Kitchen Essentials
As a dinner party pro I’ve spent years acquiring different kitchen tools and pans, which can be expensive. Sure, I have some pans and other tools that I pull out and use every once in a while. And some fancy things like a foaming dispenser and a French mandoline. But I am a firm believer that you don’t always need all those gadgets to pull off an outstanding meal. Below is my list of absolute essentials for a well-stocked kitchen. And then we can get into the ‘nice to have’ items. These are in no particular order
It helps create an even crust on proteins such as steak and fish and can be put in the oven. It’s relatively inexpensive and I don’t think the brand is important in this case. Lodge pans are just fine. Do not put in the dishwasher or they will rust.
I have one really nice chef’s knife and a few others that are more average. But I cook a lot. All you really need, in my opinion is one nice one and either a knife sharpener or be willing to take it in and have it sharpened professionally from time to time. Some stores will offer that as a service if you purchase from them. I love this particular knife but I suggest you go into the store and test out different ones for how it feels for you. There are different sizes and weights. A good chef’s knife makes a huge difference in your ability to thinly slice or quickly dice and reduces a lot of frustration in the kitchen. Trust me. It’s worth the investment
