Kitchen Gear

I'm always asked, "what's in your kitchen?" "What are the best pans to use?"
These days, you can buy really cheap kitchen gear. This is great, because it means anyone should be able to get their hands on all the essential bits of equipment they need, no matter what their budget is.

I’m giving you a list of the bare minimum items you need to have in your kitchen to be a well-rounded, efficient cook.

When it comes to things like knives, food processors and wooden chopping boards, it really is worth striving to get the best bits of kit you can afford. Two or three good-quality knives are much better than a whole set of cheap old hammy down ones. When you’re buying a knife, check that it’s a good weight, the blade is nice and rigid, and the handle feels good in your hand.

Also try and get a good-quality, non-stick frying pan. For saucepans, as long as they’ve got sturdy, thick bottoms. All the other stuff on the list you can spend as little, or as much, money on as you wish.

Essential kitchen kit
Ideally you’re going to want to get your kitchen well stocked with all of the equipment listed below. If you can’t get everything in one go, that’s fine, just buy what you can afford and pick up the rest when you can.

Stuff to buy right now
Set of non-stick
frying pans

Extra-large casserole
(cast iron, aluminium
or stainless steel)

Good sturdy
roasting tray

Knives (medium chef’s
knife, small paring knife and
serrated carving knife)

Thick sturdy wooden
chopping board and small
plastic chopping board

Set of thick-bottomed
saucepans (large,
medium and small)

Nest of mixing bowls

Wooden spoons

Sieve

Colander

Scales

Measuring jug

Rolling pin

Speed peeler

Potato masher

Box grater

Microplane-style
grater

Can opener

Tongs

Stuff you can pick up later
Wok

Large griddle pan

Metal whisk

Ladle

Slotted spoon

Fish slice

Plastic spatula

Pestle and mortar

Salad spinner

Different sieves
(one coarse, one fine)

Food processor

Pastry brush