More than two-thirds of consumers say that they plan to cook at home more often after the pandemic.
If there’s anything they learned, it’s that cooking at home is rewarding. It’s enjoyable and makes you feel good when you share something you created in the kitchen.
There are the practical aspects, too. It’s cheaper than eating out and much healthier.
You might even find yourself geeking out over kitchen tools.
There are things you should get to make cooking even more enjoyable. You’ll also be amazed by what you can do in the kitchen with the right kitchen equipment.
Are you ready to learn which kitchen tools you need to cook great meals with ease?
Let’s get started!
1. Good Knife Set
If there’s one kitchen essential, it’s a good knife. It makes all the difference when you’re preparing a meal.
You’ll find serrated knives and straight-edged chef’s knives. There are some good serrated knives, but they tend to shred food rather than create a smooth cut.
Spend the extra money to get quality knives. You won’t regret it.
2. Cast Iron Pans
Cast iron pans are among the best kitchen tools to have. That’s because they’re durable and they cook food evenly.
You can use them for scrambles or searing food.
Where beginner cooks get lost is learning how to maintain cast iron kitchen equipment. The guide at this site https://barebonesliving.com/blogs/recipes-cooking/cooking-with-cast-iron-for-beginners shows you the basics of cooking with cast iron and maintaining it.
3. Slow Cooker
There are days when you’re busy and you might not feel like cooking. There’s a simple solution that doesn’t involve ordering out.
You can put a bunch of ingredients in a slow cooker, turn it on low for 8-12 hours. You’ll have a hot meal at the end of the day.
4. Pressure Cooker
Pressure cookers are great if you have to cook food quickly. They’re perfect for cooking beans in 15 minutes rather than a few hours.
They also tenderize meat in a few minutes rather than slow cooing for hours.
There are kitchen appliances that combine slow cooking and pressure cooking functions. That’s the concept behind kitchen equipment like the Instant Pot and Crock-Pot Express.
5. Meat Thermometer
There’s nothing worse than cooking dinner for guests and serving them undercooked food. You can avoid that by investing in a good meat thermometer.
There are meat thermometers that go from cooking necessities to kitchen gadgets. These are wireless thermometers that are a long way from the traditional thermometers.
6. Dutch Oven
A slow cooker and pressure cooker are already on this list. Do you need to have a Dutch oven, too?
It depends on how you like to cook your food. Dutch ovens can be considered essential kitchen equipment if you like thick soups and sauces.
Dutch ovens are made from cast iron and they work like slow cookers. You put them in the oven or on the stove on low heat.
7. Baking Pans
Baking pans are a necessity. Nonstick baking pans are even better.
You’ll need to get a 13×9 baking pan. That’s used for everything from lasagna to chicken.
Baking sheets can get used for pizza, fish, roasted vegetables, and cookies.
Cover them in foil before each use for easy clean-up.
8. Immersion Blender
Do you need to have an immersion blender when you already have a big blender? Not necessarily, but it does save a lot of time and effort.
If you’re making a soup or sauce, you can take an immersion blender and put it right into the pot. You can blend your food with minimal clean-up and effort.
Otherwise, you’d have to get out the blender, take your big pot and empty it into the blender. You’ll have to clean the blender afterward.
Immersion blenders also function well if you’re making smoothies or smaller batches of sauces.
9. Strainers
Strainers come in different shapes and sizes. You’ll want to have a strainer for pasta. Strainers are good for washing fruits and vegetables.
Have a big strainer on hand for pasta, vegetables, and bigger items. Get a wire mesh strainer that is good for other recipes, such as straining soups.
10. Graters
Get a few graters for your collection to add flavors to your meals. A small grater like a zester is perfect for adding citrus flavors to your meals.
You can also use it for nutmeg for a warm flavor during the cold winter months.
Of course, graters are mostly used for cheese. Be sure to get a grater that works for both soft and hard kinds of cheese.
11. Timers
There are a number of ways to tell the time when you’re cooking. You can just simply say, “Alexa, set the timer for 20 minutes.”
You can keep an app on your phone. If you’re not tech-savvy or prefer to have something tangible, you can pick up a timer for a few bucks.
12. Reading Stand
There will be times when you’re following a recipe. Your hands are covered in flour or sauce and you lost your page.
You’ll have to clean off your hands, find your page, and hope you don’t lose it again.
There’s a simple way to prevent that. Get a cookbook holder or reading stand. It can double as a tablet or phone holder if you’re following a recipe online. Just make sure you turn off the screen lock so you don’t have to unlock your device constantly.
The Necessary Kitchen Tools for Great Meals
Do you need all of the kitchen tools on this list? No, of course not. You can make great meals with the basics.
What you’ll find is that the kitchen tools on this list make cooking a little easier and a lot more fun. If you want more tips to learn how to be a better cook, check out the other articles on the blog.
