Essential Kitchen Tools (wine, brandy, skillet, pizza)

[randomparent]

As a spin-off from another thread, I'd like to know what you consider your kitchen basics, items that do the major lifting in your kitchen. These are things that you use to prepare the vast majority of your meals. Mine are as follows:

* paring, chef, & bread knives
* a large cutting board that fits over my sink
* two large nesting bowls
* a square-edged wooden spoon w/ notched handle, a silicon scraper, SS spatula/turner, a whisk, and a ladle
* liquid measuring cup, SS dry measuring cups, and SS measuring spoons
* a box grater
* a non-stick loaf pan
* a rectangular stoneware baking dish
* a half sheet pan w/ fitted cooling rack
* a 12-inch SS skillet w/lid
* a Dutch oven
* a collapsible steamer
* a SS strainer
* a set of hot pads

I'd say 90% of the meals I serve at home could be prepared with just these items, which is good because I have a tiny kitchen. For small appliances, I consider only one a must-have: an immersion blender.

[CSD610]

I have prepared wonderful meals with one frying pan one small sauce pan one spatula one stirring spoon and one knife.
If one does not have all the toys one can learn to adapt with what they do have and still eat well.

[randomparent]

Originally Posted by CSD610

I have prepared wonderful meals with one frying pan one small sauce pan one spatula one stirring spoon and one knife.
If one does not have all the toys one can learn to adapt with what they do have and still eat well.

I think that's absolutely true. While I certainly have more than what you list above in accordance with the size of my family and the meals I prepare, I have a lot less than others. We all have our comfort level when it comes to what tools fill our kitchen cabinets. I'm looking forward to seeing how our essentials vary as others respond to this thread.

[burdell]

Gotta have a corkscrew in the kitchen, many dishes call for a splash of wine and the cook kinda likes one now and then too

Maybe not essential for all but an occasionally troublesome wrist makes it worth it for me to have a lemon/lime squeezer in the drawer.

Gadget wise I'm getting very fond of a Microplane grater (I had a generic in the past but have to say the branded Microplane is well worth the $$$) as well as a cheese grater.

[burdell]

Originally Posted by randomparent

I think that's absolutely true. While I certainly have more than what you list above in accordance with the size of my family and the meals I prepare, I have a lot less than others. We all have our comfort level when it comes to what tools fill our kitchen cabinets. I'm looking forward to seeing how our essentials vary as others respond to this thread.

If you haven't tried it I have to say it's worth cruising consignment shops for kitchen gear, perhaps not essential but I've found a Calphalon 12" non-stick sauté pan, a Circulon stir fry pan, and an 'Emeril' SS skillet, all in excellent condition and all less than $10 each as well as some very nice crystal brandy snifters for $0.59 each.

[randomparent]

Good point about the grater. Definitely one of my essentials. I have added it to my list above.

As for the other suggestions, tiny kitchen, as I said. By the time the dishes and pantry items are in the cabinets and drawers, there's little room for anything else. So what are your absolute basics?

[Hedgehog_Mom]

My essentials are a large skillet, 2 quart saucepan, 6 quart soup pan, cookie sheet with edges, cooling grid, grater, peeler, several flexible cutting mats, knives, colander, rolling pin, plastic spatula and serving spoon, and a couple of plastic mixing bowls.

Other things I use often but are not really essential are stand mixer, pizza stone, comal (small cast iron griddle for tortillas), muffin pan, 8" square pan, small food processor, contact grill.

[Pansori]

Originally Posted by burdell

Gotta have a corkscrew in the kitchen, many dishes call for a splash of wine and the cook kinda likes one now and then too

Maybe not essential for all but an occasionally troublesome wrist makes it worth it for me to have a lemon/lime squeezer in the drawer.

When my husband was a child he was known for eating whole lemons straight. He still does that, but mostly we end up cooking a lot of food that calls for lemon juice and he deems only the freshest of lemons to be worthy (none of this lemon juice in a plastic bottle crap!). We also make a LOT of lime juice, so a squeezer in our household is essential. In fact, we have bought a couple of squeezers before we decided on the one that works the best for us.

I love my dutch oven, skillet, and wooden spoon. My kitchen would be incomplete without those items.

[wadejay26]

I would be lost without my stove/oven.

[NoleFanHSV]

No one has mentioned Tongs. I have 4 sets of SS tongs. I use them over spoons and spatulas.