…you’ve probably found that stocking up on high quality kitchen essentials is much more difficult than it should be.
- Cooking TV show hosts recommending their products
- Branded cooking sets from your favourite celebrity chef
- Kitchen stores stocking unusual, “one-trick-pony” items
- Infomercials aggressively selling cheap gizmos
- Kitchen websites promoting every item as a “must-have”
and so on. Instead of all this increased choice making our lives easier, it’s made it that much more difficult to separate the quality from the junk. So we decided to test all the kitchen equipment we could get our hands on to solve this problem and make stocking a minimalist, high-quality kitchen as easy as possible.
And this makes sense, doesn’t it? Nowadays everywhere we look there’s someone telling us to buy their product that will supposedly make our lives easier. I’m sure all of the following sound familiar:
When we started our cooking journey, we were full of confusion and frustration as we began our search for the best cookware and essential kitchen tools for minimalist cooks. When you start with no knowledge, the learning curve isimmense.
But after years of refining our cooking techniques, creating and testing simple recipes, learning how to plan our meals (here’s a free meal planning template), and building a customizable meal planning service for busy folks like us, we learned exactly which tools one needs (and doesn’t need) to stock a fully functional and multi-purpose minimalist kitchen.
Note: We’ve tried to make it easy to navigate this kitchen essentials list and find what you need right away. For this reason, we’ve organized our recommendations in to general categories (click to jump to any category):
If you’ve only ever used a cheap chef’s knife for your cooking needs, switching to a high quality knife will be a night and day difference. Seriously, when we upgraded to a high quality chef’s knife we couldn’t believe how much sharper, heavier, and easier it was to cut and chop with the quality knife.
For those of you looking for an even higher end option, the German-made Wusthof Ikon Series 8 Inch Chef’s Knife is our pick. This is Wusthof’s higher-end line of kitchen knives, and both the aesthetics and quality of the knife won’t disappoint you.
Coming in much cheaper than our recommended or premium options, theWusthof Pro 8 Inch Chef’s Knife is a steal of a deal. It’s not as high quality as the other options but it’s a great entry level knife that’s loads better than a comparable $25 knife. You can’t go wrong with this starter chef’s knife.
One of the most basic tools you need in your kitchen is a good cutting board. You’ll be using it every time you cook (just like your chef’s knife) so it’s important to choose one that’s durable and well designed.
Now if you’re looking for the Ferrari of cutting boards, look no further than thisProteak edge grain cutting board. If you haven’t tried a cutting board like this before, it’ll be hard to understand just how different – and how much higher quality – it really is. But we can confirm that upgrading to a cutting board like this will bring you joy in the kitchen every time you use it.
It’s not often that a piece of cookware brings you joy every time you use it. But that’s exactly what this can opener from Kuhn Rikon does! This is a 5-in-1 can opener that pulls tabs, crowns caps, unscrews tops, and opens jar lids and cans safely, easily, and cleanly.
Measuring cups are used for precisely measuring the volume of liquid or solid cooking ingredients. You may not think that measuring cups can be anything special. Any set will do, right? Well as it turns out, great design can extend all the way down to measuring cups. Thisstackable set of measuring cups from Kitchenmade has all sorts of smart features that eliminates the small frustrations that measuring cups often bring about.
Measuring spoons are used to precisely measure smaller amounts of liquid or solid cooking ingredients than measuring cups. This set of 5 stainless steel measuring spoons from Prepworks contains measurements of ¼ tsp all the way up to 1 tbsp. They’re magnetic and nested so you can put them away easily without losing any of them (which can often happen for the smaller spoons).
For mixing together salad dressings, spice rubs, marinades, sauces, and even for storing leftovers, a set of high-quality mixing bowls is a must.
For draining pasta or washing vegetables and salad greens, a colander is an essential piece for your minimalist kitchen. This 5-quart stainless steel colander from OXO Good Grips is well designed and has ergonomic non-slip handles and “feet” so it doesn’t slip all over the place.
A vegetable peeler can really speed up your preparation time, whether you’re using it to peel potatoes, carrots, or any other vegetables.
