5 Kitchen Essentials for the New Home Cook
I have lived and cooked in eight kitchens. If I could look back and tell myself anything while I was a new wife and cook in kitchen one, it would be that, aside from the list of basics we can all find on Pinterest there are five important things to have that elevate your kitchen and cooking immediately.
I would have registered for them as a newly engaged bride to be. I would have spent wedding gift money on them, I would have saved my newlywed pennies to purchase them, and I would have asked for them as holiday gifts.
The first kitchen we had was in a tiny, downtown apartment. It was 500 sq feet, had creaky wood floors, and the kitchen was actually the rehabbed back porch. It had zero counter space except for a cute little walk-in pantry. I had only two out of the five things I’m about to mention.
Fast forward to kitchen seven and 10 years of marriage. We had two little kids, I was a stay at home mom and graduate student trying to keep my head above water. I started to figure some things out about how my kitchen should flow. By then I had acquired four out of the five things I’m going to share with you.
Now I’m in my eighth kitchen and it’s practically perfect in every way. Soon I’ll give you a grand tour. But let me just say multiple work zones, 7 outlets, weathered plank style wood floors, open airy modern cabin, and the warm Colorado sunshine on my face while standing at the sink. Ahhh…
It’s here that I garnered my fifth kitchen essential, and I can’t believe I lived without it for so long.
Everything I’m about to mention is affordable, only one requires a little saving, and has no order of importance. But listen fiancés, new brides, young couples, early 20 somethings, and anyone else setting up your kitchens for the first time, get these five things and you are off to a great start!!!
- A Kitchen Aid Artisan Stand Mixer. If you are just starting out, you probably won’t use this all the time. But as time progresses and you settle into domestic life, this is literally like having a 3rd hand. There were seasons when I used it four to five times a week. A friend of mine once said that it’s like having a Cadillac sitting on your kitchen counter, she was right. I recently got the mixing bowl with the beveled measurements on the side. I love the spout the most, it makes adding ingredients while the mixer is working a breeze. This is pricey so register for it or start saving. I got it for Christmas around year five and my sweet mother in law stood in a very long Black Friday line to get it for me. I also recommend getting a classic color. Don’t get mint, trends change and so may your taste in color.
2. A ceramic dutch oven. Mine is not the most expensive brand out there. I got mine for under $50 at Home Goods. It goes from the stovetop to the oven in one meal. It’s wonderful, so don’t feel like you need to get the most costly brand. It cleans up easily (just hot soapy water and a sponge). Get one big enough to make chili for 6, you’ll be glad you did. As you can see I have a glass cook top so I’m careful with my dutch oven on the surface, no dragging or sliding.
3. A wooden and plastic, dishwasher sized, cutting board. The plastic cutting board has been with us since the beginning. I use it to cut my meats as I’m meal prepping. Then with a quick rinse it goes right into the dishwasher to sterilize.
The wooden cutting board is used like a movable counter top. During my stint in kitchen numero 7 our entire countertop was 3×3 inch bathroom tiles. So I bought the largest cutting board our money could buy because I hated having to disinfect the tile grout after every cooking session. Thanks to Rachel Ray I love a big wooden cutting board. You can prep multiple things, and have plenty of space to work with various types of ingredients. Do yourself a favor though and make sure it’ll fit in your sink so you can clean it (whoops!). I wash and dry this puppy immediately after I use it to reduce warping.
4. Two sets of dry measuring cups and spoons. I recommend that you get two sets of each. On busy cooking days you’ll be glad you have more than one set of measuring spoons or another 1/3 measuring cup. I have a cheaper silver set and then this set. Make sure they are clearly marked and dishwasher safe.
5. The last kitchen essential is to have salt, pepper, and cooking oil handy in your kitchen. I got the sweet little salt container from Hobby Lobby. The pepper mill was a Christmas gift in the early years. They are both sitting on the bottom of the butter tray that came with our wedding dishes. The olive oil jar came from the give away pile of a family member and the spout is ancient, I think it’s from the dollar store. Having these three things within arms reach is important to me. They live nestled on the counter next to the Kitchen Aid. However you create this trio in your kitchen, I highly recommend it. Having these three things out on my counter made me look legit during those first years, fake til you make it right?!?
Every home cook is different. Only you can decide what your kitchen must have. It took me years to come to this point and I really wish a few of these items were recommended when I was first starting out. I hope this little list sets you on your journey to deciding what’s right for you.
