Have you ever come across a gadget or dish in your kitchen that you’re pretty certain you’ve never used? I recently heard from a reader who would like to avoid this.
Elizabeth asked the following:
“My fiancé and I both grew up in homes with single parents who cooked using mostly frozen and canned foods. We’re both now learning how to cook from scratch. We’d also like to be able to use the apartment we’ll be sharing for hospitality. What items do you think are smart for us to purchase for our kitchen? We’re completing a wedding registry and will buy the rest ourselves. We are on a budget and the apartment isn’t that big, so we want to stick with essential items.”
Congratulations on your upcoming marriage, Elizabeth. The kitchen is one place where it is easy to amass a wealth of unneeded items, so this is a great question and it is very wise of you to give thought to your purchases. I’ve shared my thoughts below and I hope others will chime in with their ideas in the comments section at the end of the post. Please note that the following contains affiliate links. Click here to read about what this means.
Essential items for the starter kitchen
Dishes, glasses, and flatware
- Plates and bowls. You and your husband (and any guests you host in your home) will need dishes off of which to eat. You can purchase individual plates and bowls, but it is often most affordable to purchase boxes that contain 4 or more place settings (each place setting usually includes a dinner plate, salad plate, bowl, and mug). Many durable, yet attractive and affordable options are available.
- Glasses. Basic glasses are typically affordable, so choose a style you like and purchase a box or two. We like these beer glass-style glasses because they are durable and their wide openings make them easy to clean.
- Flatware. Like dishes, it is typically affordable to purchase flatware in sets. Avoid really cheap sets that are flimsy in favor of a good, solid stainless steel set. There are so many styles available that you can find one that is perfect for you and your fiancée!
Bakeware, cookware, and food storage
- 9 x 13 inch baking dish. A 9×13 inch baking dish can be used for baking casseroles, desserts, and even meats like chicken breasts or whole turkeys. There’s no need to purchase an expensive version of this dish, but do choose a reliable one such as the Pyrex Oblong Baking Dish or the OXO Freezer-to-Oven Safe Baking Dish.
- Sheet pan. You’ll want to select a sheet pan (full sheet or half sheet) based on the size of your oven. This type of pan is a good investment because you can use it for multiple purposes—you can manage without cookie sheets, a pizza pan, etc.
- Sauté pan. When many of us think of stovetop cooking, we think of frying pans, but a sauté pan is a great option if you’re only going to have one or two pans. One of these can be used for just about everything: making stir-fry, cooking pancakes, frying burgers, making sauces, braising meats, etc.
- Dutch oven. My Dutch oven is one of the most frequently used items in my kitchen. I use it several times during a typical week, especially when making one-pot meals and soups. If you get one, you’ll see that its versatility and convenience make it well worth the price of purchasing a good one.
- Food storage containers. At some point you are going to need to refrigerate unused portions of foods. An inexpensive set of BPA-free plastic storage containers will take care of this. However, if you can manage the expense, a set of glass storage containers is a nicer option because of their durability and because they won’t leach chemicals like plastic storage containers.
Accessories
- Cutting board. You can easily get by with having only one cutting board as long as you get one that is large and durable.
- Knives. You don’t need a large cutlery set because a few good knives will meet all of your needs.
- A chef’s knife for slicing, dicing, mincing, and chopping.
A paring knife for peeling and paring.
- A serrated utility knife for slicing delicate fruits and vegetables.
- Colander. You’ll only need one colander if you choose a large, sturdy one.
- Mixing bowl. A large mixing bowl is essential because it can be used for food preparation (mixing batters, marinating meats, tossing salads, etc.) and even for serving foods at the table.
- Measuring spoons and cups. Measuring spoons and cups are critical for using the correct measurements when preparing recipes. Choose sturdy varieties (avoid plastic) so they do not break when measuring heavy products.
- Liquid measuring cup
- Dry measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Utensils. There are a lot of utensils that are nice to have, but only a few are essential.
- Wooden spoon
- Mixing spoon
- Turning spatula
- Spoon spatula
- Whisk
- Tongs
- Can opener
- Meat thermometer
- Towels. You will need towels to dry your hands, to dry dishes, and to clean up messes. Consider getting dark colors that will hide stains.
- Potholders. You need a simple (but effective) set of potholders to safely handle hot dishes.
Inessential items that are really nice to have
The items listed above will give you what you need in a kitchen. There are a handful of items that you can do without, but they’re really nice to have.
