Getting (back) in the kitchen can be a daunting task. There are so many ingredients, seasonings, tools, and techniques that go into making the dishes we all know and love. You could very well survive by eating the same meal, using the same couple of seasonings, cooked in the same way, but that’s boring!
I’ve created a list of the items that are essential in my kitchen. Items that will give any home cook an incredibly solid foundation when they begin whipping up magic in the kitchen. Staple ingredients and specialty items that can produce a wide variety of dishes that are bound to impress. Tools and dishes I use often. Pantry items that go a long way when I don’t really have a plan for what I’m eating that week.
The list is broken down into several sections to make browsing for the items you may need much simpler. The sections include:
Seasonings
Staple seasonings
- Kosher salt
- Sea salt
- Fine salt
- Ground black pepper
- White pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Red pepper flakes
- Paprika
Speciality seasonings
- Ground cumin
- Chili powder
- Cayenne pepper
- Creole seasoning
- Fennel or Dill seed
- Mustard seed
- Sesame seeds
- Celery seed
- Whole nutmeg
- Italian seasoning
- Bay leaves
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Ground cloves
Equipment
Utensils for eating
- Forks*
- Spoons*
- Butter knives*
- Steak knives*
* Having 2 to 4 of these items for each individual living in the household is recommended
Other knives
- Straight-edge (chef’s knife)
- Serrated-edge (bread knife)
- Paring knife
Prep tools
- Cutting board
- Can opener
- Spiralizer
- Salad spinner
- Kitchen shears
- Grater or Microplane
- Mixing/prep bowls
- Garlic press
- Potato masher
- Peeler
- Knife sharpener
Cooking equipment and dishes
- Large pot (for boiling pasta and making stocks)
- Medium-sized saucepan (1 or 2 of these)
- Nonstick skillet
- Cast iron pan
- Tongs
- Spatulas (rounded silicon and flat plastic/metal)
- Food processor and/or blender
- Whisks
- Mixing/stirring/serving spoons
- Slotted spoon
- Ladle
- Colander
- Fine-mesh strainer
Baking equipment and dishes
- Ramekins (6 oz, 8 oz or 10 oz)
- Casserole dish (approximately 9×13″)
- Baking sheets (approximately 9×13″ or larger)
- Glass baking dishes (8×8″ or 9×9″)
- Measuring cups/spoons (2 cups, 1 cup, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4 cup, 1 tbsp, 1/2 tbsp, 1 tsp, 1/2 tsp, 1/4 tsp, 1/8 tsp)
- Rolling pin
- Silicone mat for rolling
- Kitchen scale
- Stand or hand mixer
Other tools, gadgets and appliances
- Apron
- Oven mitts
- Cheesecloth
- Crockpot
- Instapot
- Griddle pan
- Mandoline
- Air fryer
- Immersion blender
- Ice Cube Tray
- Citrus juicer (handheld or electronic)
- Instant-read thermometer
- Pitcher
- Pizza slicer
Food storage items
- Tupperware Set (for food storage)
- Ziploc bags
- Aluminum foil
- Plastic/cling wrap
- Wax/parchment paper
Pantry Items
Baking ingredients
- Flour
- Sugar
- Brown sugar
- Powdered (confectioner’s) sugar
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Cornstarch
- Vanilla extract
- Chocolate: cocoa powder, chocolate chips, chocolate chunks
- Shortening
Other sweeteners
- Honey
- Maple syrup
- Agave syrup
For soups and casseroles
- Chicken broth and/or stock
- Beef broth and/or stock
- Vegetable broth and/or stock
- Cream of mushroom soup
- Cream of chicken soup
Canned goods
- Chiles (chipotles in adobo or pickled jalepenõs)
- Roasted red peppers
- Tuna
- Black beans
- Garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
- Red kidney beans (light or dark)
- Diced tomatoes
- Tomato paste
- Tomato sauce
- Coconut milk
Dried goods
- Long-grain rice
- Dried beans
- Dried pasta
- Crackers
- Couscous
- Quinoa
- Breadcrumbs (panko or otherwise)
- Old-fashioned rolled oats
- Cereal (choose your favorites!)
Oil and vinegar
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Canola oil
- Coconut oil
- Vegetable oil
- Rice vinegar
- Apple cider vinegar
- White distilled vinegar
- Red wine vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
Snacks and such
- Salsa
- Peanut butter
- Applesauce
- Tea
- Instant coffee (I don’t even drink coffee, but it’s great for desserts, marinades, and rubs)
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