Although a potato masher is a great tool, it usually has a very inconvenient and bulky shape that makes closing your drawer difficult. We chose this flip potato masher from Prepara for a few important reasons.
A whisk is often one of the most used items in your kitchen, so it’s important to have one that’s ergonomically made. This9-inch whisk from OXO Good Grips fits great in the hand and is perfect for whisking together salad dressings, sauces, eggs, desserts, and much more.
A salad spinner is your best friend when it comes to having a crisp salad. To prevent your greens from going soggy, you’ll need to dry them and “spinning” them is by far the easiest way to do it.
One thing we’re against here at Mealime is inefficiency. So what does this mean, exactly? It meals choosing multi-purpose tools and avoiding single-purpose tools whenever possible. Instead of purchasing different types of graters, a zester, and a chiffonade, why not choose one tool that can do it all?
For cutting up a whole chicken and other meats, to vegetables, to stripping herbs, to even cutting the stems off of flowers, thesekitchen and herb shears from OXO Good Grips are fantastic.
Sometimes it’s the seemingly insignificant tasks in the kitchen that provide way more hassle than they should. Juicing a lemon or lime is one of those tasks!
We still have this garlic press from Kuhn Rikon but use it less than we used to. If you don’t like playing with garlic and want the quickest solution, pick up this highly rated garlic press and you’ll be good to go. But if you don’t mind crushing and chopping your own garlic, you may want to pass on this item.
A paring knife is a kitchen knife with a short blade that can be used for a multitude of tasks. You can peel and chop with it, and the small tip is great for fine work like coring strawberries (or similar).
For a much cheaper alternative to both our recommended and premium paring knife options, the Wusthof Pro paring knife is a great buy.
If you’re going to purchase a quality chef’s knife (which you should) you’ll want to take care of it so it lasts a lifetime. It doesn’t take many tools or much time to maintain a quality knife, and this 10-inch honing steel from Wusthof is one of those tools.
For those times that honing your blade isn’t enough, a 2-stage sharpener is your ticket to a sharper knife in minutes.
The premium knife sharpener we recommend is Wusthof’s Ikon knife sharpener. It’s beautiful and very sturdy, which adds quality to the sharpening experience.
Chef’s Knife
If you’ve only ever used a cheap chef’s knife for your cooking needs, switching to a high quality knife will be a night and day difference. Seriously, when we upgraded to a high quality chef’s knife we couldn’t believe how much sharper, heavier, and easier it was to cut and chop with the quality knife.
And since you can use a chef’s knife for all of your cutting needs (and use it every time you cook), one high-quality purchase will serve you for years to come.
We’ve tested several different chef’s knives with different price points and designs, and our recommended option is the German-made Wusthof 8 inch classic chef’s knife. It’s an absolute workhorse, comes at a very reasonable price, and won’t disappoint you.
Chef’s Knife (Premium)
For those of you looking for an even higher end option, the German-made Wusthof Ikon Series 8 Inch Chef’s Knife is our pick. This is Wusthof’s higher-end line of kitchen knives, and both the aesthetics and quality of the knife won’t disappoint you.Chef’s Knife (Budget)
Coming in much cheaper than our recommended or premium options, theWusthof Pro 8 Inch Chef’s Knife is a steal of a deal. It’s not as high quality as the other options but it’s a great entry level knife that’s loads better than a comparable $25 knife. You can’t go wrong with this starter chef’s knife.Cutting Board
One of the most basic tools you need in your kitchen is a good cutting board. You’ll be using it every time you cook (just like your chef’s knife) so it’s important to choose one that’s durable and well designed.
The OXO good grips cutting board is dishwasher safe and is built from odor-resistant polypropylene – meaning it will last a long time. Pick this inexpensive cutting board up and you won’t regret it.
Cutting Board (Premium)
Now if you’re looking for the Ferrari of cutting boards, look no further than thisProteak edge grain cutting board. If you haven’t tried a cutting board like this before, it’ll be hard to understand just how different – and how much higher quality – it really is. But we can confirm that upgrading to a cutting board like this will bring you joy in the kitchen every time you use it.
