There are a few things every person should have in their kitchen. As you move out of the dorms this summer, or graduate and move to an apartment with friends, you may want to consider getting some of these tools. They’ll help you cook up some healthy meals. Here are the first five (the last five will be posted next Tuesday):

• 8” or 10” Chef’s Knife: This is perhaps the most important kitchen tool. A chef’s knife is needed to mince, dice, chop, and cut your food. And, it is versatile- you can even cut bread with it. Other knives, like paring knives or serated knives, are also useful but this is the one that gets the most play in the kitchen. You don’t have to spend $150 on a chef’s knife. Cooks Illustrated & American Test Kitchen recommends the Forschner Knife collection, which offers chefs knives for less than $50.00.

• 12” stainless steel skillet: This is an important kitchen tool for cooking vegetables, meat, and making sauces. A stainless steel is is best, because it is easy to wash and get off any stuck-on grease or food and it can be put in the oven. The non-stick pans, while useful, do have the potential to flake off into your food.  The Teflon surface has not been proven to cause any health problems in humans, but it is best not to use these pans because the chemicals in the surface will wear off and health consequences are unknown. If you want to get a non-stick pan, grab a cast iron skillet (see #3).  The best stainless steel can be bought from All-Clad. If this is too expensive, there are other less-expensive skillets available from Calphalon and other companies.

• Cast iron skillet: Cast iron skillets are non-stick and very useful for cooking almost anything, including eggs, cakes, and biscuits.Another benefit of using a cast iron skillet is that you will intake some iron (yes, the essential mineral) in your diet by it coming off the pan and into your food. These skillets are not expensive- just make sure you order a pre-seasoned one. You can get them from Lodge Cast Iron Cookware and other outlets.

• 3 1/2 quart saucepan: A saucepan is needed to make sauces, heat up leftover soup, and even boil water to make oatmeal or rice. There are may saucepans on the market; make sure you get one that has a lid and is made of stainless steel. You can get them through All-clad, Calphalon, or other companies.

• Soup pot: A soup pot is useful for not only making soup, but also boiling pasta. Here is a useful guide on what to look for in a soup pot. Same as the saucepan, look for pots that have a lid and are made of stainless steel.

Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.

Comments Leave a comment