ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR A SCRATCH-COOKING KITCHEN
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Cooking from scratch is a skill that has become much less necessary in our modern world where convenience foods and take out are more accessible than ever.
As much as I appreciate a quick, easy, no-thought-needed meal, I have also come to realize the benefits of cooking from scratch. Not only does it provide greater self-reliance, it’s also more affordable and gives you better control over what goes into the food you eat.
Plus, if you’re getting into growing your own food, hunting, fishing, or foraging wild plants, you’ll need the tools and skills necessary to turn that harvest into delicious meals.
Learning to cook from scratch can feel overwhelming if you’re entirely new to it. But having a properly stocked kitchen can make that process much smoother.
Below, you’ll find a list of all the essential items for a kitchen you’ll need, plus some that will make your life easier as you advance in your cooking skills. I’ve included links to some of my favourite items as well.
ESSENTIAL KITCHEN PREP TOOLS
Prep is the first step in taking whole food ingredients and turning them into tasty meals and snacks. You’ll need tools to slice, dice, mix, and chop before you even start cooking.
KNIVES
A selection of quality knives is the most basic and essential needs in a kitchen. While there are endless options of types of knives you can buy, you’ll want to start with:
- Chef’s Knife – for all your basic chopping, cutting, dicing, and slicing.
- Serrated Knife – great for cutting bread and other baked goods, as well as delicate foods like tomatoes and other fruits.
- Paring Knife – best for peeling and skinning as well as chopping and mincing smaller items that require more precision than a chef’s knife can provide.
Purchasing a knife set is a great and more affordable way to get all your basic knives and then some.
MIXING BOWLS
Bowls of various sizes are necessary for organizing and mixing ingredients. Glass, stainless steel, and plastic will all work. Opt for a nesting set that allows for efficient storage of multiple bowls. Lids are a nice addition to look for when shopping for a set of bowls.
MEASURING IMPLEMENTS
I’ll admit I often eyeball and guesstimate amounts when cooking from scratch, but a set of measuring implements is essential when you’re first staring out, for more precise recipes, and when baking.
At the most basic, you’ll want measuring cups (both liquid and dry) and measuring spoons.
I also highly recommend getting a scale for the most accurate measurements. Kitchen scales are affordable, readily available, and especially helpful for precise measurements when baking.
UTENSILS
Beyond your typical silverware, there are a few utensils you’ll want to have on hand to make food prep easier. At bare minimum, I’d recommend having a set of wooden spoons, spatulas, and a whisk.
You may also find other specialty items useful such as a masher, pastry cutter, and bench scraper depending on what type of cooking and baking you are doing.
CUTTING BOARD
Save your countertop and get yourself a cutting board. I prefer bamboo or wood, but plastic and glass are options as well.
STRAINER
A fine mesh strainer will be the most versatile option that will work for everything from pasta to finer items like purees. Having multiple sizes is ideal for various uses.
GRATER
A box grater with multiple options in one is an excellent choice for grating and zesting things like cheese, veggies, and citrus.
VEGETABLE PEELER
A vegetable peeler will make quick, safe work of peeling everything from carrots to zucchini.
KITCHEN SCISSORS
A pair of sturdy, sharp scissors is incredibly handy in the kitchen and makes quick work of things like snipping herbs or even chopping veggies. Look for ones that come apart and allow for thorough cleaning.
ROLLING PIN
A rolling pin is not only useful for rolling out dough but can also be used to tenderize meat and crush things like cookies and crackers.
OPTIONAL SPECIALTY ITEMS
There are an endless number of kitchen gadgets on the market for almost every task you can think of – many of which are totally unnecessary and will likely end up collecting dust in a drawer.
However, there are some specialty tools that I find to be useful depending on the type of cooking I’m doing. Some of my most-used tools include:
ESSENTIAL COOKING AND BAKING TOOLS
Once your prep is done, it’s time to fire up the appliances and start cooking. This step will require your actual cookware as well as a few things that will help when handling food during and after cooking.
POTS AND PANS
A basic pot and pan set will be enough to get started. Opt for the best quality you can afford, and you may never need to buy a set again.
There are a variety of options for pots and pans – from stainless steel, to cast iron, to ceramic, and more. Do some research and choose the best option for you. You’ll want at least a few different sizes of pots and frying pans.
Beyond a basic set, a Dutch oven and a large stock pot are extremely handy in a scratch-cooking kitchen.
BAKING SHEETS
I prefer rimmed baking sheets as they are much more versatile than a rimless option. Sets are available with multiple sizes. Don’t forget to measure your oven and ensure the larger sheets will fit before buying.
Baking sheets can be used for everything from cookies, to sheet pan meals, to flash freezing to squares and other baked goods.
BAKING PANS AND DISHES
A variety of baking pans and dishes will be necessary depending on the type of cooking and baking you plan to do. Glass, ceramic, and steel are all great options.
I recommend having:
- 8×8 or 9×9 square pan
- 9×13 pan
- Bread pan
- Muffin pan
THERMOMETERS
A meat thermometer is essential to ensuring you are cooking to a safe internal temp, while a candy thermometer will come in handy for higher-temperature tasks like deep frying and making jams and candies.
UTENSILS
Flippers, tongs, and a ladle are the main cooking utensils you’ll want to have on hand.
SILICONE BAKING SHEETS
Silicone baking mats are a great option for a non-stick lining for your baking sheets. They are reusable and easy-to-clean.
OVEN MITTS AND POTHOLDERS
Skip the burnt fingers and scorched countertops and get yourself a set of oven mitts and potholders.
COOLING RACKS
Many baked goods require cooling on racks to prevent over-baking and becoming soggy on the pan once they’re removed from the oven.
APPLICANCES THAT MAKE COOKING FROM SCRATCH EASIER AND FASTER
The tools listed above are all you really need to get started with cooking from scratch and accomplish almost any kitchen task. However, there are multiple appliances available that will make food prep and cooking faster and easier.
Some of these include:
- Food Processor
- Blender
- Immersion Blender
- Hand Mixer
- Stand Mixer
- Slow Cooker
- Pressure Cooker
- Air Fryer
- Toaster Oven
- Grain Mill
- Food Mill
- Grinder
Many of these items now come in multi-use appliances such as the Ninja Foodi which pressure cooks, air fries, and slow cooks, among other functions (I love mine!). You can also get attachments for food processors or stand mixers that grate, grind, mill, and roll pasta.
While I wouldn’t recommend running out and buying a kitchen full of expensive appliances right off the bat, these can be great additions and time-savers as you progress in your scratch cooking skills.
Scratch cooking is a great skill to have. Not only does it ensure you know what’s going into your food, it can also help save you money and can be a fun creative outlet! I hope this list was helpful in stocking your kitchen with the basic essentials and provided ideas for things to add as you progress in your cooking skills.
