Is your kitchen an endless source of embarrassment for you? Are most of your appliances held together by high hopes and duct tape? It’s time for a change.
A high-end kitchen makeover can cost as much as $100,000 but you don’t need to go all out to give your kitchen a new lease on life.
There are plenty of inexpensive fixes to make your kitchen a better place. It all starts with replacing those old, worn-out appliances and kitchen utensils.
Check out these necessities to add to your must-have kitchen items list and get started creating your perfect cooking space.
1. A Good-Quality Cutting Board
As one of the most often used items in your kitchen, your old cutting board’s probably past it’s prime. It may also be a seething pit of bacterial growth by now too.
Glass and marble cutting boards are pretty but they can dull your knives. Rather opt for hard plastic or wooden cutting boards and replace them every few years.
2. Two Versatile Pans
Every chef needs two pans to cook everything they’ll ever want. Invest in a top-of-the-range non-stick pan and a solid cast-iron pan.
The best size is about 8-inches for a pan that suits most meals.
3. Stainless Steel Pots
Unless you want to go with all cast-iron cookware, stainless steel is your best bet for long-lasting convenience. The heavier gauge stainless steel pans you buy, the longer they’ll last.
Stainless steel’s a little harder to wash and a little heavier than aluminum, but it’s worth the extra effort.
Of course, you can invest in a full set of pots and pans, but it’s better to buy your pots in singles so you can get exactly what you need each time.
4. Must-Have Kitchen Knives
Most chefs agree that you need at least three knives for cooking. These are a serrated bread knife, a paring knife, and a chef’s knife.
Rember, you also need knives for eating though. Invest in high-end forged knives for mealtimes, they’ll last much longer and stay sharp longer too.
A non serrated steak knife set’s the ultimate addition to any entertainer’s stash.
5. A Knife Sharpener
Even the best knives get dull eventually. You should sharpen your knives at least once a week.
If you’ve mastered the art of using a sharpening stone, that’s great. Otherwise a chantry knife sharpener – those gadgets you slide your knife through – works just fine.
6. A Blender or Mixer
Mixers are good for everything from baking to butter-making and every kitchen needs one. Splurge on the most expensive one you can afford.
The more high-end a mixer is, the more attachments and power it will have. The really good ones can last for decades if you treat them well.
Conventional blenders do just fine for those who aren’t inclined to bake. They’re perfect for patès, sauces, smoothies, and more.
7. An Immersion Blender
A stick blender’s one of those things you don’t realize you need until you get one. It’s the ultimate convenience for whipping cream, smoothing soups, and giving your favorite salad dressings a whirl.
These appliances are relatively inexpensive and perfect for the avid entertainer.
8. A Digital Thermometer
If you’re happy with guesswork when it comes to cooking the perfect roast, you don’t need a digital thermometer.
However, you can’t beat the convenience of this little gadget when it comes to cooking the perfect steak. It also comes in handy if you like making taffy and other sweet confections.
9. A Whisk
We’ll let in on a little secret here. An immersion blender works well as a whisk too. That is unless you need to carry out some slow swirling while making sauces and gravies.
Don’t waste time buying a whisk at your local store, they don’t last. Head over to a top-notch online store or pop into an outlet that specializes in commercial kitchen utensils.
10. Wooden Spoon and Spatulas
Wooden spoons will never go out of style. They don’t melt or heat up and last for a really long time. Get one with a flat side – it comes in handy for scraping down pots and bowls.
Likewise, a silicon spatula won’t melt in your pan and makes a good backup when your wooden spoons in the wash. You can also use it to ice cakes in a pinch.
11. Measuring Cups and Spoons
We’re all guilty of using our palms to measure out a tablespoons worth of an ingredient or guessing how much half a cup really is.
When you take the guesswork out of baking, you’ll be more inclined to whip up batches of deliciousness in your spare time. Measuring cups are a vital ingredient for flop-proof baking and cooking.
12. Kitchen Shears
Kitchen shears top the list of must-have kitchen tools and are one of the most-used items in any kitchen. They’re great for snipping everything from the fatty bits from cuts of meat to the corners of packages.
Be sure to buy one that dismantles so you can clean the hinge when you wash the shears.
Get more than one pair, they’re bound to disappear for endlessly as family members borrow them for school projects or crafts.
13. Sheet Pans
Sheet pans are essential for bakers and chefs. You can use them for a variety of things from baking biscuits to making deep-dish pizzas.
Aluminum sheet pans work best as they’re lightweight, inexpensive, and easy to keep clean.
The Best of Everything
We hope you’ve discovered some new must-have kitchen essentials to make your home life easier and more enjoyable. We’ve got plenty more home improvement tips for you though.
Keep browsing our website for more information to help you make informed decisions at home and work.