Cooking from scratch is something I have been doing for quite some time. I love gathering ingredients and coming up with my own recipes and dishes. I have shared a few of these dishes on this site and I’ve always received great feedback. One thing I haven’t done is share the tools that I use in the kitchen.
Now, I am new to baking from scratch but the tools used are all the same as cooking or at least similar.
So, for those of you new to the kitchen, I would love to share with you some of my favorite kitchen tools and even some that I am currently saving up for!
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Cooking From Scratch
I’ve been cooking from scratch from years. It started out experimenting with recipes in an Amish cookbook, to using minimal store bought sauces and packets, to now I cook everything from scratch. Ok, ok, I do like me some chicken fingers I can pop in the air fryer or an easy frozen pizza, but who doesn’t?
Cooking from scratch doesn’t have to be complicated or time consuming. It can even be as simple as making your own alfredo sauce or taco seasoning. Yes, that is cooking from scratch. Even a simple brownie recipe from Pinterest is cooking from scratch.
What I want to share today are the tools I have in my kitchen that I have served me for years while cooking and recently baking from scratch.
Must Have Kitchen Items
Again, I don’t have upscale kitchen tools and gadgets and you really can get by without too much. But, there are many things that are staples in a kitchen.
Stock Pot – this is great for making soups, broths, boiling water for noodles or potatoes. A good stock pot is a must in any kitchen.
Dutch Oven – I love to use my dutch oven to sear meat on the stove and then finish baking it in the oven. Recently I started using it for sourdough bread. It is definitely a versatile piece.
Knives – A good set of knives are a must have in any kitchen. I bought these knives over a year ago and I still can’t get over how much I enjoy using them.
Pots and Pans – Obviously a set of pots and pans that you can use everyday is a must in any kitchen. An array of shapes and sizes with lids are great to have. A small sauce pan can be used for gravy, rice, or heating up leftovers, while a larger pot is good for heating up veggies or making oatmeal. While pans are important for frying up bacon, sauteing veggies, or browning meat.
CrockPot – Whether you are cooking from scratch, in a college dorm room, or just a busy mama with little time to cook – a crockpot is a must have no matter what! I enjoy having a larger crockpot as I use it for whole chickens, soups, and even make mine own homemade broth in it.
Cookie Sheets – Cookie sheets aren’t just for cookies. Lay some foil down and you can use these for chicken, roast, or veggies. And depending on the height of the sides you can make sheet pan pancakes.
Bread Pans – when you are cooking from scratch you are bound to start baking from scratch as well. Bread pans are great to have on hand when that day comes. Even if you’re not making homemade bread you can use these for homemade ice cream!
Cooking Utensils – Having an array of cooking utensils come in handy no matter what you are whipping up in the kitchen. I have this exact set and I have yet to be disappointed with it. They are flexible enough to hold up in assisting with kneading dough while also holding up to cooking with high heat.
Cooling Racks – I just recently purchased cooling racks so I could evenly cool my baked goods and I can tell you that they my treats have turned out much better than just letting them cool on the counter.
Pot Holders – I think this one is self explanatory lol but you definitely want these on hand!
Cutting Boards – Whether you are cutting veggies, meat or even just needing some to set your food out on, cutting boards are a must. Tip: if your cutting board is sliding around, place a wet wash cloth or paper towel underneath and it won’t move when you’re using it.
Measuring Cups – I absolutely love these measuring cups because they come in 3 different sizes, are glass so I can microwave them, and because they are larger I can use them as smaller mixing bowls if needed.
Measuring Spoons – When following recipes or even creating them, you’ll want measuring spoons. A teaspoon of salt versus tablespoon makes a big difference and you won’t want to guess.
Mixing Bowls – Mixing bowls are versatile as you can you them for mixing, breadmaking, meat marinating, salad bowls, or even storing leftovers.
Hand Mixer – You don’t necessarily need a hand mixer as you can always use a whisk for things like frosting, or a hand masher for mashed potatoes, but, it does make it a bit easier.
Baking Dishes – Having baking dishes in multiple sizes is a must in any kitchen. Not only will you use these to bake sweet treats, you can use them for whole chickens or roasts, or even use them for serving dishes.
Blender – I have had this exact blender for over a year and I love it! I have shared it many times because it is just that great! A blender comes in handy for sauces and shakes, and this particular one even has a dough option.
Good To Have But Not A Must
Now these are items that I am personally saving up for or have but don’t deem necessary.
Air Fryer – I recently got this Air Fryer and it is a game changer. Having this item helps change up my go to recipes as it gives veggies an alternative flavor. I also love that I can very easily make homemade french fries for my kids and they all love them. I have however gone many years without this item. It is not necessary but it is fun to have another option in the kitchen.
Kitchen Aid – Now, I am saving up to purchase a Kitchen Aid stand mixer as I have grown in my skills and would find this tool to be useful. I have gone a long time without one, but I see it being useful for recipes such as kneading dough or using attachments to make homemade noodles.
InstaPot – I know many people who have this item and love them. My mom loves to make chicken and even roasts in it for a quick night meal. I’ve even heard of making yogurt in it which is fascinating!
This is just a list of items that I have in my kitchen and use on a daily basis. I am sure there are plenty more gadgets out there that would be useful, but to start out these are the things you will want to have on hand. I hope this list is helpful for you in your cooking journey! If you have any items to add to the list, let me know in the comments!
Until next time,
