Essential Tools
My Kitchen Equipment Picks
When I first started cooking professionally, I used to tell people that they didn't need to spend a lot of money on fancy knives, pots and pans. Now I say just the opposite. Buy the best and you'll never have to buy another. Buy the knives that feel good when you grip them, pans that are substantial and heat evenly, and utensils that are sturdy and well designed.
Here is what I recommend when students ask what they need to equip their kitchen (along with my favorite brands):
Joanne's Top Ten Favorite Tools
- Microplane® zester
- Thermapen™ digital instant-read thermometer
- Flat-bottom wooden spoon
- Spoonula (cup-shaped rubber spatula), colored
- Pastry scraper
- Mexican orange, lemon, lime juicer
- Tongs
- Cheese shaver
- Serrated vegetable peeler
- Olive/cherry pitter
Bakeware (Emile Henry®, Le Creuset®, Staub® USA)
- Ramekins in various sizes
- Gratin dishes in various sizes
- Pie plate with vent
- Bakers in various sizes
Dinnerware & Serveware
- Serving platters in various sizes
- Utensil crock
- 3-Section server
- Nested bowls with pour spout in various sizes
- 3 piece place setting (bowl, salad/tapas plate, dinner plate)
- Handled soup bowl
- Large serving bowl
Cookware (Anolon, All-Clad, Calphalon®, Mauviel, Le Creuset®, Chantal Copper Fusion, Staub® USA)
- A few stainless steel saucepans in various sizes
- A few non-stick frying pans in various sizes
- Copper stainless steel saute pans and bowls for crepes and soufflés
- A large hard-anodized sauteuse for making stews and soups
- Heavy enameled braising pans
- Stock pots for stock, tomato sauce and soups
Electrics
- Food processor (Cuisinart® or Kitchen Aid®)
- Electric mixer (Kitchen Aid® is the only way to go)
- Blender (Vitamix® is the Rolls-Royce of blenders)
- Coffee grinder for grinding spices
- Espresso machine (Jura or Nespresso)
Knives (Wüsthof-Trident, Shun, Messermeister)
- 4-inch paring/utility knife
- 6-inch chef's knife
- 10-inch chef's knife
- Boning knife
- Paring knife
- Serrated knife
- Slicing knife
- Diamond steel for knife sharpening
Every Kitchen Gotta-haves (Microplane®, Oxo, Rösle, Screwpull®)
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