This video is all about the essential kitchen tools that I recommend when you move into
your first apartment, whether it's during college or after!
Starting off the list are pots and pans.
And my favorite is the cast iron skillet.
These vary in different sizes but I recommend a ten to twelve inch pan.
A well-seasoned cast iron pan is naturally non-stick so you don't have to worry about
the teflon issue.
The food cooks really evenly on this and it can also double as a roasting pan for meats
in the oven too.
Next is a sauce pan.
This will be your workhorse in the kitchen.
You can use this to steam your vegetables, cook your pastas and rice, and also use it
to make classic sauces or gravy.
And finally, a stock pot.
Every kitchen should have a really big pot.
This pot is great for making large amounts of soups, for boiling massive amounts of pasta,
or for when you need to make your own broth.
And now on to cooking tools.
I'm going to start off with the spoonula.
I love that word!
The silicone is easy on your pots and pans so that it doesn't scratch the surface, but
the shape of the spoonula makes it really versatile.
You can mix, stir, scrape, and even spread with it.
Moving onto tongs.
Tongs are great for when you're turning heavier foods like meat on the grill, or in the roasting
pan.
Another must-have is a paring knife.
A paring knife will help you cut smaller things with precision.
I use it a lot for cutting fruits, and mincing herbs and vegetables.
And the most important kitchen tool of all, the chef's knife.
Every chef needs a sturdy and durable knife.
I recommend test-driving a few at your local specialty kitchen store to make sure that
you find the right fit for you.
Since you'll be using this for everything, you want to make sure that it's comfortable.
This knife is the one that I use all the time.
It's great for slicing, chopping, dicing, mincing, everything.
Just make sure to keep it sharp at all times.
Which leads me to a knife sharpener.
You don't need a fancy one.
This is a compact knife sharpener.
To sharpen it, you just slide the knife right through, and it does the trick.
Nice and sharp.
And next is the cutting board.
I recommend using bamboo cutting boards because the wood is softer and easier on your knives
than the plastic ones.
Be sure to wash and clean your board thoroughly so that you don't have any cross-contamination.
Another tool you'll need is a vegetable peeler.
A vegetable peeler is better than a knife for getting skins off fruits and vegetables.
Peelers are also great for making chocolate shavings or vegetable ribbons to give your
food a fancy flair.
A box grater.
You may have grown up with one of these and used it for making hash browns or shredding
cheese.
But it can be used for so much more.
A box grater, with its four different sides, is great for zesting lemons, slicing vegetables,
and even grating ginger or garlic.
Measuring cups and spoons, for when you need to measure out ingredients when following
recipes.
And mixing bowls.
The best ones to get are the nesting bowls.
They give you a range of sizes to choose from and they save a lot of space when you store
them.
Use these to prep your vegetables or mix your dough when baking.
And finally, oven tools.
You'll need a good baking sheet for roasting meats and vegetables, baking cookies, and
even making pizzas.
Make sure to find a thicker one so that it doesn't warp in your oven's heat.
And a cupcake pan, but not just for cupcakes.
I use it to make muffins, mini pies, mini meatloaves, mac and cheese cups...
And that's it!
Check out the video description to find links to the tools I love and use.
Congratulations on moving into your first apartment.
I hope this list of essential tools will help you in setting up your kitchen.
Happy cooking!
Bye