The 10 First Kitchen Commandments: Part 2 (Be Practical. Be Realistic)

Gratuitous food photos: (clockwise from top left) White Bean Bruschetta, Asparagus & Proscuitto Tart, Goat Cheese & Grape Pizza with Rosemary, Baked Chicken Meatballs).

When my college roommates and I moved into our first apartment - three girls living under one roof - we stocked our kitchen with every appliance under the sun. Between us we had two George Foreman Grills, a toaster oven, a microwave, a tortilla warmer, a quesadilla machine and a roaster pan.

And those were just the bare essentials.

I'm sure you can imagine that we never warmed tortillas, roasted a turkey and no, not once did we operate more than one George Foreman at a time. When you're stocking your first kitchen - or a new kitchen, or if you're moving in with your significant other and purging the pots and pans he's had since 2001 remember:

Kitchen Commandment #2: be practical and be realistic with what you need.

If you know you're going to be cooking a lot of pasta, pick up a good stock pot, a sauce pan and a colander and you have all the supplies you need to make dinner. If you love Asian food - spring for a high quality Wok rather than a cookware set that comes with twelve different pots and pans that will collect dust in your cabinet. 

According to Mark Bittman, you can stock your kitchen with less than $200.  Though I do think it's worth it to buy a few solid pieces that will last you forever, I also agree that you don't need to blow your moving budget on fancy kitchen supplies.

What's in my practical kitchen?

• Durable French Oven
• All-Clad sauce pot and stainless steel skillet
• Cast iron skillet 
• Colander
• Two rimmed cookie sheets
• 13x9x2 Pyrex baking dish
• Can opener, wine opener, slotted spoon, spatulas, dish towels, vegetable peeler, measuring cups/spoons, meat thermometer
• Microplane grater - for cheese, zest, chocolate and garlic
• Knives (more on that later)
• Food processor or high-powered blender

What's in your practical kitchen?

For more Kitchen Commandments

The 10 First Kitchen Commandments, Part 1: Choose Quality Over Quantity

Comments

[daryl]

Truly interesting s I was of the mindset, the more the better! And I have definetly had my share of pots & pan sets from Caldor &Target!

[Heather]

Thanks Maris and La Tortilla Factory for the goodies. Last night we had Chicken Enchilladas with a dab of cream cheese with onion and chives.

[kat]

That seems like a pretty good list. Though I love my electric kettle too.

[Rachel W.]

Lemon zester, cutting board, ladel (is that how you spell it?), measuring cups. These are the things you don't realize you need until the very first time you cook a certain item. And then you get pissed off.

[Joanne]

I'm pretty minimalist also and I looooveee your list. Add a bit of bakeware to that and I'd be a super happy person!

[Alexandra]

I agree that a must have is a quality blender. You can make pesto, smoothies, pot de creme, milshakes, salsa, tomato sauce, soups...and the list goes on. It is one of the items I believe everyone should keep on hand!

[Chez Us]

Oh, I am not sure I am practical, does a stove top smoker count? Especially since we have never used? Or twenty loaf pans?

[melissa]

3 or 4 mixing bowls of various sizes, especially if you're going to bake anything. I have a giant red bowl that I ordered from a tupperware party. Best. Thing. Ever.

[allison@TheBaconEatingJewishVegetarian]

I think I just drooled a little while looking at the photo of prosciutto and asparagus. on top of it all, it was in a tart. everything is better in a tart!

[Gwen~healthymamma]

So true and funny! Glad I found your blog, I'm your newest 'subscriber' Yay!
look forward to more!