Discover the Essential Kitchenware for Your Cooking Starter Kit

By Ava Brown, May 14, 2024

Congratulations on setting up your new kitchen! Or on upgrading your current one! Now that you’ve finished shopping for everything knives and cookware, you must continue to most people’s most dreaded category: kitchenware. This category is so vast, containing kitchen gadgets and utensils, cooking tools, kitchen storage and organising items, that many find it overwhelming to buy the right tools and not pare down their cabinets and drawers with stuff they’ll barely use. The following article will help you discover the right kitchenware for sale for smart and simple everyday cooking.

What Is the Most Essential Kitchen Equipment?

When browsing the range of essential kitchenware for sale, you’ll come upon many sleek and trendy tools and gadgets. While it’s easy to get excited over a salad spinner and buy every tool out there, it’s best to stop and think about which kitchenware items will make your life easier and your cooking more enjoyable. Make a list, and instead of splurging a fortune in one day, build up your arsenal of essentials slowly. Here’s our list to help you make yours.

Spatula

Silicone spatula
source: facebook.com

A high-heat sturdy spatula made of plastic, metal or inflexible silicone is your best friend for various cooking tasks, from sauteing and stir-frying to flipping, tossing and serving foods. This helpful utensil will make food prepping much easier but won’t melt when put close to the fire. Opt for a plastic or silicone option if you use non-stick pans and pots, as they get easily damaged and scratched when using a metal one (you’re okay if using cast iron and steel.)

If you bake a lot, you’ll need another spatula, preferably a silicone one. Whether for moving frosting on a cake, putting egg whites into a batter or scraping the sides of a mixing bowl, a silicone spatula is a must-have for every baking extraordinaire.

Tongs

Without a doubt, tongs are essential culinary equipment. You can use them to serve salads, turn meat, sauce a pot of spaghetti, and keep a roast stable while you slice it. Knowing exactly how you want to use them before making a purchase helps. Tongs with a long handle work well for grilling since they shield your hands from the heat. You should get silicone-tipped tongs if you use them frequently with ceramic or nonstick cookware.

Thermometer

There is no substitute for a thermometer to get the ideal internal meat temperature. Instant-read thermometers can boost your confidence as a cook because they’re almost infallible. Even if today’s selection has a lot of bells and whistles (like Bluetooth capability), an accurate temperature readout doesn’t have to cost the earth.

An oven thermometer is a different kind that is much less frequent in-home cooks’ kitchens. It’s unfortunate because most domestic ovens lack accurate calibration. (Some may differ by as much as 10 degrees.) By being aware of your oven’s temperature, you may adjust your baking and cooking schedule accordingly. 

Cutting Board

scanpan cutting board
source: facebook.com

A good cutting board is one of the most essential kitchen items you can own. Like your chef’s knife, you’ll use it every time you cook, so picking one that is well-made and long-lasting is crucial. The odour-resistant polypropylene construction and dishwasher safety make the OXO Good Grips cutting board durable.

An acacia wood cutting board is the Ferrari of cutting boards: it may be difficult to realise how much better and different this cutting board is if this is the first time you have used one. However, we can guarantee that using a cutting board like this will make you happy each time you use it in the kitchen. 

This cutting board requires more maintenance than our plastic recommendation; clean it immediately after use, and keep it out of the dishwasher. But if you’re ready to upgrade from the standard plastic cutting boards that most home cooks use these days, this item is distinctive and will last you for a very long time.

Whisk

An ergonomic whisk is vital because it’s likely one of the most used kitchen tools, ideal for whisking salad dressings, sauces, eggs, desserts, and other ingredients. It’s also a nifty gadget for prepping food with your kids (kiddos love whisking.) Opt for a good grip that feels excellent in the hand. Furthermore, you won’t have to worry about the handle melting or warping in the heat if you pick a dishwasher-safe option.

Salad Spinner

OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner Clear
source: webstaurantstore.com

Your best buddy when eating a crisp salad is a salad spinner. You’ll need to dry your greens and “spinning” them is the most practical way to accomplish that without letting them become mushy. Most options operate by simply pressing the button at the top and a locking mechanism and brake for convenient storage. The fact that you can use the bowl for serving and the strainer basket to drain pasta makes this salad spinner quite popular. It’s an excellent multifunctional tool!

Measuring Cups and Spoons

Baking is both an art and a science. Put another way: You can’t eyeball the measurements and make it work. Invest in a high-quality set of measuring spoons and cups to ensure accurate measurements. Having dry and wet measuring cups is beneficial for precision. (Select collapsible cups if storage space is a concern.) A decent measuring spoon set doesn’t cost a fortune and is simple to clean and store. You understand the importance of these tools if you’ve ever inadvertently mixed up the teaspoon and tablespoon measurements when adding salt to a recipe!

Grater

MICROPLANE Gourmet Extra Coarse Grater
source: microplane.com

A grater is a must-have in your kitchen, whether a box grater, a fine grater, or just your regular cheese shredder. This little space-saving grater is ideal for grating, zesting, or shredding veggies like zucchini, cheese, or even butter (to help it soften more quickly). Seek out one with several surfaces for maximum adaptability. 

Garlic Press

Chopping it up would suffice, but if you want to ensure you receive all the flavour, a garlic press will help you mince it finely and prevent the unfortunate situation of discovering a large piece of garlic in your perfectly cooked stir fry. 

Vegetable Peeler

vegetable peeler
source: eatright.org

It doesn’t have to take three hours to peel veggies. You can peel cucumber, zucchini or potatoes fast with the help of this useful tool. Do we need to say more?