A beginner’s guide to finding your way around the kitchen
For those just beginning to dip their toes into the DIY pond, food is a popular place to start. Learning how to knit a sweater or build a desk can be an overwhelming concept, with a steep learning curve, but figuring out how to make an omelette? Yeah, you can probably handle that. And if you can’t, at least you’re only out the cost of a couple of eggs and some veggies, rather than eighteen balls of wool and a stack of lumber.
An important step if you’re just learning to cook is stocking your kitchen. By keeping the basic tools and ingredients on hand, you’ll be prepared to start right away and able to learn the cooking basics in no time.
Let’s start with tools. Although fancy tools can be fun, there’s only a select few tools you really need for cooking. With them, you’ll be able to manage almost any basic recipe you come across.
Essential Tools:
- A large frying pan
- A small frying pan (technically you can get by without this, but it’s really convenient)
- A large pot with a lid
- A small “saucepan” (fancy word for pot)
- A strainer
- Mixing bowls, one small and one large (especially if you plan to bake)
- Some sort of oven-safe casserole dish (a 9×12 dish is pretty standard)
- A small sharp knife
- A large sharp knife
- A cutting board
- A wooden spoon
- A cookie sheet
- A muffin tin
- A measuring cup
- Measuring spoons
- A grater
- Oven mitts or pot holders
- A can opener
Again, these are the tools for someone who’s hoping to cook from scratch on a semi-regular basis (if you’re content to live off microwaved Kraft Dinner and hot dogs, you won’t need nearly as much).
Overwhelmed by this list? A lot of the smaller items can be picked up at the dollar store, and the larger items are common at yard sales and second hand stores. Shop around, and you’ll be able to pick most of this up for very little money.
If you want to get really fancy, some bonus items that are great to have, but not essential, include:
- A loaf pan
- A pie plate
- A ladle
- Tongs
- A peeler
- A whisk
- A toaster
- A spatula
- A garlic press
- A potato masher
Now that you’ve got the tools, it’s time to really talk food. With the following items stocked in your cupboards, fridge, and freezer, you’ll be able to ensure that you can always find something decent to eat (without resorting to take-out or cereal every day):
- Flour
- Sugar
- Coffee and tea (if you drink it or often have guests)
- Salt
- Pepper
- Rice
- Vegetable oil
- Oatmeal
- Chocolate chips
- Canned beans
- Bouillon cubes (for soup broth)
- Pasta
- Canned tomatoes
- Canned tuna
- Spaghetti sauce
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Eggs
- Milk
- Onions
- Carrots
- Potatoes
- Garlic
- Bread
- Butter
- Peanut butter
- Jam
- Cheese
- Apples (or fruit of choice that keeps well)
- Cinnamon
Once more, remember these are only staples for those who want to do cooking and baking from scratch. Fancier recipes may require some extra ingredients, but always be able to whip up a meal on short notice if you keep your cupboards stocked with the staples.
And finally, get a good cookbook. For the true beginner, I will once again recommend “Clueless in the Kitchen” by Evelyn Raab. Don’t be turned off by the fact that it’s aimed at teenagers, this book is witty, entertaining, user-friendly, and has the best chocolate chip cookie recipe I’ve ever tried. It also has a far more detailed introduction to stocking your kitchen than I can cover here, including plenty of information about how to store food safely, how to find good bargains, and how to plan meals.
Happy cooking!
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