- Slow cooker
- Vegetable peeler
- Steak knives
- Casserole dish set
- Serving bowl and tray
- Cheese grater
- Toaster oven
I haven’t included other small appliances (blender, mixer, toaster, coffee maker, etc.) because many individuals have no need for these.
Overarching recommendations
I suggest you always keep the following in mind as you shop.
- Choose the best quality you can afford. Price often reflects quality. Do your research to learn what materials and brands are better in terms of quality and purchase these, even if they cost a bit more.
- Avoid items that serve only one function. You don’t need a salad spinner, a citrus juicer, or corn on the cob holders. These items preform only one task. Choose items that can be used in multiple ways (such as the mixing bowl described above).
- Shop around. Look online, in local department stores, at garage sales, and in thrift stores. You’ll be surprised what deals you can find when you take time to look!
Now it’s time to share your thoughts! Do you agree or disagree with my list? What items would you add or remove?
Shared at the following:
Monday’s Musings, Coffee and Conversation, Titus 2 Tuesday, and The Art of Homemaking.
These are all such great ideas! I would also recommend, along with a sheet pan, getting one that’s an Air Bake (or similar brand) instead of getting a “normal” sheet pan off the shelf. In the oven at our current apartment, most rolls and cookies blacken on the bottoms if we use a simple sheet pan, but when we use our “air bake” (it’s another brand, but same thing) they turn out perfectly.
I also think it’s important to consider what items may be used the most and be willing to get single-use items if they’ll get a lot of use. I am a big believer in not using single-use items, but we eat tons of cheese and have found that lots of pre-shredded cheese is a bit dry, so a cheese grater is important to us so we can shred our own (plus we can use it for potatoes). We were given a rice cooker, and that honestly is one of our most frequently used appliances, since we eat rice so often!
After I got married, I started learning about cast ir0n cooking, and it intrigues me. I think if our frying pan set ever needs to be retired, it would be neat to get a cast iron pan since those are so versatile!
Great tips, AnneMarie. We have an AirBake pizza pan that works really well! I can see how having a sheet pan like this would be helpful, especially if you’re not sure how well the oven you will be using preforms.
We use our grater relatively often, as well. In addition to cheese and potatoes, we sometimes shred carrots and other veggies.
We eat rice quite frequently, but I never could get it to come out well in a rice cooker (I finally gave ours away). Do you cook brown rice in yours? I’ve wondered if they just don’t work for brown rice.
I don’t know much about rice cookers, but that may be it-we rarely eat brown rice, and I’ve only ever made brown rice on the stovetop. Most of the rice we eat-made in the cooker-is white.
Then this must be the issue.
Great ideas for stocking the kitchen! I would like to add that I have 2 cutting boards – one is designated for raw meat handling/processing only. I have different color edges on my boards but a piece of colored tape on the underside will help differentiate which board is for raw meats. Some people prefer a wood board for breads, and another one for veggies and fruits, etc. OXO brand utensils are great and they are reasonably priced. My arthritic hands like the cushy grips.
This is a great idea, Laurie. I have two cutting boards that look identical, so I just have to be careful to clean things really well. If you’re going to buy two, then going with your approach would be very useful (and help you handle foods safely).
We have several OXO brand utensils and I agree–they tend to be affordable but well made.
I would add a potato masher because I don’t know how else to do that. I would also like to say that we received as wedding gifts 36 years ago two sets of mixing bowls that I continue to use 36 years later. That gives some multiple use and versatility to using them. Additionally regarding pans. If you should choose to get a set so that you have different sizes, I would like to share my experience. I bought a set of Revere Ware 5 years before I maid, so for 41 or so years I have used the same pans and they still look like new. As you have said, invest wisely and you get quality.
Sometimes it’s hard to pay a bit more, but if you’re still using the same items 40+ years later, then it was worth it!
I can see how a potato masher could be helpful. I “mash” potatoes with the whisk attachment on my stand mixer (I used a hand mixer before I got the stand mixer).
Thanks for a very practical list! I have a son getting married soon (although he and his fiance have been living on their own for awhile now) and some bridal showers coming up, so having a list of essentials to refer to is helpful.
Stopping by from PatAndCandy’s Coffee & Conversation this morning.
Hi Kym,
I hope you are able to use it as you purchase gifts.
Have fun celebrating these marriages!