Stocking up your kitchen can be daunting, especially when you don’t know where to begin. It can take months, if not years, to perfect your collection of essential kitchen items that will make your life easier in your home and aid in smart and simple everyday cooking.
Nowadays, the market is flooded with countless high-tech and trendy kitchen gadgets that look fancy and tempting but could be more useful for everyday meal planning.
We have carefully prepared a kitchen essentials checklist that includes everything necessary for a minimalist yet fully-functional kitchen.
Kitchen Pantry
One of the worst feelings is when you are highly motivated to prepare a decadent dinner but find your pantry empty. It’s a total buzz-kill! Here is a list of some essential items for your kitchen pantry so you can whip up your favorite recipes whenever you want!
Dry Items – These are the basic kitchen staples you can buy in bulk to save a few extra bucks. Usually inexpensive, dry goods are ingredients that can be used in multiple dishes and should always be in your pantry.
They include:
- All-purpose flour/ whole wheat
- Sugar – white/brown
- Rice and Lentils
- Oats/Cereal
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Pasta
- Corn starch
- Dried Spices (salt, pepper, red chili, etc.)
- Tea and Coffee
Oils, Vinegar & Sauces – To add flavor and life to your meals, oils, vinegar, and sauces are immensely important. Here are a few basic ones that are essential in every kitchen.
- Oils – Vegetable oil, olive oil, sesame oil
- Vinegar – apple cider, red wine, rice
- Sauces – Mustard sauce, soy sauce, chili sauces
- Honey
- Peanut Butter
- Mayonnaise
- Maple syrup
- Jams
Refrigerated Items – Even though they do not have a long shelf life, your kitchen is incomplete without them.
- Milk
- Cheese
- Butter
- Cream
- Eggs
- Yogurt
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Bread
This list consists of only the most essential food items for your kitchen. Of course, you can include or exclude anything as per your lifestyle and food preferences.
Kitchen Appliances
Just like everything else, the appliances you use in the kitchen are unique to you, your family, and their eating habits. While there are hundreds of gadgets that can be considered as “essential”, a few of them are totally “must-haves”.
Wok – Can you imagine any kitchen without a wok? We can’t either! It is an irreplaceable part of cooking and compulsory in your list of kitchen items. From delicious one-pot meals to stir-fried vegetables, you can prepare various delicacies with them.
Mixer Grinder – This one is a multi-tasker. Grind sauces, blend different types of juices, or make delicious batters – a mixer grinder can do it all!
Microwave – How can we make a list without mentioning a microwave? It is the first appliance we reach out for when reheating our leftovers. Moreover, you can also bake delicious cakes, boil veggies, and cook a million delicacies, all with this one essential tool.
Electric Chopper – If you don’t like to chop too many vegetables in one go, this one is for you. The electric chopper can conveniently chop large amounts of vegetables and hard substances such as dry fruits and nuts in just a few seconds!
Toaster – Even though you might not need it daily, a toaster can come in handy whenever you want some quick and easy toast.
Kitchen Utensils and Equipment
These tools play a pivotal role in your kitchen and will surely bring out the master chef in you!
These tools play a pivotal role in your kitchen and will surely bring out the master chef in you!
Pans & Pots – Whether roasting veggies, cooking pasta, or preparing stews and soups, pans and pots of different shapes and sizes must always be available in your kitchen. Some basic ones are:
- Saucepans
- Non-stick frying pan
- Stock Pots
- Sheet Pans
- Knives – There are many knives you will need once you step into the culinary world. The most important ones are the chef’s knife (with a large blade), bread knife, and paring knife (with a smaller blade).
Chopping Boards –Whether you go for plastic or wooden ones, it’s up to you. Use different boards for different types of ingredients to prevent food contamination.
Measuring Spoons & Cups – To get the perfect measure of ingredients, measuring utensils are essential. They’ll ensure that you get the exact measurements of your recipe every time!
Mixing Bowls – Mixing bowls are used in almost all types of recipes to combine several ingredients at once. Their size can vary according to the application. If you have leftovers, you can also use them as a storage container. This helps keep everything organized and clean.
Whisk – A great tool to whisk eggs and mix cake or pancake batters.
Rolling Pin – Without a doubt, it’s an essential kitchen item you need to flatten dough for making delicious pies and pastries.
Colander – This tool drains pasta/noodles or wash vegetables and other large ingredients before cooking.
Spatulas – To help transfer large portions of food from one bowl to another or mix several ingredients properly.
Peeler – Peeling vegetables or shaving cheese can be a chore if you don’t have a sharp peeler at your disposal whenever you need it.
Tongs – An excellent safety equipment to pick up or flip big chunks of food. They also help to move around hot items in pans or pots, minimizing the risk of an accident or burn.
With that, we come to the end of our list of essential kitchen staples that you must possess. It will help you create a well-equipped space to cook effortlessly for years.
Now you can get all the necessities mentioned above in one place!
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