You have to take better care of this cutting board than our plastic recommendation; by cleaning it immediately after use and avoiding the dishwasher. But this item is unique and will last you a long time, so if you’re ready for an upgrade from the usual plastic cutting boards most home cooks sport nowadays, this one gets our vote.
Can Opener
It’s not often that a piece of cookware brings you joy every time you use it. But that’s exactly what this can opener from Kuhn Rikon does! This is a 5-in-1 can opener that pulls tabs, crowns caps, unscrews tops, and opens jar lids and cans safely, easily, and cleanly.
We have one of these beauties in our kitchen (Mealime green, of course) and it is an absolute pleasure to use. We actually look forward to opening cans, believe it or not. Pick up this multi tool today and you won’t regret it (just read all the great reviews!).
Measuring Cups
Measuring cups are used for precisely measuring the volume of liquid or solid cooking ingredients. You may not think that measuring cups can be anything special. Any set will do, right? Well as it turns out, great design can extend all the way down to measuring cups. Thisstackable set of measuring cups from Kitchenmade has all sorts of smart features that eliminates the small frustrations that measuring cups often bring about.
With high quality one-piece stainless steel construction, a thin profile and pouring lip, nesting capabilities, and a 5 star rating over 1,000 reviews on Amazon, you can’t beat the quality of these measuring cups. Pick these up today and never replace your measuring cups again.
Measuring Spoons
Measuring spoons are used to precisely measure smaller amounts of liquid or solid cooking ingredients than measuring cups. This set of 5 stainless steel measuring spoons from Prepworks contains measurements of ¼ tsp all the way up to 1 tbsp. They’re magnetic and nested so you can put them away easily without losing any of them (which can often happen for the smaller spoons).
They’re also designed to be double sided to accommodate both liquids and solids and are dishwasher safe. After testing different measuring spoons, we settled on this set ourselves and use them in our kitchen every single day. Highly recommended!
Mixing Bowls
For mixing together salad dressings, spice rubs, marinades, sauces, and even for storing leftovers, a set of high-quality mixing bowls is a must.
This 9-piece mixing bowl set from Luminarc can be used to do pretty much anything and won’t absorb stains and odours because it’s made of glass. Plus, these bowls stack easily for simple storage.
Colander
For draining pasta or washing vegetables and salad greens, a colander is an essential piece for your minimalist kitchen. This 5-quart stainless steel colander from OXO Good Grips is well designed and has ergonomic non-slip handles and “feet” so it doesn’t slip all over the place.
This is an item you’ll use forever and couldn’t break even if you tried, so pick up this 5 star reviewed colander and forget about buying another in your lifetime.
Vegetable Peeler
A vegetable peeler can really speed up your preparation time, whether you’re using it to peel potatoes, carrots, or any other vegetables.
We love this pirahna “Y-Peeler” from Kuhn Rikon because it’s so simple. No multi-tasking here, but this is a high quality peeler that will stand the test of time. It’s dishwasher safe and ergonomically designed, just like all of our other recommendations.
Potato Masher
Although a potato masher is a great tool, it usually has a very inconvenient and bulky shape that makes closing your drawer difficult. We chose this flip potato masher from Prepara for a few important reasons.
First, it “flips”, which means that it’s not a bulky tool to store in a drawer, like most potato mashers are. Second, it’s of high quality stainless steel (with no BPA) and is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. Third, it has only 5 star reviews on Amazon and is very highly recommended. You can’t go wrong with this quality potato masher.
Whisk
A whisk is often one of the most used items in your kitchen, so it’s important to have one that’s ergonomically made. This9-inch whisk from OXO Good Grips fits great in the hand and is perfect for whisking together salad dressings, sauces, eggs, desserts, and much more.
Plus, it’s dishwasher safe so you don’t have to worry about the handle melting or warping in the heat.
Salad Spinner
A salad spinner is your best friend when it comes to having a crisp salad. To prevent your greens from going soggy, you’ll need to dry them and “spinning” them is by far the easiest way to do it.
