Kitchen Utensils and Appliances

Despite cooking at least one meal from scratch every day, in addition to being an avid baker and attempting techniques like brûlée and meringue, I don’t own many kitchen appliances, and I try to keep my utensils in check.

I’m not a fan of large machines or gadgets that only do one thing (except for a kitchen torch!). I don’t even own a bread machine anymore, since I learned to bake bread in a Dutch oven.

However, one appliance I swear by is my KitchenAid stand mixer. I’ve had mine since my early twenties, and it shows no signs of slowing down. It not only whips and beats any number of ingredients but also makes ice cream and pasta, as well as a decent pizza crust and bread dough.

Along with my stand mixer, I own an array of baking pans, because cakes like angel food need to be made in a specific pan, and a tart pan and springform pan with removable bottoms are invaluable. Cupcake or muffin tins are another essential. Popover pans are fun to have but definitely a luxury.

All that said, some appliances and utensils are essential to every kitchen and make life easier if you’re a frequent cook/baker. And of course you’ll need a set of knives. You don’t need more than a few knives, as long as they’re sharp and high quality. A chef’s knife and paring knife are what I reach for most often, as well as a serrated knife to cut bread and tomatoes.

You’ll also reach for some standard pots and pans in your day-to-day kitchen adventures. Pans come in various sizes, so choose the size that makes the most sense for you, depending on the number of people you generally cook for.

Here’s a rundown of the utensils and appliances I keep in my kitchen drawers and cabinets:

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ESSENTIAL UTENSILS

Wooden spoons Rubber spatulas Metal spatula Offset spatula Cake slicer Tongs Whisks, small and large Measuring spoons Measuring cups, wet and dry Mise en place bowls Ice cream scoop Rolling pin Pastry brush Pastry cutter Bench scraper Round biscuit or cookie cutter Colander Fine mesh strainer/sifter Ladle Slotted spoon Pie weights Vegetable peeler Grater Microplane Hand juicer Kitchen shears

POTS AND PANS

Frying pans or skillets, medium and large Small saucepan Dutch oven Stock pot with lid 13 x 18 x 1-inch rimmed baking sheets Round 8- or 9-inch cake pans Square 8- or 9-inch cake pans Casserole dish Bundt pan Tube pan Tart pan with removable bottom Springform pan Popover pan Pie plate Cupcake/muffin tins Ramekins Mixing bowls, large and small

APPLIANCES

Stand mixer Hand mixer Blender Immersion blender Food processor Ice cream maker Coffee bean grinder Toaster Manual pasta machine

MISCELLANEOUS

Cutting board Wire cooling racks Parchment paper Aluminum foil Plastic wrap Cupcake papers Cheesecloth Pastry cloth Pastry bag and piping tips

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