Most American home kitchens have the basics down pat: a set of measuring cups, a few mixing bowls, a couple sharp knives, a cutting board, basic stainless steel pots and pans. If you do any baking or stovetop cooking at home, these items (and some others) are absolutely essential.
But what if you’re looking to up your cooking game? For that, the basics no longer cut it. You’ll need to acquire an arsenal of tools and equipment to make everything you’re capable of making, some sooner than others.
In truth, there’s always another thing you need (or feel like you need, more often). Consider this your guide to prioritizing the most important items first, to start your chef’s journey off on the right foot.
Home Kitchen Essentials for Ambitious Amateur Cooks
Ask any serious home cook for a list of the kitchen tools they value most and you’re sure to hear some (or all) of these in response. Buy them first as you build your home cooking arsenal.
1. High-Quality Knife Set
There are knife sets, and then there are knife sets. You need the latter. Sure, it’ll cost more, but like most of the items discussed here, you’re paying for performance and longevity. Look for high-carbon steel blades with ergonomic handles and a range of practical sizes, ideally six or more.
2. Garlic Crusher
Some home cooks are skeptical of single-purpose tools like this, but you should make an exception for anything that makes tedious, time-consuming tasks like crushing garlic easier and faster. And because garlic is such a common, versatile ingredient, you’ll use this more than you expect.
3. Meat Thermometer
Safety comes first, but the perfect cook is a close second. A simple probe-style meat thermometer shows you when your chicken, fish or pork is at a safe temperature and stops you from going too far beyond it.
4. Microplane
This surprisingly versatile tool is ideal for shredding bulk spices, zesting citrus, fine-grating cheese, and performing any number of other delicate prep and seasoning tasks. Its long, narrow design ensures it fits snugly in alongside your tongs and spatulas.
5. Mesh Strainer
This multipurpose strainer comes in different sizes, so be sure to choose whichever accommodates your typical batch sizes, or pick up a couple different ones. Use it to pre-wash rice, drain pasta and canned beans, and separate moisture from any number of other solid or semi-solid foods.
6. Stand Mixer
Any baker worth their salt owns a trusty stand mixer. It’s a must for mixing cookie and brownie doughs, whatever hand-mixing purists might tell you.
7. Immersion Blender
If you’re eager to experiment with sauces, salsas and other small-batch blends, you need a handheld immersion blender. It’s cheaper, less bulky and less messy than a stand mixer (which doesn’t have much functional overlap anyway) or a Vitamix-style mixer, which you can work your way up to but don’t need right away.
8. A Set of Baking Pans and Dishes
This last one is a bit of a cop-out because it’s technically more than one item. But it’s better to buy them as a set, or at least all in one fell swoop, to avoid any gaps in your collection. Key items include 9x13”, 9x9” and 5x7” dishes and both standard and oversized cookie sheets.
Skip These (For Now)
Honing your home cooking skills is fun and rewarding, but your hobby can quickly spiral out of control — and cost you a pretty penny — if you let it. If you lack adequate budget or storage space for every kitchen implement under the sun, draw the line at these three, at least for now.
1. Handheld Whisk
For easier jobs, like whisking eggs, a fork will do just fine. For harder jobs, like mixing cookie dough, turn to your trusty stand mixer.
2. Colander
A colander is useful for draining pasta and potatoes, but it’s just not as versatile as a mesh strainer. Most colanders up to the task of family-style cooking are too bulky to fit in an already-cluttered cabinet, anyway.
3. Mandolin
If you aspire to open a salad- or sandwich-focused restaurant, you probably do need a mandolin. It’s too much for more home cooks, though — you can just use one of your fancy knives. Storage and maintenance are problematic, too.