s/o a kitchen question

[hsingscrapper]

Let's pretend you were just starting out and needed to outfit your kitchen . . .

 

What would you put into it? Please share brands if you have a preference. I'm also looking for organizational ideas as I don't have a pantry and our kitchen is only 8x9 and that is wall to wall. My drawers are too skinny for traditional flatware holders.

[Black-eyed Suzan]

Just so you know, I really like to cook and often cook for fun.

 

I subscribe to Cook's Illustrated - they give reviews of basic kitchen supplies and I find their reviews to be very reliable.

 

If I were outfitting a kitchen, I would start with this list, and use Cook's Illustrated's brand recommendations for each item:

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/09/dining/09mini.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

 

I would add a microwave, stand mixer and a stockpot (which I use to make stock).

 

Have fun! :)

[cin]

Just so you know, I really like to cook and often cook for fun.

 

I subscribe to Cook's Illustrated - they give reviews of basic kitchen supplies and I find their reviews to be very reliable.

 

If I were outfitting a kitchen, I would start with this list, and use Cook's Illustrated's brand recommendations for each item:

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/09/dining/09mini.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

 

I would add a microwave, stand mixer and a stockpot (which I use to make stock).

 

Have fun! :)

 

for me, the microwave, stand mixer and a rice cooker. But we use the rice cooker 3x/wk at least. And the kids can operate it, whereas boiling the rice on the stove, I would not yet allow.

[Guest MaryM01]

First of all you need to consider arrangement of kitchen furniture and appliances and make sure that they are organize well, then start adding good decors like curtains, wall papers and etc. to make your kitchen attractive.

[TammyS]

10" cast iron fry pan

5qt cast iron dutch oven

8-12 qt (as big as your stove can fit) stainless stock pot with steamer basket insert

GOOD carbon-stainless cutting knives with flat storage to protect the edges, 3 is sufficient (better quality is far better than quantity)

2 qt stainless sauce pan (ideally 2, but 1 is sufficient)

 

Those are the things that, for me, are REALLLLLY necessary. I personally dislike counter top appliances. They take up too much room for the use you get, in my experience. So only get them if you are going to use them constantly. I have three: toaster oven, blender, food processor. I am constantly thinking of replacing the blender with a magic bullet (which could be kept in a cabinet instead of on the counter) and I only keep the food processor because I make my own hummus. The only one that really earns it's keep is the food processor because we use it to do a lot of reheating and it does a great job of that.

[Jeannie in NJ]

we have a very small kitchen and small counterspace. Then only things we keep on the countertops are Keurig (used several times a day), dd's HEAVY stand alone mixer (we keep it there as it is too heavy to move and she does use it quite often), vertical cutting boards and that is it. I keep the rice/veg steamer under the counter even tho we use it almost every day, I just don't have the room to keep it on my counter all the time. I keep the sharp knife block on top of the fridge. I started that when my dc were little and now I have 5 neices and nephew under age 6 that visit so still keep knives up high. Even tho my countertop space is limited, I do have lots of underneath storage for all my pots, pans, rice steamer, toaster, etc. I also have vertical drawers for cookie sheets, platters , etc.

[justLisa]

What I could not live without:

 

All clad lidded saute pan (sized large enough for most meals you cook)

All clad sauce pan 1.5 - 2 quart

Stock pot or soup pot - again size according to your needs, I have 3 All clad but I could live with just one.

One good all purpose chef's knife

One good paring knife- I i have Wustoff knives

Bread knife

A large cutting board ( I have a Boos block 18x24)

One non stick skillet

Bar keepers friend for stainless pots and stove top (i have gas)

A 9x 13 casserole dish

an 8xx8 baking dish (or 9x9)

2 sheet pans for roasting veggies or baking casseroles on top (for drips)

Set of mixing bowls

Utensils: Ladle, wooden spoons, spatula, whisk, vetetable peeling, can opener (I have the OXO no sharp edge) meat thermometer and tongs.

Colander for straining potatoes, noodles, washing veggies

Food storage containers - I have Cambro in a multitude of sizes for pantry. I buy 50 pounds of bread flour at a time and lots of baking ingredients. they have from 2 quart on up to huge ones you keep on the floor. They are commercial quality and well priced.

good cleaning sponges, gloves, and an all purpose cleaner you like. I use method.

A broom with a dustpan that also has a handle so you don't have to bend over and they nest together. I have a Casabella one

One kitchen electric that can blend or puree, I'll list what I have below:

 

Things that are nice to have

Kitchenaide mixer

Food processor - I have the largest Cuisinart from WS

Blender - I have a Vitamix

toaster (not absolutely necessary if you have a toaster oven or use broil)

Immersion blender (I have a Bamix)

garlic press - Rosley

an extra knife or two

Meat pounder - also Rosley but you can use a heavy pan

extra prep bowls like pinch bowls (little tiny glass bowls for small things)

specialty pans like muffin tins, bread pans etc.

A roasting pan - I have the large All clad

A crockpot

A dutch oven - I have Le Crueset, Tramontina is a good lesser priced alt.

an electric egg cooker ( an almost must for me I use it all the time)

a serving platter or two

salad spinner

parchment paper for baking pizzas (I roll out dough on it so you don't have to worry about sliding off the peel and can do in advance) and also for baking a galette, or crostada.

 

I am a hobby cook and addicted to baking sourdough products. I also have:

A large stone for my oven

2 stone wear loaf pans

 

I keep a pretty simple kitchen despite how much I have and cook. I don't like single use items if I can avoid it and pretty much everything matches. I get white and stainless steel everything. You will not find orange mixing spoons. Except for my Spiderman spatula the kids got me :D Mismatched go in one drawer. I have a Le Creuset large utensil crock I keep on the counter for cooking utensils I use often.

 

For dishes I have the William Sonoma pantry staples. I have two sets of every bowl/plate. I also have a stack of tiny white dessert plates I got cheap at a restaurant supply store.

 

Organization:

If you don't have drawers big enough for flat wear trays, just get those little individual plastic organizers and fit however many you can. The cheap ones are about $1 a piece maybe $2. You can get a small hanging pot rack if you have room.

Edited October 11, 2012 by 425lisamarie