Photos by Austin Garner | Words by Jeorgie Smith
The Big Pieces
1. Cutting board: You can’t do all the chopping on a kitchen counter ( your landlord will not be happy). You need a cutting board — plastic or wood, both will save your countertop.
2. Saucepan: This is your go-to pot for mac and cheese or ramen. It will have a wide base and tall sides with a lid to trap in the heat, when necessary. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can move on to more advanced dishes like spaghetti and meatballs or quinoa.
3. Skillet pan: Also called frying pans, you should buy these based on the size of your stomach — the bigger the appetite, the bigger the pans you’ll need. They’ll be similar to the saucepan with a wide base, but the short, slanted sides make it perfect for flipping pancakes and omelets.
4. Mixing bowl: A classic multi-tasker for any kitchen. Use it to mix cookie ingredients, toss a salad or even use it as an extra-large cereal bowl. Make sure you get a mixing bowl that is microwave- and dishwasher-safe since it will be used often.
5. Cookie sheet: Don’t be deceived by the name. Of course it’s perfect for cookies, but it also serves as a pizza pan, a surface to bake fries and chicken nuggets on, and it can be used as a serving dish for a mountain of food.
6. Measuring cups and spoons: While you may think you can eyeball your ingredient measurements, it’s better to take the safer route for your guests’ sake. Use the measuring cups and spoons instead.
The Small Details
1. Chef’s knife: Fruits, vegetables and meats are no match for this knife. Do you want to chop an onion like a pro? A sharp chef’s knife is key.
2. Paring knife: This is for the finer details: devein a shrimp or cut the rotten parts out of an apple. Bonus: use it as a butter knife when you don’t want to do the dishes.
3. Spoonula: This hybrid spoon and spatula is its own breed. Its flexible edges are perfect for scraping the sides down while mixing ingredients. It’s even better for cleaning the last bit of brownie batter out of a bowl.
4. Spatula: Need to flip a pancake? Get a cookie off the pan? This is your go-to utensil. You can also use this to get sticky brownies or pie crust out of the pans.
5. Spoonula: Because you can never have enough spoonulas.
6. Wooden spoon: Use this classic piece to stir the contents of your pots and pans. Chef’s tip: lay a wooden spoon across the top of a pan or pot to ensure your water doesn’t boil over. Seriously, this works.
