By Katie Goodman

When Natalie posted a survey on the CRAFT Facebook page about what types of food articles CRAFT readers would like to see, several of you mentioned that you'd like to know what the kitchen essentials are — what tools, pots and pans, gadgets, etc. are considered absolutely necessary.

I can't say what would be best for every kitchen because different folks have different cooking styles, kitchen sizes, and needs, but I can tell you what I consider my kitchen essentials, the very bare bones of what I use most regularly and could not part with if I suddenly had to downsize. I'd still be able to make most everything that I regularly cook with just these items. For a visual, I've tried to show you what that looks like above, minus a couple of things that I just couldn't cram in that picture! Of course, I didn't mention the obvious things like plates, cups, or silverware.

These "Kitchen Essentials" are a great place to start if you have just begun purchasing for your kitchen. If you are a little more advanced and have space, you may enjoy the nonessentials and extras categories I've added at the end.

My Kitchen Essentials

Measuring

I'd have to have a good set of metal measuring cups and spoons, something sturdy so it will last, not like my very first set that got mutilated the first time it accidentally went down the garbage disposal. I could do without a 1 cup, 2 cup, and 8 cup liquid measuring cup if I had to, no problem.

Knives and Gadgets

At bare minimum, I need 1 Santoku knife, 1 bread knife, and 1 paring knife. I like the feel of the Santoku better that my chef's knife and these three are probably the ones I use 90% of the time. We don't eat a ton of steak or meat that requires a steak knife, so I don't consider those necessary for me.

For my gadgets I'd absolutely have to have my microplane zester (this is in the dishwasher practically every other day – I use it for citrus zests, ginger, and hard cheeses like Parmesan). Additionally, I'd consider my spatulas (1 large, 1 small), ladle, slotted serving spoon, large serving spoon, whisk, tongs, a wooden spoon or two, can opener, kitchen scissors, cheese grater (not pictured), vegetable peeler, instant read thermometer (not pictured) and a silicon baster to be pretty important.

Mixing and Baking

My Kitchen Aid stand mixer is pretty important to me. It was a wedding gift from my dad, so it has sentimental value, and since I have counter space I leave it out because it looks so stylish. I don't have a hand mixer and am happy to use the stand mixer for most mixing projects. If I don't need something that strong, I just use a whisk, spoon, or fork. And my Kitchen Aid gives me the option to purchase great attachments, should I choose, that can eliminate the need for other bulkier appliances. A good set of nesting bowls for hand-mixing projects are a must too.

Instead of purchasing a large food processor that takes up a lot of space, I have a mini chopper. It is great for grinding nuts, chopping and pureeing, making pesto, salsa, and pie crust.

For baking I most often use my muffin tins, cookie sheet, 9x13 glass pan (not pictured), and 8x8 glass pan. A bread pan essential is not essential for me because most of the breads I make are free-form shape.

Cooking

I don't have a ton of pots and pans. I have 1 large stock pot (not pictured), 1 medium nonstick sauté pan, 1 large stainless steel pan with a lid, 1 medium sauce pan, and 1 small sauce pan. That about does it for me. I never really feel the need to use more than that, though I do have a stir fry pan I use on occasion. I think it's important to have 1 nonstick pan for things like eggs. If I did purchase another pan, it would probably be a cast iron pan.

Other

I would add 1 colander (not pictured), 1 fine mesh strainer, and a wooden cutting board. I do have a set of 3 plastic cutting boards, but I like the wooden one best. My colander is a regular-sized stainless steel design, but now they have lots of different collapsible colanders that you can buy to save space. Just something to think about if you are low on space.

Nonessentials
The kitchen items I have and use, but don't consider essential.

• Kitchen scale
• Cooling racks
• Pancake griddle
• Cheese slicer
• 1-cup-sized prep bowls
• Kitchen twine
• Silicon baking sheet liner
• Pastry blender
• Additional baking pans: pie plate, bread pan, bundt pan, and waffle maker
• Immersion blender
• Baking stone
• 1-cup, 2-cup, and 8-cup liquid measuring cups
• Panini press

Extras
The things that are fun, but I don't use very often at all.

• Full-sized blender
• Pasta maker
• Springform pan, standard size
• Springform pan, individual size (4)
• Tart pan, traditional size
• Tart pan, individual size (6)
• Grain mill
• Serving pieces
• Kitchen Aid attachments for grating/slicing and grinding
• Apple/peeler/slicer/corer
• Mini muffin tin

About the Author:

Katie Goodman resides in New Mexico with her husband and two children (a 4-year-old boy and an 18-month-old girl). Learning in the kitchen, eating, trying new recipes, and sharing them with friends and loved ones are some of Katie's favorite things to do. She wholeheartedly believes that part of the goodness in life is enjoying good food with good friends and family, and goodLife {eats} is a place for her to share what she finds good in the kitchen.