Building your kitchen essentials I think it's one of the funnest things you can do when moving into a new place. I remember the day my husband and I moved into our home, I spent hours and hours scrolling through pinterest for inspiration. Back when I lived on my own in that tiny Koreatown apartment, my kitchen was comprised of a coffee station (which I still have), one chefs knife, one pot, a pan and a few plastic spatulas I got from Ross. Most of my young life was spent at work and eating out so having a well stocked kitchen was at the bottom of my priority list (besides, I had restaurant’s kitchen to worry about).
My life is much different now. I have a family, I host a lot more parties and major holidays are mostly spent at my home. I have built my home’s kitchen arsenal through the years. Some items I use more than others and some I can’t imagine living without today. I know today there are countless ads telling us why we need certain products and how that product can change our life. I also know everyone is different. Some of you cook more than others, some of you have families, and others may only be cooking for not more than one or two people every so often. However, I do wish I would have bought smarter in my early adult life.
I compiled this list with the idea that it will serve as inspiration when building your kitchen essentials at home no matter what stage in life you are at today. These are the items I use the most at home when cooking and hosting people (you all know how much I LOVE hosting people). Again, this collection took me years to put together, so be patient, invest with caution and know it will take time and work to get there. Great quality items can last you a lifetime!
Stainless Steel cookware
Stainless Steel pots and pans work great for browning or frying. I like to use the smaller pots to make any sort of pasta sauce or quick soup. It’s great to have a couple of pans and a pot around. Or just one of each will do.
Non-stick cookware
There are two types of people in this world.. those who love non-stick and others who look don’t. I personally could not live without it and don’t understand those who cook without it. I discovered Scanpan non stick pans through my girlfriend Norma. She raves about them and decided to make the commitment. It was my first ever ‘adult’ purchase. The quality is unlike any I’ve seen. They are also a sustainable company that offers a lifetime guarantee. Note that olive oil should never be used on these to fry anything. Opt for a vegetable oil like grapeseed when it comes to high heat. This will help maintain your pans like new (this goes for every brand… olive oil is not meant for high heat cooking).
Dutch Ovens
This is the one piece of cookware that will be passed down to your daughter, son, niece or nephew. They can get expensive depending on the price, but they sure are worth it. These are meant for braising, roasting, making stews, deep frying, cooking on the stovetop, in the oven, etc… They hold heat like no other and are perfect for any kitchen.
Knive Set
Great quality knives are very underrated in a kitchen and you won’t learn to appreciate them until you slice a tomato with a sharp nice for the first time. It is an unbelievable feeling and experience. To take care of your knives, make sure you get them sharpen at least every 6 months. I will always chose Global knives!
Kitchen Shears
YES you do need special scissors for your kitchen. They are perfect to help you cut meat or even snip a few vegetables. Believe me, they will make your life way easier in the kitchen.
Stoneware for baking/roasting
This is another kitchen essential you never knew you needed, until you have it. If you love baking sweets or savory dishes, this is a piece of cookware you will be using time and time again. They are great when hosting because you can place it right in the middle of the table for people to serve themselves. I also have to admit that I have bought pre-made food before, heated it in one of these puppies and may or may not have acted as if it was home-made (please don’t judge). They not only make food look beautiful but are versatile and you can bake and roast practically anything in one of these.
Non-stick Griddle
I was debating whether this should make my essentials list because it seems more like an ‘extra’ item. However, given the amount of time I use this per week, it only made sense it made the list. Not only does it expedite my pancake-making process but it’s absolutely perfect to make AND heat up tortillas. You can heat as many as 6-8 tortillas at a time! That to me is reason enough for me to make the list.
Toaster Oven
I wanted to stay away from kitchen appliances here because I think they deserve a list of their own. However, those of you who know me, know my love for my toaster oven runs deep. I don’t know if a toaster-oven fan club exists, but if it does, I should run for president. I LOVE this thing. And yes, I do own an oven, and yes I know I could just use that instead. But when you are running on mom-time, you need your oven to heat up like yesterday! I cook my bacon here almost every morning perfectly at 390 for 12 minutes. Leaves no mess and its perfect everything time. I toast my bagels, roast veggies, and reheat many of my pre-made meals. It has also saved me time and time again during the holidays when I’m baking multiple dishes and running out of space. Again, I can go on and on about it so I will just stop now and let you be the judge.
Rubber spatulas and spatulas spoons
I love working with rubber utensils. Not only are they more giving but they also help prevent scratches on your cookware. Also, if you are making fried eggs, a rubber spatula will be a game changer for you.
Measuring cups and Spoons
I have to be honest, I may own several sets of these. I can never have enough and may have a hoarding problem when it comes to measuring spoons. This set from Sur La Table is one of my faves because of the variation in sizes of the measuring cups (like the 1 ½ cup… yes nerdy but VERY useful)
