Tips for Building Your Utensil Collection:
Start with the essentials and add more as needed.
Invest in good quality tools that will last.
Look for multi-purpose tools to save space.
Consider your cooking style and the types of meals you prepare most often.
List of basic cooking utensils:
Chef's Knife (8-10 inch): A good quality chef's knife is the workhorse of the kitchen. It's essential for chopping, slicing, and dicing.
Paring Knife: For smaller, more delicate tasks like peeling and trimming.
Cutting Board (Plastic or Wood): Provides a safe surface for chopping. Have at least 2, one for produce, and one for meats.
Large Skillet/Frying Pan (10-12 inch): For sautéing, frying, and searing. A non-stick version is helpful.
Medium Saucepan (2-3 quart): For sauces, soups, and boiling grains.
Large Pot (4-6 quart): For soups, stews, pasta, and larger batches of food.
Baking Sheet/Cookie Sheet: For roasting vegetables, baking cookies, and sheet pan meals.
Mixing Bowls (Set of 3): Various sizes for mixing ingredients.
Measuring Cups (Dry & Liquid): For accurate ingredient measurement.
Measuring Spoons: For precise spice and liquid measurements.
Spatula (Rubber & Metal): For scraping, flipping, and serving.
Wooden Spoon/Spoon Set: For stirring and mixing.
Tongs: For grilling, flipping, and serving.
Ladle: For serving soups and sauces.
Colander/Strainer: For draining pasta and rinsing beans.
Can Opener: For opening canned goods.
Vegetable Peeler: For peeling vegetables and fruits.
Whisk: For mixing sauces, dressings, and batters.
Optional but Helpful:
Food Processor: For chopping, slicing, and shredding large quantities of vegetables.
Blender (Immersion or Countertop): For smoothies, soups, and sauces.
Grater (Box or Microplane): For grating cheese, vegetables, and spices.
Kitchen Shears: For snipping herbs and cutting poultry.
Meat Thermometer: For ensuring meat is cooked to a safe temperature.
Rice Cooker: For perfectly cooked rice.
