Kitchen Utensils Every New Cook Must Own

If you’re newly independent, a recent graduate ready to conquer the world or simply just ventured into cooking, you need the right set of tools to get you on your way. However, with so many new gizmos in the culinary world, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed.

That being said, there are certain things that are an absolute must have, and lucky for you, we made a list!

Chef’s Knife

Okay so this one probably feels like a no brainer, but you’d be surprised to hear how many people refuse to invest in a good, sharp knife. Dull knives are prone to slipping and require greater force to cut, making them the ideal component to cut your own hand. Avoid this and invest in a good chef’s knife. Your fingers will thank us!

Knife Sharpener

Basically the same principal. Dull knives equal less produce dicing and more hand slicing. Buy a knife sharpener and maintain your knife’s sharpness.

Colander

Literally one of the most diverse kitchen utensils out there, the colander is a must have! Use it to drain canned food, wash produce, drain pasta, steam vegetables, and the list goes on. Long story short, a colander is an essential tool in any cook’s arsenal so get your hands on one soon as you can!

Cutting Board

Do not make the mistake of holding produce in your hand and cutting it, or cutting things on random surface. The former ensures high risk of injury and the latter ensures damaging the surfaces of your kitchen. Get more than one cutting board so that you can switch between boards when cutting vegetables and meats, to avoid contamination.

Tongs

Ever been tempted to just use your hands to pick up something while cooking because it would honestly just be easier that way, but you don’t because you know better than to burn your hands? That’s where tongs come in.

Whisk

Literally the name of the utensil and the action it does is the same, so that has to mean that it’s pretty good at its job right? No, really. Nothing works quite like whisk when it comes to whisking and nothing does it quite as fast!

Ladle

You need this to transfer any liquid food from the pot it was cooked in to the bowl you will be serving it in. Doing so without a ladle is an ordeal that is honestly just not worth it. Invest in one that is high-grade plastic or metal to ensure that it lasts long.

Peeler

Of course you could do anything a peeler can do with a knife, but who has the time? As one of the cheapest kitchen tools, that makes peeling considerably fast, the cost-benefit of this is swings heavily in its favour.

Measuring Cups and Spoons

We’re not saying you need to exact every measurement. The art of soul-cooking is not lost on us. However, when you’ll need to bake a cake or measure a certain amount of spices, you’ll thank us for having a set of measuring cups and spoons on hand.