Basic Kitchen Gear: An exploration of 15 essential kitchen instruments

The most essential part of our kitchen is our instruments. There is no activity you can imagine without a proper instrument. If you want to make your culinary learning smooth, then you should know about these instruments.

1. Knife

My personal favorite part of the kitchen is the indispensable tool: the knife. There’s no denying that most cutting tasks are achievable with a sturdy and sharp blade. It’s the hero of the kitchen, aiding chefs of all skill levels in chopping, slicing, and dicing their way to culinary perfection.

2. Knife Sharpener

It’s important to keep your knife sharp to achieve a butter-smooth experience when chopping. Conversely, if your knife is not sharp, your ingredients could be damaged. Additionally, maintaining sharpness ensures your knives don’t become dull or cause accidents.

3. Chopping board

This is a very basic tool in the kitchen. Of course, you will need a cutting board to chop your vegetables or meat. Despite its simplicity, it’s interesting to note that cutting boards have different colors for different items.

  • Red board

It’s used primarily to handle raw meat.

  • Yellow board

The purpose is completely different from the red one. The yellow board is used for cooked meat. If you’re slicing a giant beef roast or chicken roast, use the yellow board.

  • Blue board

It’s used to handle raw fish, for cleaning, deboning, or slicing the fish.

  • White board

It’s used for dairy products such as bread, butter, cheese, and cream, especially when making sandwiches.

  • Green board

When slicing fruit, use the green board. Also, for veggies that have seeds like cucumber and tomato, which are technically fruits, the green board is ideal for making salad.

  • Brown board

It’s used primarily for chopping vegetables, onions, or leafy greens.

4. Peeler

It’s an easy kitchen tool used to remove the outer skin or peel of fruit and vegetables. It typically has a sharp blade attached to a handle, allowing for efficient and precise peeling.

5. Spoon

It’s important to use right spoon for right measurement in your cooking. Spoon is a very basic instrument. It comes in various shapes and sizes, with different types serving different purposes, such as soup spoons, dessert spoons, and serving spoons.

6. Measuring cup

Like a spoon, a measuring cup is also needed for the right amount of ingredients. Especially when making a cake, you will need to measure the right amount of flour, sugar, or oil with the help of a measuring cup. Measuring cups come in different sizes and materials, including plastic, glass, and metal.

7. Non-stick skillet

I will recommend that if you are a beginner, use a non-stick skillet pan to fry or sauté your food. It has a special coating that prevents food from sticking to its surface during cooking. This coating is typically made of materials like polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), commonly known as Teflon. Non-stick skillets make cooking and cleaning easier since food slides off the pan effortlessly and requires minimal oil or butter for cooking. However it’s important to use utensils that won’t scratch the non-stick coating to maintain its effectiveness and safe.

8. Spatula

Choose the right spatula to stir your food. They are essential tools in any kitchen for handling delicate foods and ensuring even cooking. There are different types of spatulas such as:

  • Wooden spatula
  • Fish spatula
  • BBQ spatula
  • Silicon spatula
  • Cake spatula
  • Offset spatula
  • Metal spatula

9. Saucepan

This is very essential kitchen tool. It’s perfect for cooking heating soup, boiling water for pasta or vegetable, and even simmering small batches of stews or curries. Look for one with a sturdy handle and a lid for maximum versatility.

10. Blender

Blender is very common and useful instrument in kitchen. You can use it to make powder spice, paste spice, smoothies, Juice and even to grind nuts or make homemade nut butter. It’s a great tool for creating quick and healthy meals and snacks.

11. Garlic press

A garlic press is a handy gadget for quickly mincing garlic cloves. It saves time effort compared to chopping garlic by hand, and it helps release the garlic flavors more effectively. Plus it’s easy to clean, making it a convenient tool for any kitchen.

12. Pressure cooker

A pressure cooker is a fantastic kitchen appliance because it reduces cooking time, especially when cooking tough meats that are difficult to boil. It utilizes steam pressure to cook food efficiently, making it perfect for busy individuals or families.

13. Mixing Bowls

It’s perfect for combining ingredients, whether you’re making dough, mixing batter, tossing salads, or marinating meats. Look for mixing bowls with a variety of sizes to suit different recipes and consider ones with a non-slip base or a pour spout for added convenience.

14. Grater

It’s a tool used for shredding or finely grating foods like cheese, vegetables, or spices. They’re handy for adding texture and flavor to dishes and are essential for recipes like salads, pasta, and baked goods.

15. Colander

A colander is a kitchen utensil for straining water from food, such as pasta, rice, vegetables. It typically has many small holes as you can see to allow water to drain keeping the food contained. Colanders come in various sizes and materials, such as stainless steel, plastic or silicon.

So, make your list, go to market and organize your kitchen.