Bakeware and Cookware | Hand Tools | Small Appliances | Other Appliances
Bakeware and Cookware
1- and 2-quart saucepans; 5- and 8-quart pots; large 12-in skillet and small 6-in skillet—make sure they have thick bottoms that will evenly distribute the heat. If you get nonstick, try to get anodized aluminum ones in the highest quality that you can afford. I've had good luck with KitchenAid. IKEA also makes some good cookware. You can find unexpected deals at discount stores like Grocery Outlet—I even found a commercial-grade saucepan at Goodwill that seemed like it had never been cooked in!12-cup muffin pan
Baking pan 9" × 12" and a cookie sheet—for the 9" × 12", you can't beat the quality of Pyrex glass. I like having a cookie sheet I don't care too much about and an AirBake cookie sheet for actually making cookies.
Cooling rack
9" pie plate—nonstick glass, if you can find it (try Target)
9" × 5" loaf pan—Pyrex glass
Mixing bowls in a variety of sizes—Glass, not plastic. Oils bind to plastic.
9" square baking dish—Great for baking brownies in.
Hand Tools
Cutting boardVegetable peeler
Vegetable grater / mandoline
Large (10-inch) chef's knife
Small paring knife
Plastic / wood / silicone cooking spoons and spatulas—my personal favorite are the silicone spatulas because they're flexible and withstand high temperatures.
Whisk—I have a metal whisk with a silicone coating so that it won't scratch my nonstick pots.
Potato masher—plastic
Kitchen timer
Rolling pin
Pepper grinder—fresh ground pepper tastes much better than the pre-ground stuff—you will never go back, I assure you
Small Appliances
Food Processor / BlenderLike I say in my blog description, I have a teensy galley kitchen and the less appliances I have, the better. So, one day I was shopping at Costco and saw my new absolute favorite appliance—the Cuisinart Duo Food Processor and Blender for $60. It's great because you get two appliances for the price of one.
Rice Cooker / Steamer
I love my rice cooker. Besides making rice easy to make, steaming vegetables for my purees is a breeze. I picked up my Hamilton Beach rice cooker at WalMart for $30 and I definitely have gotten my money's worth out of it.
Mixer—I have a KitchenAid stand mixer and it has come in handy more times than I can count. Recently, I have begun to see old KitchenAid mixers in Goodwill of all places!
Immersion Blender—these hand-held blenders are great for smooth soups and even mashed potatoes.
Other Appliances
Freezer—whether it's a chest freezer or an upright, I find them essential. Living in a small place, we also have a small refrigerator with almost no space in the freezer. Buying in bulk and freezing food is the best way to save lots of money.Microwave—Ok, I know a "true" chef uses no microwaves, but, ugh, whatever, I still love my Sharp Carousel. This thing defrosts and reheats better than any other method (for the most part).
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