10 must-have kitchen products

10 must-have kitchen products

Pots, pans, knives, tongs and more. Find out which kitchen gadgets you can pass up by discovering the bare tools and items every home chef needs.
Updated:
2009-10-18 20:25
Published:
2006-01-16 00:00
By 
Sarah Rogers

A whisk and casserole dishes, PLUS bonus kitchen essentials

9. Whisk
Essentials: Whisks are used for whipping or quickly beating ingredients such as cream or eggs. Faksorp uses his whisk for making omelets, hollandaise sauce, salad dressings, softening sour cream, and even for whipping cream -- when he doesn't have time to get out the mixer.
What to look for: Faksorp recommends choosing a basic, but durable, metal whisk that is heat-resistant, with a sturdy handle and flexible wire ribs. Depending on what type of pots and pans you have, you may want to ensure your whisk is safe to use on non-stick surfaces.

10. Casserole dish
Essentials: Faksorp recommends having casserole dishes on hand for slow cooking, one-pot meals and dishes such as gratins or scalloped potatoes.
What to look for: For casserole dishes, look for thick porcelain, Pyrex glassware or enameled iron materials. Make sure the dish comes with a tight-fitting lid.
Expert extras: "What I really like about them is that you can actually prepare a dish in them, you stick it in the oven... you take it out and you can serve straight from the dish because it looks so good," Faksorp says.

Some other kitchen essentials you may want to have on hand are:
- wooden spoons for mixing and stirring
- a spider (a mesh strainer with a handle) for removing vegetables from water instead of straining so that you can preserve the water
- strainer/colander for draining pasta
- a heat-resistant spatula/scraper for cleaning out bowls and pots (helps to reduce food waste)
- heavy-duty aluminum or steel cookie sheets for baking and for using to set things on in the oven, such as your stock pot
- Oven mitts for safety

Now that you know which kitchen tools are essential, head to your cupboards, get back to the basics and clear the clutter. Happy cooking!

Page 4 of 4

Want to read more? Learn all about buying pots and pans.
Advertisement
Send to a friend

E-mail it

10 must-have kitchen products

* marked fields are required.

Your Comments

Post a Comment
  • Cathy Elliott wrote:

    Oct 19, 2006

    2009-09-22 10:50 AM

    Sarah Rogers couldn't be MORE right with her "10 Kitchen Essentials" list -- I found myself nodding in agreement as I read it ! Thought I DO tend to have a few more pots on my shelves, the basic ones are covered (I hate it when you are making 2 sauces and only have one small saucepan). And, there are not enough people that stress the need for " good tongs, a hand blender and an instant-read thermometer " in the kitchen. Cudos to you, Sarah -- great info, accurate list.
  • Pierre wrote:

    Feb 14, 2007

    2009-09-22 10:51 AM

    I am surprised that two essentials were left out: 1) A good cleaver. I use my Chinese cleaver (about 8 in by 4 in) for everything... It is even better than a chef's knife. Choose a cleaver with good heft, fairly heavy, but not too thick a blade. Be sure the handle is solid. It should be stainless steel. A reasonably good one will cost about $20. 2) A serrated edge knife. About a foot long, with a heavy duty plastic handle and stainless steel blade. They are commonly sold in stores at Christmas time for about $5. They can cut anything, and are great for slicing.
  • Gary wrote:

    Feb 01, 2007

    2009-11-18 3:02 PM

    My wife is a chef, and yes our kitchen is equipped thus so, except we also have the standard crock pot and the expresso machine. Do it right people. :)
Add Comment

All fields are mandatory.

Advertisement

Sign up for Insider Access,
Our Free E-Newsletter

Contests, recipes, member-only perks and more! Get Homemakers.com's monthly newsletter.

Newsletter

get your
Download of the Month

Personal health notes

Use our printer-friendly sheets to keep a record of your health and wellness issues.

Download now!

how to
Follow Homemakers Online

Contests

more contests

Partners

Weblocal.ca Find. Rate. Share.

Find Local Businesses

Find Local Businesses

Advertisement Advertisement

Transcontinental Media contact information

Médias Transcontinental
Street Address
1100 Boulevard René-Lévesque Ouest
Extended Address
24th floor
Locality
Montréal
Region
QC
Country
CA
Postal Code
H3B 4X9
Latitude
45°29' 55" N
Longitude
73°34' 13" W
Work
+1 514 392 9000
Fax
+1 514 392 1489