Being a single guy, I usually keep my meals simple – microwaving leftovers from mom, ordering pizza or Chinese, or a sandwich or eggs. It makes sense, then, that from a day-to-day perspective I really never noticed how ill-equipped my kitchen actually was. However, as I began to entertain more frequently during the past few years, I decided to take a cooking class.
The first few weeks of my class were dedicated to reviewing the kitchen and the must-haves (and must-get-rid-of’s). I really started to pay attention to how a few changes and acquisitions can really add to the pleasure of entertaining. Having incorporated these changes into my own kitchen, I have now come to fully appreciate the efficiency and professional feeling these items add to my cooking and entertaining experience.
Here is my list of must-haves:
Good knives
Invest in a good set of knives. With a good knife in hand, you will really find out how easy food preparation can be. However, while the food prep will be a breeze, shopping for knives is surprisingly daunting. You are faced with a huge selection from three-inch parers to ten piece sets that can reach several hundreds of dollars. My cooking instructor suggests starting with just one. A good quality eight-inch chef’s model all-purpose, will be sufficient for almost all purposes so it’s the best first for your collection.
The best knives are the high-carbon forged steel ones and these will range from $75 - $100 a pop but will outlast you, if properly maintained. The way a knife feels in your hand and its weight are very personal so check out the options from the best manufacturers like Edgecraft, Lamson & Goodnow, Zwilling J.A. Henckels or Chicago Cutlery.
Dual Fuel Range
The best chefs know that gas cooktops offer up the fastest, most even and reliable source of heat that is also very accurately adjustable. Electric burners are simply not efficient enough to satisfy the exacting standards of cooks and, like myself, as you become more and more serious about cooking, this becomes very evident. Conversely, for baking, most agree that an electric convection oven works best. The solution to both is a dual fuel range.
Previously manufactured primarily only in restaurant grade, these now come in models specifically designed for residential purposes that suit both the different space restrictions and all budgets. Expect to find an average range of prices from $1500 - $5000. Visit your local Sears or Lowe’s and you find a terrific selection of excellent dual fuel ranges with one that will meet your needs and match your décor. Manufacturers such as GE, KitchenAid and Kenmore have very high quality models available for extremely reasonable prices. On the higher end, Wolf, Dacor and Viking have near professional grade models that are extremely pleasurable to work with and simply beautiful to look at.
Cast Iron Cookware
I have become a big fan of using cast iron cookware ever since I was taught how to care for it. Properly seasoned cast iron pieces are virtually indestructible and non-stick but, more importantly, can withstand and retain extremely high heat for better cooking every time. The best thing about cast-iron cookware is that the selection is terrific. If you aren’t sure about it, you can buy a fairly inexpensive frying pan at Sears or K-Mart and try them out for yourself before investing in further pieces.
Le Creuset has probably one of the best line of cookware on the market available at a reasonable cost to the home cook. I say reasonable cost because these will last you a lifetime so, while the prices may seem a little high, you will never have to replace these (and they come with a lifetime warranty anyhow) so these are truly investment pieces.
Multi-use Stand Mixer
Unless you have a restaurant or a very large kitchen, a high end stand mixer that has multi-uses has proven to be an extremely indispensable item. Attachments such as meat grinders, food processors and even pasta makers are available to most of the high-end models.
KitchenAid has probably the most well-known line of these models, offering different sizes and power at good price points. The long life of the KitchenAid model makes it a terrific investment piece because attachments are constantly being added and available at reasonable prices. Krupps and Sunbeam have lower priced options that are more than suitable for most home cooks. For the person with the bigger budget, restaurant grade manufacturer Hobart, has smaller models that would fit nicely into a larger kitchen.
Portable Trolley
If you have a good sized kitchen or a large island, you may not require this. However, if you live in an apartment or suffer with a small kitchen as I do, consider investing in a medium sized trolley that can be put away when not in use but provide essential kitchen real estate when cooking or entertaining on a larger scale. Stainless steel units are fairly common, inexpensive, maneuverable and lightweight.
Ikea and Sears both have these in stock regularly.
As you become more comfortable in the kitchen, you will know doubt come to learn the things that you use regularly and deem essential. However, if you are space or budget limited, don’t invest in anything until you have determined that it will really add to your cooking experience and, at the point, invest in high end pieces that will last.
