I only really started cooking for myself properly when I moved into my first student digs, a skinny duplex with a kitchen that was pitifully equipped with the usual rental fare: heavily scratched non-stick pans, half-melted plastic spatulas, an electric stovetop with two working plates (on a good day). From these humble beginnings, I learned that there isn't a magic list of essential kitchen items that must be bought before you can begin to learn and love cooking. It is possible to produce beautiful, nutritious meals on a shoestring budget and with a bit of skill.
However, years of home cooking have shown me that there are tools that make cooking a lot easier, especially when it comes to saving time and achieving certain textures and flavours in your meals. Whether you're just starting out or you're a seasoned home cook wondering if the purchase is worth it, this tragically un-sponsored guide is designed to show you the most valuable tools in the Life & Style kitchen.
Here is our pick of essential kitchen items for aspiring home cooks
A Microplane zester/grater
This little sucker will take the skin off your knuckles in a split second, so handle it with care. Nevertheless, the Microplane is a very nifty tool for zesting lemons, grating garlic in a flash, or garnishing dishes with fluffy parmesan peels without hauling out an unwieldy box grater that takes up space on the chopping board and in the drying rack.
2. Mini microplane grater
If you're invested in protecting your nails and knuckles from the sharp teeth of a traditional Microplane, these miniature graters are a life-saver. Finely mince aromatics like garlic or ginger in seconds without the mess.
3. A stainless steel spider
Of all the kitchen essentials listed here, this is probably the one that makes the most difference for the smallest investment. Essential for fishing out deep-fried foods without flinging hot oil everywhere, handy for transferring cooked pasta to a saucepan without draining, and nifty for blanching greens in seconds. I can't overstate how often I use a kitchen spider and how much easier and safer it has made cooking at home for me.
4. A Pyrex measuring jug
This heatproof, tempered glass jug is far superior to clunky measuring cups that get lost in kitchen drawers. Measure ingredients and scoop liquid essentials like pasta water quickly and easily. Pyrex jugs are easy to find brand new, but they also often show up in second-hand stores because they last forever. This one is a third-generation jug!
5. A silicone baking mat
If you cook anything in the oven, then you probably spend a good amount of time and elbow grease scrubbing the brown bits off the bottom of metal roasting pans. As someone who uses tin enamel baking trays (very cheap, very cute) for roasting chicken, potatoes, and root vegetables in the oven, this mat has been a lifesaver for nonstick roasting and easy cleaning. Be warned, though — if you're looking for a really crispy outcome, best go without. The mat can prevent full browning because the meat or veg doesn't come into direct contact with hot metal.
6. A really sharp knife
Buying multiple kitchen knives is a colossal waste of money. You don't have to spend a fortune, but investing in one good sharp chef's knife will save you hours of effort, reduce your risk of injury, and produce vastly superior results when it comes to chopping, dicing, and slicing ingredients.
The brand of the knife is not nearly as important as regularly sharpening it, so learn how to do it yourself or outsource the task to a professional. My first kitchen knife was a Santoku knife from Victorinox, and I still regularly buy their paring knives for little jobs like slicing tomatoes.
If, like me, you're into Japanese knives, then browse Kitchen Samurai for expertly crafted blades in an astonishing range of metals. The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable and, if you're able to visit their Cape Town store, they'll help you find the best knife for your needs.
7. A cast iron pot
Le Creuset's range of enamel-coated cast iron cookware is notoriously cost-intensive, but I have found that the round casserole and the Dutch oven are worth every cent. This kitchen jewel, which we have lovingly christened the Honey Pot, delivers perfectly cooked food every single time. Plus, she is easily transferred from the stovetop to the oven for peak versatility.
If you're looking to level up your cooking, then I can't recommend an enamel-coated cast iron casserole or Dutch oven highly enough. Le Creuset cookware is both beautiful and high-quality, and can often be found secondhand on Facebook Marketplace in good nick (they really do last a lifetime).
The bottom line on essential kitchen items
Although I've sung the praises of these seven kitchen items, I wouldn't encourage any home chef to rush out and buy anything. I built my kitchen over the course of a decade, saving carefully for big purchases and scrounging around secondhand stores for good deals. Here's how to do it: find the things that irritate you the most when you're cooking and buy a better solution for it, one item at a time.
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