Made by OXO Good Grips, this salad spinner can be used by simply pressing the button on the top. It’s very easy and simple to operate, and even features a brake and locking mechanism for easy storage.
We especially love this salad spinner because the strainer basket can be used for draining pasta and the bowl for serving. It’s a great multi-purpose tool!
Grater
One thing we’re against here at Mealime is inefficiency. So what does this mean, exactly? It meals choosing multi-purpose tools and avoiding single-purpose tools whenever possible. Instead of purchasing different types of graters, a zester, and a chiffonade, why not choose one tool that can do it all?
This 7-in-1 box grater from Cuisipro can grate citrus, fine, coarse, ultra-coarse, parmesan, shave, slice and even has a ginger grater. It’s made of high-quality stainless steel and will last a lifetime.
Shears
For cutting up a whole chicken and other meats, to vegetables, to stripping herbs, to even cutting the stems off of flowers, thesekitchen and herb shears from OXO Good Grips are fantastic.
They’re extremely sharp, heavy duty, and comfortable. The blades even separate for easy cleaning. With 200 reviews and a 5 star rating, these shears are a fantastic value and deserve a spot in your kitchen.
Citrus Juicer
Sometimes it’s the seemingly insignificant tasks in the kitchen that provide way more hassle than they should. Juicing a lemon or lime is one of those tasks!
It’s difficult to do, your hands get juice on them, and the seeds often fall into your food. That’s all solved with this quality citrus juicer from Prepworks. This one includes printed measurements so you know exactly how much juice you’ve squeezed. It fits lemons, limes, and oranges, and makes squeezing juice a joy. Plus, it’s dirt cheap!
Garlic Press
We still have this garlic press from Kuhn Rikon but use it less than we used to. If you don’t like playing with garlic and want the quickest solution, pick up this highly rated garlic press and you’ll be good to go. But if you don’t mind crushing and chopping your own garlic, you may want to pass on this item.
We’ve gone back and forth with garlic presses over the years and are currently on the “non-essential” train. Basically, a garlic press is nice to have and does make crushing garlic easier. But it’s really not that difficult to cut / press your own garlic with just your chef’s knife, and it’s oddly satisfying to do so as well.
Paring Knife
A paring knife is a kitchen knife with a short blade that can be used for a multitude of tasks. You can peel and chop with it, and the small tip is great for fine work like coring strawberries (or similar).
Our recommendation is the Wusthof Classic paring knife. It’s German made, of the highest quality, has 5 star reviews across the board on Amazon, and will last a lifetime. This workhorse of a knife deserves a spot in your kitchen.
Paring Knife (Premium)
We recommend Ikon knives for all of our premium knife recommendations, and this knife is no exception. Both the recommended and premium versions of this paring knife will work well for you, and the difference in price is fairly close. Pick whichever one you prefer.
Paring Knife (Budget)
For a much cheaper alternative to both our recommended and premium paring knife options, the Wusthof Pro paring knife is a great buy.Honing Steel
If you’re going to purchase a quality chef’s knife (which you should) you’ll want to take care of it so it lasts a lifetime. It doesn’t take many tools or much time to maintain a quality knife, and this 10-inch honing steel from Wusthof is one of those tools.
Contrary to popular belief, a honing steel doesn’t actually sharpen your blade. Rather, it realigns your knife’s edge quickly and efficiently. When you need a newedge, that’s when a sharpener will be needed. Purchase both (next up is a sharpener) and you can maintain the sharpness and edge of your chef’s knife for a very long time.
Knife Sharpener
For those times that honing your blade isn’t enough, a 2-stage sharpener is your ticket to a sharper knife in minutes.
Our recommended option is Wusthof’s precision 2 stage sharpener, coming in at just under $15. For the value you’ll receive, this sharpener is (in our minds) a no-brainer.
Knife Sharpener (Premium)
The premium knife sharpener we recommend is Wusthof’s Ikon knife sharpener. It’s beautiful and very sturdy, which adds quality to the sharpening experience.
No comments:
Post a Comment