Who doesn’t love a well-stocked kitchen? The aromas that permeate the home in the morning just as breakfast is being made and the culinary delights that appear on the table in the evening are all reason for buying the best cookware. Let’s not talk about the gastronomical festival that happens around the holidays, regardless of where we are in the world.
When there are so many options to choose from, finding the perfect combination of tools only happens after years and years of cooking. From that favourite beat-up saucepan that cooks the best pasta sauce to that griller that gives your seasoned vegetables the right amount of crisp, these are the tools that give food their sumptuous flavours. With so much access to all kinds homewares online today, you can tap into your inner chef and bring to life culinary magic in your kitchen, but you need the right tools for the job.
Continue reading to learn more about what tools to include in your culinary tool cache.
Pots And Pans
Pots and pans are the most basic tools needed in any kitchen. All great home cooks own at least two cast iron fryers – one small and one large, a wok, a tall boiling, stewing pot or a casserole pan, and a crock pot. The cast iron pots can be used for a number of recipes beyond just frying chicken and searing stewed meats. If you like making egg rolls and spring rolls or making Asian-inspired dishes, throw in an aluminium wok to cook some of your favourite meals.
If you make a lot of pasta, consider including a tall boiling pot that boils and drains pasta and can be used to make a sauce. Stewing pots or casserole pans are also essentials of the basic kitchen. Lasagne, rice and peas, and macaroni and cheese are all dishes that can be made in these casserole dishes.
Stewing pots are a must for cooking your favourite stews and soups. For dishes that need to be simmered throughout the entire day consider throwing all of your ingredients in the pot for a great stew down. Finally, chilis, soups, stews, and pasta sauces all taste more robust after simmering in the crock pot for hours.
Tools To Stir The Pot
The second most important tool to focus on is your cooking cutlery. A good knife set will provide you with kitchen wares that can be used to slice vegetables and cut up a whole chicken. To make sure that your tools stay sharp, consider purchasing a sharpener, which can be used when knives become dull. To avoid damaging counter tops, invest in a glass cutting board that does not degrade like wooden ones do.
Finally, do not forget to include spatulas, wooden spoons, ladling and serving spoons and forks, so that when cooking, your kitchen is equipped with the right tools for cooking. While many opt for plastic cooking cutlery, metal ones tend to be more durable and hold up against melting. Finally, wooden spoons also allow you to taste without picking up flavours from the cooking utensils.
Accessories
Starter accessories that aid with cookware in the kitchen include a steamer rack, rice cooker, and a set of good wine glasses. The steamer rack can be placed in the boiling pot to make steamed vegetables and dumplings, and the rice cooker can be a shortcut to making fluffy rice. Finally, a good meal has to be paired with the right wine to be enjoyed while cooking.
Your Culinary Starter Set
If standing in the kitchen over a hot stove is less than appealing, this set of cookware can help you get through even the most basic meals. If cooking is a hobby, you can add to these basics when you add more recipes to your repertoire. In the end, good cookware makes cooking less of a chore and more of a culinary journey.
