sheet can be an alternative.
Total Price for Pots & Pans: $128.85
The Most Important Tool in a Cook’s Arsenal - Knives!
We are sticking to the basics with this one. No peeler, no zesters or graters. There will be a paring knife to help you do all those tasks.Scanpan Classic Chefs Knife 20cm | $41.95
We selected this because it is designed for daily tasks and food preparation. We selected this in particular because of its fit, weight and balance. It has an ergonomic trilobal handle design that fits equally comfortable for both left and right handed users. While its price tag is reasonably affordable, its qualities make it a kitchen essential with great value for money.
Furi Pro Paring Knife 9cm | $26.95
Paring knives are the second most useful knife to have in the kitchen — after a standard chef knife, and just before a bread knife and all the other knife pieces, you get in a knife block set. It is, in fact, the best knife to have when you need to perform smaller tasks that could be a drag with larger knives. Think chopping oranges into supremes, peeling an apple or hulling strawberries. The smaller and the finer the tasks become, the more useful your paring knife becomes. We recommend Furi Pro Paring Knife. Designed in Australia by engineers and professional chefs and loved by our customers:“They just mould into your hands like they are an extension of your hand.”- Gary R.
Total Price for Knives: $68.90
Little Tools for Big Prepping Tasks
Between draining pasta, whipping eggs in the morning and other countless daily kitchen tasks, there are plenty of little items that can affect your day-to-day cooking. Best to look for quality tools because you will be using them frequently.Epicurean Kitchen Cutting Board Nutmeg | $23.95
Lightweight, effortless handling and designed for daily use. We are standing by these qualities you need to keep in mind when looking for a cutting board. Its 60mm profile makes it easy for you to store, plus there is a hanging alternative with its utility hole. Once you have completed your slicing and dicing tasks, it can be cleaned in the dishwasher for quick sanitary cleanup.
Chef Inox Mixing Bowl V Shape | $7.95
Use this heavy duty mixing bowl. Chances are you will be using this bowl twice a day — to toss a salad for lunch, marinate a meat or make biscuit cookie dough. This bowl is made from 18/10 stainless steel and is dishwasher safe. Absolutely essential!
Zeal Stacking Colander Set | $9.95
We don’t know about you, but one of our least favourite things to do in the kitchen is rinsing rice, quinoa, and other grains. But we can’t help but love consuming them. So to make rinsing less of a pain to you, get a colander or two. This 2-piece set is compact to help with space saving in the kitchen. It has an easy-to-hold handle that will keep your hands away from steam and for smooth pouring.
Total Price for Prep Tools: $41.85
Don’t Leave the Cooking Utensils Out
Utensils are an extension of the cook’s hand and we have a few essentials that could do you some justice in the kitchen.Oxo Good Grips Non-Stick 23cm Tongs | $13.95
If you could only have one utensil, what utensil would you get? We would probably go with tongs! You can practically do so many things with it, especially this Nylon tongs by Oxo Good Grips. It grips, shaped for basting, scooping, and is amazing at withstanding high heat. Want to use it to stir? Go ahead and stir away as it won’t scratch the surface of your cookware. And when you are done, it can be cleaned easily plus it is dishwasher safe. This would definitely be a smart buy.
Oxo Good Grips Flexible Nylon Turner | $9.95
Say hello to flipping made simple. This highly flexible nylon turner is definitely one essential you do not want to turn away from - especially if you want your eggs and pancakes to stay intact. It is ergonomic in a sense that the nylon head can easily slide beneath foods in a Sauté pans or any cooking sheet. This will ensure that your hands won’t strain over time.
Madesmart Compartment Cutlery Tray | $11.95
Where there are cutleries, there is a place for every, spatula, spoon, fork, and tongs. This drawer organiser, has 5 compartments featuring textured silicone rubber lining and rubber feet so it won’t slide in the drawer. It fits well in standard sized drawers.
Total Price for Prep Tools: $35.85
Kitchen Linens to Finish Up in the Kitchen
Finally, kitchen linens are as important as everything else we listed above. You will need them to wipe clean your dishes, table tops and kitchen cabinets. Forget the pretty towels, because these two picks are designed to work hard.White Magic Microfibre Kitchen Eco-Cloth | $8.95
This towel is made from charcoal yarn with super reinforced stitching. It works well on any kitchen surface when you need to remove dust, bacteria, and allergies. It can also avoid cloth odour and contamination. If you have more of these you can use it to cover bread dough, sweep flour off countertops, or turn it into a makeshift trivet and hot pads.
Avanti Silicone Double Oven Glove Charcoal | $16.90
Careful, don’t burn your hands. Battle-hardened cooks are more likely to be more cavalier when it comes to keeping their fingers safe from burning. But new cooks may not be as smooth, so these oven mitts will surely come in handy. They are also made from silicone and 100% cotton.
