Kitchen Essentials

When I got married, I didn’t know how to cook! For my bridal shower and wedding I was gifted a few items to help make my life easier in the kitchen and as a new wife. As my love for cooking grew I realized there were a few Kitchen Essentials I always had to have on hand to make cooking a breeze. So in this blog post I share Kitchen Essentials that every aspiring self proclaimed chef would need.

1. Cutting Board – You always have to have a good cutting board on hand in the kitchen, preferably two of them. It’s best to have one for exclusively cutting fruits and veggies and another for cutting meats.

2. Measuring cups and spoons – Measuring cups and spoons are vital in cooking and baking. Baking especially requires precise measurements. For your Kitchen Essentials you need both dry measuring cups and liquid measuring cups. Dry measuring cups are meant to be leveled off and liquid measuring cups usually have a spout for pouring.

3. Cast Iron Skillet – One of the most versatile Kitchen Essentials on the list is a cast iron skillet. It’s heavy duty, it can withstand high temperatures, it’s non-stick, and it evenly distributes heat. It only gets better with time as you season it.

4. Dutch Oven – the Dutch Oven is one of the most important Kitchen Essentials you can have. It’s perfect for cooking stews, simmering sauces, and you can even slip it in the oven. Dutch Ovens are usually pretty pricy but they are worth the investment and it will last for years to come.

5. Wooden Utensils – Wooden utensils are good to have for cooking because they won’t scratch and destroy your pots and pans. They are extremely durable and won’t melt if you leave them in the pot like plastic would.

6. Knife Block – Every kitchen needs a good selection of knives plus a pair of kitchen shears. Normally a knife block will provide a variety including a chefs knife, paring knife, carving knife and a bread knife. It will also come in handy to include a sharpening tool in your Kitchen Essentials to sharpen up your knives when they get dull so you can use them for years to come.

7. Mixing Bowls – Last but not least your Kitchen Essentials should include a set of mixing bowls in different sizes. In my opinion it’s best to buy glass bowls due to their versatility. They are durable, temperature resistant and non-reactive. Mixing bowls are great for marinating foods, stirring ingredients, and even for storage.

With these 7 items in your kitchen, you’ll be well on your way to whipping up delicious meals in no time. Are their any other Kitchen Essentials you feel are vital to use? Let’s connect! Leave a comment or find me on Instagram and Twitter @mommyweek #mommyweek or on Facebook.

 Ashley