Learning to cook can be a challenging enterprise. There is a dizzying array of ingredients, techniques, and equipment you will find in recipes across the web. But you’ve got to start somewhere. Here are my top 5 kitchen tools for beginners that will help kickstart your culinary adventures.
Chef’s Knife
You will find quite a few different types of knives on the market, but you will get the most use out of a chef’s knife. It will handle most of your slicing and chopping needs, taking down everything from carrots, onions, and celery to more intricate tasks like slicing ribeye. Keep it sharp, and it will serve you well!
OXO, Knife Chefs Good Grips 8″
Cutting Board
A cutting board goes with a knife like peanut butter goes with jelly. You don’t want to start chopping on your countertops and plates, potentially damaging them. A cutting board also contains the mess you leave behind after chopping something up, allowing for easy cleanup. A medium-sized cutting board will handle most tasks, especially for beginners on a budget. I prefer plastic to wood, as it is generally easier to clean.
Skillet
A skillet allows you to cook numerous dishes. It can be used for sauteing, searing, and even some frying. Depending on the type, they can even be put in the oven to finish cooking certain dishes. I recommend getting a stainless steel skillet for its durability and versatility. An 8 or 10-inch size will cover most uses.
Stainless steel skillets can be expensive, so its important to keep them up. I personally use a T-Fal skillet, and it has served me well thus far. It has held up quite well under moderate to heavy use.
Saucepan
While a skillet is great for countless dishes, it’s not the right tool for everything. Skillets lack the depth to contain certain recipes, so we need a deeper pot. Enter the saucepan. The saucepan can do almost everything a skillet can do, including sauteing and searing. On top of that, it can hold more volume. This is critical when making larger batches of sauces and gravies.
Cuisinart 719-16 Chef’s Classic Stainless Saucepan with Cover, 1 1/2 Quart – Silver
Baking Dish
You can’t cook everything on the stovetop. Some things need to go in the oven. While you can use a skillet on some dishes in the oven, a good baking dish will expand your abilities much further.
A baking dish will allow you to roast chicken, bake cakes, and even braise a roast. There are countless fantastic recipes that go in the oven. A good baking dish will really come in handy when its time to cook an amazing southern Sunday dinner.
And there you have it, my top 5 kitchen tools for beginners. These tools will carry you a long way, but they are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to kitchen equipment. I would consider these 5 to be essential kitchen tools. We’ll be taking a closer look at more tools and how to use them in the future!
