Can anyone give me advice on kitchen equipment?

[RobynOC]

I am 16 and I have always had an interest in cooking. I have cooked meals and things before and have done a lot of baking. The problem is I have very, very basic kitchen tools.
Can anyone tell me the things I need, the things that are handy and things that are good investments.
If anyone could help I would bevery grateful as I'm looking to start cooking properly every meal for my family. I'm so passionate about cooking and really want a well equipped kitchen.

Thanks

Robyn x

[Andy M.]

Some of what you are asking is dependent on what and how you cook.

You should have a few good quality knives. You don't need a set, three basic knives will do. A chef's knife, a paring knife, a serrated bread knife. along with a steel to keep the edges in good condition.

A few pots and pans: A skillet 10" to 12" in diameter, a couple of sauce pans of different sizes. Again by a few good quality items rather than a less expensive set.

A couple of wood or plastic cutting boards.

You don't need a lot of gadgets. The stuff you see on TV ads is essentially junk and doesn't work.

Pick up things as you go. You don't have to start with a fully stocked kitchen.

[Alix]

Welcome Robyn, are you planning on cooking or cooking and baking?

Lets start with the basics, different sized pots, couple of frying pans, good knives (worth the money you may have to spend), utensils like lifters, tongs, ladles etc.

Baking requires other stuff, I couldn't get along without my food processor/mixer. I use it for a lot, but mostly in baking. You will find most people like the KitchenAid stuff. Cruise through the site and you will see tons of threads referring to it.

[goboenomo]

A pastry blender


You dont neeeeed one...
but it beats using a fork :D

[Constance]

The pastry blender is an excellent tool...I wouldn't be without one. If you're into making pies and cookies, you'll need a rolling pin, of course, and I recommend a cotton mitt for your rolling pin and a canvas pastry cloth to go with. You flour the mitt and the cloth, and it makes rolling dough so much easier! To store, just wrap the cloth around the rolling pin and store in a plastic bread sack. You only want to wash it once in a great while.
You'll find these available on line at one of the baking sites.

Add a meat thermometer to your list...I learned to cook without one, but a thermometer would have saved a lot of my mistakes.

In regard to the pots and pans, I would add a Dutch oven and a stock-pot to Andy's list. You also need a colander. I lost a lot of pasta down the kitchen sink before I finally got one.

[goboenomo]

You dont need the mitt though
You can just flour the rolling pin


Remember he's 16
He might not have alot of money to spend on things like that.
For now.

[Ishbel]

I suspect 'he' might be 'she', judging by the spelling of the name.

[goboenomo]

Whoops
I didn't notice
You're right

[Ishbel]

It's an easy mistake, especially in the whirl of many, many, many, postings that you've made since you joined.

[SizzlininIN]

To add to what others have already listed:

If you can afford it I highly recommend a Kitchen Aid Mixer. I research before I bought and found that the older model Hobart Kitchen Aid is a better product. I found mine on Ebay and it was either never used or used only a couple times I can't remember. I love it! There's a post regarding this somewhere.

I 2nd the Food Processer.....I have a Cuisinart. Its an older version that I found at a Garage Sale and the elderly woman hardly used it.

I have a blender but I seem to only use it for drinks.

As far as gadgets.....this one I do recommend:
A Microplane........these are wonderful for grating garlic and citrus peels.

If your finances are limited check out your garage sale, local thrift and resale stores. Its amazing what people get rid of. I love it when people get gifts they never used and get rid of it......I have many treasures that I've gotten this way. Many were never used or used only a few times.........saved me lots of money.