Stocking the Kitchen, check list

Getting Started in the Kitchen

Introduction

Buying, preparing, and keeping food are activities that require some planning and effort. Learning food basics in order to prepare simple meals is an essential survival skill and cooking is also a fun past time that could become a career choice for many who move past the basics to make this a personal passion. To begin the journey with relationship to food the right tools are necessary. Although professional cooks may have multitudes of gadgets and cooking supplies it is essential to begin with the basic tools. Not everything on this list is essential, the list is meant to help in the decisions to stock a kitchen to individual cooking style and dietary needs. Please send us your ideas about our article Stocking the Kitchen, check list, and advise what would you add or change here.

For The Stove Top

• One or two skillet with lids
• One or two sauce pans with lids
• Tea kettle

For the Oven

• Roasting pan
• Cake pan
• Pie pan
• Baking sheet
• Oven proof casserole dish
• Muffin tin

For Food Preparation

• Set of mixing bowls
• Measuring spoons
• Measuring cup
• Rolling pin
• Cutting board
• Grater
• Colander
• Three or four food storage containers with lids

Cooking Utensils

• Wooden spoons
• Slotted spoon
• Spatula
• Long handled fork
• Ladle
• Tongs
• <href=”#lnk-2-1″>Sharp cutting knives
• Bread knife
• Sieve or strainer
• Garlic press vegetable peeler
• Potato masher
• Whisk

Electric Appliances

• Blender or food processor
• Coffee maker
• Electric hand mixer
• Toaster
• Bread maker
• Electric frying pan or grill

Accessories

• Bottle opener
• Can opener
• Corkscrew
• Trivets or pot holders
• Dish towels
• Dish clothes
• Aluminium foil
• Plastic wrap
• Resealable bags

Handy Extras

• Bread loaf pan
• Kitchen shears
• Kitchen timer
• Pizza pan
• Salad spinner
• Cookie cutters
• Microwave oven
• Popcorn popper
• Slow cooker
• Deep fryer
• Bread maker
• Griddle
• Waffle iron

Basics for Stocking the Pantry

• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Beans
• Bread crumbs
• Broth
• Chocolate
• Cornmeal
• Cornstarch
• Flour
• Honey
• Instant coffee
• Ketchup
• Mustard
• Nuts
• oatmeal
• Oils
• Pasta
• Peanut butter
• Raisins
• Rice
• Salt
• Sauces (barbeque, hot pepper, soy)
• Syrup
• Sugar
• Tomato (canned paste and sauce)
• Vanilla extract
• Vinegar
• Yeast

Herbs, Spices and Seasonings

• Chilli powder
• Chives
• Cinnamon
• Dry Mustard
• Pepper
• Seasoning Blends (seasoned salt, Italian seasoning, garlic salt, barbeque blends)

Simple Storage Tips

• Purchase food savers that are multi-purpose – freezer to oven casserole dishes and reusable serving dishes with lids.
• Keep a few clothes pins in the kitchen to close partially used bagged items like potato chips or bagged baking goods.
• Store heavy cooking items like pots and pans in low cupboards where there will be no danger of things falling and to avoid having to reach for them.
• Many plastic food containers like margarine tubs and jars can be washed and reused for refrigerated foods and saveable portions of meal leftovers.

Once the basic supplies are available all that will be required is a set of dishes with plates, bowls, and cups, a drink pitcher, and a set of eating utensils with forks, knives and spoons. A trip down the isles of the grocery store for produce, dairy, and meat products that will keep in the fridge will complete the needs of the cook who is starting out.