Some Basic Cooking Tools

I am moving, and in doing so need to construct a temporary kitchen at the new house, while maintaining one at the old house, so I started thinking – what does one really need for a functional kitchen?

One of the cooking tools I couldn’t live without is my set of pans. OK - whats in a pan?? well, first of all the weight - you need a heavy gauge anything for it to be realistic. A really great pan is heavy, it has weight in your hand, that weight, or substance is usually stainless steel or cast iron. I hate nonstick pans, my feeling is if you cook properly and season a cast iron pan well you'll be fine without the nonstick surface. So, what does a basic kitchen need?? I love cast iron, well seasoned it is a wonderful heavy cooking surface for just about anything. I keep several skillets in my kitchen. I dedicate one to seafood, one to ommelettes and one to regular dishes. I have small, medium and large cast iron pans. I have cast iron that was my great grandmothers, and so well seasoned you never need to oil it. I have brand new cast iron from some cook shop in berkeley ca that my husband carried for miles to get to the car, he complained, but it was worth it - heavy and wonderful in every size my cast iron skillets are the pans i reach for most!

Pots & pans

• 2 10 inch skillets (you'll use this pan most frequently so you should invest in two - a stainless steel skillet with sloping sides and a cast iron with steeper ones

  
  
  

• a 4 quart soup pot, including a lid. Make sure to get a heavy bottom (copper encased is great) to allow for high heat and prevent scorching

  
  
  

• 1 8 quart pot with a lid for boiling pasta, this is essential!! Pasta needs room to cook plus you can always use it as a stock pot

  
  
  

• two 2 1/2 quart pans for sauces, vegetables, mashed potatoes, rice etc

  
  

• 9x13 inch baking dish - for yorkshire pudding, lasagna, ziti etc (pyrex is best)

  
  

• 8x8 inch pyrex dish (for brownies, etc)

  
  

• 11x17 inch baking pan

  
  

• a pie plate

  
  

• a bundt pan ( for fancy deserts that can make you look like an incredible cook, with so little effort)

  
  

Kitchen Tools

• Colander

  
  

• Rack or pan for cooling

  
  

• cutting board (butcher block if possible)

  
  

• cups to measure

  
  

• grater

  
  

• spoons to measure

  
  

• mixing spoons, metal and wood

  
  

• rubber spatula

• kitchen shears

  
  

• whisk

  
  

• wooden spoons

  
  

• tongs

  
  

• peeler

  
  

• meat pounder

  
  

• stainless steel mixing bowls in many sizes

  
  

A ridiculously basic pantry

• anchovies

  
  

• artichoke hearts

  
  

• baking powder

  
  

• baking soda

  
  

• balsamic vinegar ( aged)

  
  

• barbecue sauce

  
  

• bread crumbs (italian seasoned)

  
  

• brown rice

  
  

• beef stock

  
  

• chicken stock

  
  

• canned crushed or petite diced tomatoes

• couscous

  
  

• dried mushrooms

  
  

• hot sauce

  
  

• extra virgin olive oil

  
  

• dried pasta of many sizes and shapes

• roasted red bell peppers

  
  

• prepared salsa

  
  

• soy sauce

  
  

• sun dried tomatoes packed in olive oil

  
  

• terriyaki sauce

  
  

• oyster sauce

  
  

• tuna fish

  
  

• sesame oil

  
  

• cannola oil

  
  

• cooking spray

  
  

• white wine vinegar

  
  

• white rice

  
  

• wild rice

  
  

YOUR HANDS!!

the best tool of all, keep em clean and keep em active - reach for that salt and that pepper, season, season and season and mix and mix and mix and ALWAYS taste!!

Maria Gray

Dr. Maria Gray is a featured member and regular contributor at ifood.tv, cooking and video recipe site. Her popular videos on the ifood.tv include Italian Recipes, Mexican Recipes, and Healthy Recipes