10 must-have kitchen products

1. Knives
Essentials: According to Faksorp, there are two knives that every kitchens needs: a good quality chef's knife and a paring knife.

The versatile chef's knife can be used for light clever jobs, chopping, slicing and some types of butchering. You can also use its side for mashing things such as garlic. "Once you have the dexterity and you know how it works, you can do everything with a chef's knife," Faksorp says.

A paring knife is much smaller than a chef's knife and it can be used for smaller and more finicky tasks such as peeling.

What to look for: When shopping for a quality chef's knife, Faksorp suggests the following: at least an 8-inch blade, a fairly heavy weight, a full tang (the metal that connects the blade to the handle) that runs from the blade to the length of the handle and it should feel well-balanced when held.

When purchasing a paring knife, Faksorp recommends looking for a 1-1/2 inch blade with a full tang. This knife should have a similar shape to the chef's knife.

Expert extras: "I would not skimp or try to save money when buying a chef's knife," Faksorp says. "It's worth the investment because if you buy good quality, then you can keep them for a lifetime if you treat them right."

2. Pots and pans
Essentials: According to Faksorp, most kitchens only require three staples: a frying pan the size of your biggest burner -- for searing and high-heat cooking, a large multipurpose stockpot -- for both stovetop and oven use, and a sauce pan -- for boiling eggs and preparing smaller portions.

What to look for: Faksorp recommends choosing items that are heavier because heft is an indication of good metal. A heavy base is important for frying pans and stockpots to reduce the risks of burning food and to ensure even heat distribution. When buying a stockpot, it's important to get a larger size, but not so large that it will not fit in your oven.

Expert extras: "Again, here is where you want to spend some money -- on your frying pan and stockpot," Faksorp says. Invest in good quality items, take proper care, and they'll last a lifetime.

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4. Immersion hand blender
Essentials: While blenders and food processors serve different purposes, Faksorp says that as long as you are not doing heavy duty cooking such as making pasta dough, a hand blender is most likely all a home chef needs. "A hand blender can do everything that a blender can do," Faksorp says. Plus, it's more versatile. "You can stick it right into a pot of hot liquid so you don't have to pour something into the blender and worry about spilling anything."
What to look for: When shopping for an immersion hand blender, Faksorp says you don't have to invest too much money. He currently uses a stick blender from Braun, and has used one fromKitchen Aid too. Some features to look for are a durable steel blade, multiple speed options and a blender that detaches from the motor for easy cleaning. Many hand blenders also come with extras, such as choppers and whisks for added value. Before purchasing a hand blender with these additional features consider the type of cooking you do and if the bonuses will be useful or just additional kitchen clutter.

5. Instant-read thermometer
Essentials: Faksorp recommends using an instant-read thermometer so there's no room for error in knowing when foods are cooked.
What to look for: "I like to keep things simple. The more gadgetry you have, the more chances are that things can break down," Faksorp says. He recommends buying a basic pocket thermometer with a plastic protection case. All you have to do is stick it into the meat and wait for your reading.

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7. Mixing bowls
Essentials: Mixing bowls are another obvious kitchen basic. You can use them for mixing baking ingredients, creating sauces, tossing salads... anything.
What to look for: "I like to use stainless steel because it doesn't take up odour and because it's actually quite cheap, and they come in all different sizes and they stack nicely," Faksorp says. He recommends buying one very large bowl for mixing things such as salads, and then getting two medium-sized bowls as well as a couple of smaller ones.
Expert extras: "When I stock my kitchen with storage containers…I try to have them not round, but rectangular or square because then you don't lose a lot of (storage) space," Faksorp says.

8. Cutting boards
Essentials: Faksorp recommends that every kitchen have three cutting boards. The first is "…a really heavy duty one that you use for all of your vegetables and things," Faksorp says. "Then you have a thinner, lighter one that you can put on top of that for when you do your meat carving or poultry carving. Then you mark one side for meat and the other side for seafood, so you won't cross contaminate." He reminds that you should never just flip your meat cutting board over without properly cleaning it or you'll contaminate your base cutting board. The third board should be a light one, for cutting fruit.
What to look for: Faksorp recommends looking for thick plastic or wood materials.
Expert extras: Faksorp shares his cleaning tip: "I scrub my chopping board and then you can just have a very mild bleaching solution that you rinse it with afterward and then you rinse that and you're fine."

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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!

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Want to read more? Learn all about buying pots and pans.