A Well Stocked Kitchen
While in the process of making my octopus cake today, I started pondering once again what I would need in my kitchen when I finally have my own. I decided that I should simply make a list to see what I have, what I need, and what I would like to get. I'll put the things that are optional, or likely to be less frequently used and therefore can be made due without for a time, in italics. The items which I already own, they can be in bold. Anything where I have a particular brand/style/color in mind will likely be linked to, or at least explained.
So, in no particular order, omitting obvious stuff like plates, flateware, bowls, chopsticks, etc:
- Kitchen Aid stand mixer. See nose art brainstorming entry.
- Bamboo mixing spoon set
- Multiple hardwood and/or bamboo cutting boards.
- Santoku, paring, and slicer/bread knife. Shun is the brand I'm currently lusting after, but wusthof is the brand my mom favors, and that would be an acceptable alternative.
- Cheese Knife
- Egg slicer, used on important things like mushrooms and mozarella.
- Mixing bowls
- Loaf, Bundt, Muffin, glass bottom spring form, and assorted novelty pans
- large pasta pot
- large and small saute/frying pans
- lid to fit large saute/frying pan
- splatter screen to fit large saute/frying pan
- tea kettle
- dry measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- liquid measuring cup, planning to get one of the ones that can be read from the top due to an angled top read measurement markings. Currently OXO is the only manufacture making such a beast, but they only appear to come in plastic. I do also want a two to four cup size to start with, as a lot of my baking needs more than a cup of liquid or for multiple liquids to be mixed before adding to the dry measure.
- colander, looking to get a silicone collapsible one in an apple green to match my measuring cups and spoons.
- a wok, a proper cheap one without the non-stick crap. Probably will pick up in an asian neighborhood or grocery store.
- rice cooker, don't care if it's microwave or electric, as long as it works. If worse comes to worse, I can make a right and proper pot of rice on the stove, but the cookers make it just that much easier.
- cheap plastic clips for keeping various food bags closed
- a couple different sized casserole dishes, lusting after le creuset in kiwi, caribbean or purple. Likely want other beasts of enameled cast iron also, but the casserole dishes would be first priority.
- reusable food storage containers, like tupperware, but brand doesn't matter so much as how easy they are to clean and use
- silicone or plastic spatula
- one or more size whisks, ideally at least one in silicone or plastic
- electric counter top grill/griddle
- baking sheets of a couple different sizes
- cookie cutters, currently have a few but am always open to more
- electric cookie shooter
- rolling pin
- pizza stone
- silicone honey dipper
- beer glasses
- stem ware, like wine glasses, champaign flutes, and martini glasses
- bottle opener
- can opener
- kitchen sheers
- silicone basting brushes in multiple sizes
As a kitchen is a very very personal thing, I don't expect anyone else's essentials list to be the same as mine. However, I do welcome questions as to why I included certain things, and suggestions as to what I've forgotten. Also feel free to tell me what things you'd add to the list for your own kitchen, even if you don't think I'd have need for it in my kitchen.