Kitchen Basics

Cooking at home is the most effective way to minimize your food budget. Almost every meal you cook at home will be less expensive (and often quicker) than a similar meal out on the town. Doing it consistently will not only save you money, but will build up your skills in the kitchen.

Below is a comprehensive list of basic kitchen items that will help make a well run, efficient, no frills kitchen.You do not need to purchase all of these items before you begin making meals at home. Instead, think of this as a goal lost of items that you plan to acquire over time. The list focuses on basic equipment that you can use every day and often for more than one purpose. These are my go-to items. These are the things that make my kitchen work.

POTS & PANS

1. 2 quart sauce pot
2. 6 quart stock pot
3. 8 inch skillet
4. 10 inch skillet
5. Deep covered saute pan
6. Cast Iron skillet

Tip: When buying pots and pans, weight matters. Look for pots and pans that are thick, heavy, and don't seem like they would dent if you hit them with a mallet. Thin pots and pans will heat food unevenly and tend to cause scorching. I’ve had a set of Calphalon pots & pans for ten years and they have served me well. Glass lids are also very helpful.

BAKEWARE

1. Glass or ceramic casserole dish (one large, one small)
2. Baking sheets, set of 3
3. Muffin tin
4. 9-inch glass or ceramic pie dish
5. Pizza pan (preferably perforated)

PREP TOOLS & KITCHEN GADGETS

1. Mixing bowls, glass or metal
2. Cutting board
3. Measuring cups
4. Measuring spoons
5. Spoons, spatulas, whisks
6. Instant read thermometer
7. Colander
8. Chef's knife
9. Bread knife
10. Paring knife
11. Cheese grater
12. Can opener
13. Rolling pin

EXTRAS

These are fancier items that I bought later in my cooking adventure. They’re by no means basic or necessary, but I get really good use out of all of them.

1. Slow cooker (Doesn't need to be fancy, 5-7 quart is a good size)
2. Food processor
3. Dutch oven (Can be used on the stove top or as a covered casserole. Great multipurpose item.)

Unit	Equals	Also Equals
1 tsp.	1/6 fl. oz.	1/3 Tbsp.
1 Tbsp.	1/2 fl. oz.	3 tsp.
1/8 cup	1 fl. oz.	2 Tbsp.
1/4 cup	2 fl. oz.	4 Tbsp.
1/3 cup	2 3/4 fl. oz.	1/4 cup plus 4 tsp.
1/2 cup	4 fl. oz.	8 Tbsp.
1 cup	8 fl. oz.	1/2 pint
1 pint	16 fl. oz.	2 cups
1 quart	32 fl. oz.	2 pints
1 liter	34 fl. oz.	1 quart plus 1/4 cup
1 gallon	128 fl. oz.	4 quarts